James Mattis is actually only a sigma or so off plumb, as such things go. What''s a more interesting question is whether Congress will accept Trump's (implicit) request to waive established law to let Mattis be Defense Secretary when less than seven years have passed since he was in active service.
(There's a reason that's the law: the idea of reinforcing the civilian control over the military by putting in ten, then reduced to seven, years between active service and being the civilian head of the military. It's a good idea, only once ever waived by Congress, in 1947 when General George Marshall was nominated as Defense Secretary.)
Will Congress kind of shrug and say, "Whatever, if Trump wants it, he can have it"? Stay tuned …
Trump picks retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense
The decision will require nearly unprecedented legislation from Congress because Mattis is recently retired.
"L'État, c'est moi"
TRUMP IS KEWL¡!!!!!!