Donald Trump names ‘Mad Dog’ General James Mattis Defence Secretary, by AFP.

“He’s our best. They say he’s the closest thing to (World War II-era) general George Patton that we have,” Mr Trump said …

General Mattis, who is 66, commanded a Marine battalion during the First Gulf War and a Marine division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In 2010, the tough-talking native of Washington state was named to head the US Central Command. …

A colourful commander, he earned the nickname “Mad Dog” with his battle-hardened swagger and the sort of blunt language marines are famous for. He has been quoted as saying, “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.”

But to serve as defence secretary, Mattis would need Senate confirmation — and a waiver of a law that bans uniformed military officers from serving in that post for seven years after leaving active duty. The law is intended to ensure the bedrock notion of civilian control of the nation’s military

hat-tip Stephen Neil