WHAT’S THE STORY?

US DEFENCE secretary James Mattis has become the latest high-profile official of the Donald Trump administration to resign over differences with the President.

The resignation came a day after Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing troops from Syria, a decision with which the defence secretary disagreed.

WHO IS JAMES MATTIS?

MATTIS is a retired general who had a 44-year career with the US Marine Corps with an notable combat record.

Upon initially meeting him, Donald Trump had called him “the real deal” and “a true General’s General”.

Known alternatively as “Mad Dog” and the “Warrior Monk”, Mattis was well known for his uncompromising approach to enemies of the US.

The nickname “Mad Dog” was given to him by the press after making comments such as: “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”

His second nickname, “Warrior Monk”, was earned because he rose through the ranks without marrying or having children.

Mattis’s long military career includes leading an assault battalion under Operation Desert Shield during the liberation of Kuwait from Saddam Hussein. He was also involved in the early fighting of the Afghanistan War following 9/11, and had a key role in the Iraq invasion in 2003.

HE’S NOT GOT THE BEST REPUTATION THOUGH HAS HE?

HIS military career is certainly considered controversial, most notably his leading role in the two US sieges of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004.

More than 700 civilians were killed during the first siege, with an additional 5000 Iraqi civilians killed in a siege later in the year.

Stories at the time also reported the use of white phosphorus, an incendiary weapon, which would be a violation of international law.

As a high-level marine commander, Mattis oversaw both incidents – which were never officially acknowledged as war crimes.

IS HE REALLY A MAD DOG?

THE former defence secretary is said to be less than impressed with his nickname – but you can judge for yourself whether it’s warranted.

Amongst his more memorable “mattisisms” are: “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f*ck with me, I’ll kill you all.”

Or: “There are some people who think you have to hate them in order to shoot them. I don’t think you do. It’s just business.”

In 2005, he got in hot waters at a panel discussion by saying: “It’s fun to shoot some people. I’ll be right up there with you. I like brawling.

“You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil.

“You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them.”

HOW DID HE FARE AS SECRETARY OF DEFENCE?

DESPITE being an outspoken critic of the Obama administration, Mattis was also often unwilling to bend to Trump’s policy positions – especially his “America First” policy.

Their differences in views led to Trump privately replacing his moniker “Mad Dog” with “Moderate-Dog Mattis”.

In his resignation letter on Thursday he told the President he was leaving because “you have a right to have a secretary of defence whose views are better aligned with yours”.

He added: “While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies.”

His past two years as a senior official in the administration involved a long stream of disagreements with the president’s hardline policies and his view of America’s role in the world.

WHAT WAS THE REACTION TO HIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

THE announcement was bemoaned by foreign policy leads and members of congress from both parties. Mattis was viewed as a moderating force to a president who has never held political office or served in the military.

Last year, Republican senator Bob Corker said Mattis, along with White House chief of staff John Kelly and then-secretary of state Rex Tillerson, were helping “separate our country from chaos”.

Tillerson was fired in the beginning of the year over policy clashes, while Kelly will leave the White House by the end of the year.

Trump has said a replacement for Mattis would be chosen soon.