Ex Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks at Utah State University

Former Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis speaks at Utah State University on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Image shared on USUAggies Twitter account.

LOGAN – Retired Marine Corps General Jim Mattis spoke to a large crowd at Utah State University Tuesday afternoon about his military service, his nearly-two year term as Secretary of Defense to President Donald Trump and about the importance of allies here and around the world.

”What worries me more than anything,” Mattis said, “is the way we’re treating one another in this country, the contempt we show for one another just because sometimes we disagree with each other.

“I think it’s very, very important that we learn to listen, to really listen to each other, and understand each other’s position as well as they understand their position. So, we start from a position of dispassionate discussion, even on passionate subjects.”

He said once during George W. Bush’s presidency Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talked about having friends around the world.

”And she looked like she had a finger about 27 inches long when she waved it at us and she said ‘now, you remember you admirals and generals, around here we do things with our allies, not to them.’ Remember, most of us like me, we got over enjoying public humiliation by second grade. So let’s not publicly humiliate our allies, work with them.”

Mattis said recently, “throughout history, we see nations with allies thrive, and nations without allies wither.”

He emphasized the importance of presenting our country’s history accurately in America’s schools.

“We’ve got to get back to teaching the good, and the bad, and the ugly about America, not just certain things, and have a narrow, parochial view of America.”

USU’s Center for Anticipatory Intelligence brought Mattis to USU.

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