//'Angry and appalled': Ex-defense chief Mattis rips President Trump for dividing Americans

'Angry and appalled': Ex-defense chief Mattis rips President Trump for dividing Americans

Former defense secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday denounced President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed use of military force to quell protests near the White House and said his former boss was setting up a “false conflict” between the military and civilian society.“I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled,” Mattis wrote.Mattis has generally kept a low profile since retiring as defense secretary in December 2018