Image copyright
AFP/Getty
Rear Adm Kevin Sweeney is the third senior Pentagon official to resign after President Trump’s Syria announcement
Department of Defence chief of staff Kevin Sweeney has resigned, a month after the Defence Secretary James Mattis announced his departure.
Rear Admiral Sweeney said in a statement that “the time is right to return to the private sector”.
He is now the third senior Pentagon official to announce his resignation after President Donald Trump said US forces would leave Syria.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Officials have said there is no timetable for the troop departure.
Rear Adm Sweeney held his post for two years from January 2017, and called it “an honour to serve” alongside his colleagues in the department.
His announcement comes days after General Mattis quit his post early, after initially planning to stay in his role until February.
Image copyright
Reuters
General Mattis announced his resignation in December
The former defence secretary hinted at policy differences with President Trump in his resignation letter.
- James Mattis’ resignation letter in full
- Trump’s erratic foreign policy course
Addressed to Mr Trump directly, the letter described the general’s views on “treating allies with respect” and using “all the tools of American power to provide for the common defence”.
“Because you have the right to have a secretary of defence whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position,” he wrote.
Department spokeswoman Dana White also left her post after the president’s surprise announcement on Syria.
Another Pentagon departure
By Grant Ferrett
In a terse resignation letter, Kevin Sweeney said it had been an honour to serve, but made no mention of Donald Trump.
His departure adds to a sense of uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s defence and foreign policies since the surprise announcement of the planned withdrawal from Syria.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will embark on a week-long tour of the Middle East designed to reassure allies in the region.