Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has long been expecting to get his pink slip. That came via tweet Monday, effective immediately. His replacement would be the Acting Secretary Chris Miller who previously served as the National Counterterrorism Center director. With only 10 weeks to go, Donald Trump’s act was simply revenge.
At least people did not dance in the street when the Defense Secretary lost his job.
Esper spoke to The Military Times for an exclusive interview on November 4. He said that he never planned on resigning, but it was a period of waiting for the other shoe to drop:
‘So what I’m trying to do is, kind of, share my views and perspectives while they’re still fresh. I guess my top line is, as I look back, I see it ― you know, despite a series of crises and conflicts ― and yes, occasional tension with the White House.’
‘I think we’ve been really successful in transforming the department, implementing my top priority as the NDS (National Defense Strategy), if you will, and then protecting the institution, which is really important to me. And then … fourth, I should say, preserving my integrity in the process.’
Trump wanted him to use the active military to control the peaceful protesters on the street in front of the White House. Esper refused.
Cruelly nicknamed “Yesper” by the president and others, he said he was “no yes man:”
‘My frustration is I sit here and say, “Hm, 18 Cabinet members. Who’s pushed back more than anybody?” Name another Cabinet secretary that’s pushed back. Have you seen me on a stage saying, “Under the exceptional leadership of blah-blah-blah, we have blah-blah-blah-blah?”‘
The Pentagon is making a major shift in priorities from the double decade war on terrorism to the “era of great power competition,” much like a new Cold War. However, the participants this time would include North Korea, Russia, and China.
Trump tweeted in dual tweets, The Forbes magazine reported the president wrote:
‘I am pleased to announce that Christopher C. Miller, the highly respected Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (unanimously confirmed by the Senate), will be Acting Secretary of Defense, effective immediately.’
Then POTUS knocked the secretary off with faint praise and a swift kick out the door:
‘…Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service.’
Former Secretary Esper said:
‘“At the end of the day, it’s as I said — you’ve got to pick your fights. I could have a fight over anything, and I could make it a big fight, and I could live with that —why? Who’s going to come in behind me? It’s going to be a real “yes man” And then God help us.’
When it came to interacting with Donald Trump, Esper said “I’m not trying to make anybody happy:”
‘And look, I can’t control — I can only control what I do. The president’s going to — he’s very transparent in terms of what he wants. And he’s been very clear about his views … I’m not trying to make anybody happy. What I’m trying to do is, fulfill what he wants — I mean, he’s the duly elected commander in chief — and make the best out of it.’
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