We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. The comments from Mattis are a significant moment for a man who has kept mostly silent since leaving the administration. National Guardsmen and federal law enforcement have been stationed around the nation's capital in a show of force not seen in recent memory. The former secretary, who resigned from Trump's Cabinet, also indirectly criticized current Defense Secretary Mark Esper's use of the word "battlespace" in reference to American cities. Esper also specifically rejected the use of active duty forces in a law enforcement role at this time -- comments that put him on shaky ground with the White House.