Marine Gen. James Mattis says Iran's help is responsible for propping up the Assad regime as Syria's bloody civil war continues, in a new interview with USA Today.
"Absent Iran's help, I don't believe Assad would have been in power the last six months," he told the newspaper.
Mattis, who reportedly was pushed toward the exit by the Obama administration over his hawkish views, emphasized the Iranian regime's role in keeping the Assad regime in power in the interview, describing weapons, advisers, and money flowing to the regime.
On the verge of retirement, Mattis also defended also defended his manner of discourse, which has gotten him in on a few occasions:
"The idea that you should moderate it before you give it to them is not showing respect to your civilian leadership," Mattis said. [...]
"Those who want to say girls don't go to school, sure I'm all for killing them, or stopping them, and if that means killing them, you do it," Mattis said during the interview.
For some more Mattis lines, check out the Free Beacon's top 16 Mattis quotes.
