James Mattis a cerebral and audacious choice for secretary of defense

President-elect Donald Trump certainly is relying heavily on retired senior generals. Four four-stars -- Marine Gens. James N. Mattis, who will be announced today as Secretary of Defense, and John Kelly and Army Gens. David Petraeus and Jack Keane, as well as Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, the next National Security Adviser -- have been at stage center. And it is rumored that Adm. Mike Rogers, currently head of both the National Security Agency and Cyber Command could also be nominated for an important post.

Why? The cute but wrong answer will be seen as case of generals' envy. After all, the president-elect graduated from the New York Military Academy (before matriculating to the University of Pennsylvania), where no doubt the rank of general was regarded in reverential terms. Critics will suggest that this experience has shaped his preference for generals.

There is however, a much better and more accurate reason. Across America, too many institutions have been de-legitimatized and demeaned. Congress has a single-digit favorability rating. So, too, have the media, the Boy Scouts, the legal profession, many universities and the Catholic Church been targets of public opprobrium. One institution that remains highly regarded is the U.S. military.

Despite the political failures to impose democracy on Iraq and Afghanistan, the American military has steadfastly carried out its tasks with great professionalism under the most difficult circumstances. The public has recognized the dedication of men and women in uniform with its high approval. And much of the credit is due to the senior leadership -- the generals and admirals in charge.

Jim Mattis is uniformly recognized as a general's general. So too has Petraeus admirably served his country despite an unfortunate liaison that forced his resignation as CIA director. Keane, a Vietnam veteran awarded a Silver Star for valor in that conflict, is widely respected and admired. Kelly, likewise, is held in high regard

The argument however against making any retired general secretary of defense is the issue of civilian control over the military. That is a fair case. The issue is whether the particular flag officer can make the transition from a military background to political appointee. George C. Marshall and Colin Powell did. Alexander Haig, former NATO commander in Europe, did not and was replaced as Ronald Reagan's secretary of state.

Knowing Mattis, he has the breadth of experience, the intellectual capacity, the independence of mind to tell it as it is and self-discipline to make this transformation. Furthermore, it is clear that the president-elect has great respect for Mattis. The brief exchange over waterboarding during Mattis' interview at Bedminster, N.J., several weeks ago seemed to change Donald Trump's view on torture. He reported to the media that the Marine general did not believe waterboarding worked and told the president-elect that he could do better with a pack of cigarettes and several cans of beer. This is very important because, in the past, Trump too often made pronouncements that were at best uninformed.

Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm to spill the beans on this appointment, Trump likened Mattis to George Patton, "old blood and guts," our blood, his guts many of his soldiers complained. Mattis is no Patton and thank goodness.

The last thing Mattis would do is to slap a soldier or a Marine. He also leads from the front. He is both cerebral and audacious. However, he would never spill a drop of Marine blood unless it was absolutely necessary and then with great regret. Unlike Patton, Mattis can control his ego.

Could this go wrong? The answer is unknowable. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is Marine Gen. Joe Dunford. Dunford was one of Mattis' regimental commanders in the First Marine Division that made the remarkable march north to Baghdad in March 2003 during that war -- one of the greatest tactical victories in history. So the relationship between the secretary and chairman is bonded in war.

That relationship has advantages and disadvantages, namely that this mutual loyalty could be questioned by those who would see civilian control of the military being eroded. Flynn has reportedly complained that he did not want a retired four-star general in competition. That could prove to be the real general's envy and a lurking issue.

I have been highly critical of certain of the presidential-elect's national security statements and promises. But this is a great appointment. Bravo, Trump and bravo, Mattis.

Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist and a senior adviser at Washington, D.C.'s Atlantic Council. His last book is "A Handful of Bullets: How the Murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Still Menaces the Peace." His next book, due out next year, is "Anatomy of Failure: Why America Loses Wars It Starts," which argues that failure to know and to understand the circumstances in which force is used guarantees failure.