Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis meets with Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez Serraj Nov. 20, 2017, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (DoD/Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley)
Politico: Mattis: No plans to pause military exercises for Olympics in South Korea
The U.S. doesn't plan to pause military exercises near the Korean Peninsula during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday.
Pyeongchang will host the Olympics in February amid heightened tensions with North Korea, drawing international concern about safety at the games.
U.S. military exercises in the region often provoke North Korea, whose leaders see them as preparations for an invasion, despite the U.S. saying the regularly planned training exercises seek only to increase readiness. Earlier this month, North Korean state-run media said a joint exercise between the U.S. and South Korea was pushing the country “to the brink of nuclear war.”
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Update #1: Mattis to Russia on US Arming Ukraine: Get Over It (Military.com)
Update #2: Mattis: US determined to reduce civilian casualties in Yemen (FOX News/AP)
WNU Editor: I am not surprised that he is not traveling around on the holidays .... Mattis nixes holiday tradition of seeing troops in war zones (National/AP). He could do it when he was a General and his entourage was small or non-existent. But as U.S. Defense Secretary .... hundreds are involved when he travels and it would disrupt their Christmas plans. But I am willing to bet that he will still be doing something small and thoughtful for a soldier (or more) during the holidays. It is his nature.
