馬蒂斯應獲選“美國年度人物”

Let me state it upfront: I did not request a photo shoot with Jim Mattis, the US secretary of defence. Nor did he pre-emptively spurn me. That said, the Pentagon chief deserves to be America’s “person of the year”.

我先聲明：我沒有要求爲美國國防部長吉姆?馬蒂斯(Jim Mattis)拍照。他也沒有先發制人地拒絕我。話雖如此，這位五角大樓負責人應該成爲美國的“年度人物”。

In contrast to Donald Trump, who claims to have turned down Time magazine’s photo request for its upcoming person of the year, Mr Mattis does not seek media gratification. The retired general is a model of sublimating ego to a larger cause. He is the second-most important person in the Trump administration. But for Mr Mattis, we would be sleeping even less soundly at night.

與號稱拒絕了《時代》(Time)雜誌請求爲即將到來的“年度人物”拍照的唐納德?特朗普(Donald Trump)相比，馬蒂斯並不喜歡在媒體上出風頭。這位退役將軍是爲了天下大事而超越自我的模範。他是特朗普政府中的二號人物。如果沒有馬蒂斯，我們在晚上會睡得更不踏實。

His worth stems from character. At Mr Trump’s first full cabinet meeting in June, principals outbid each other in presidential adulation. Mike Pence, the vice-president, said it was the greatest honour of his life to serve a man who was “keeping his word to the American people”. Reince Priebus, the then chief of staff, thanked Mr Trump for “the blessing that you’ve given us to serve your agenda”.

他的價值源於性格。在特朗普今年6月召開的首次內閣全員會議上，內閣要員們爭先恐後地向總統獻媚。副總統邁克?彭斯(Mike Pence)稱，能夠爲“正在兌現對美國人民的承諾”的總統服務是他畢生的最大榮幸。時任白宮幕僚長萊因斯?普瑞巴斯(Reince Priebus)感謝特朗普“爲我們大家提供了效力於您的日程的祝福”。

Everyone did their best to mimic how a Kim Jong Un cabinet might sound. To be fair, Mr Trump did open the meeting in full Pyongyang mode: “Never has there been a president?.?.?.?who’s passed more legislation, who’s done more things than what we’ve done,” Mr Trump said. He still has not passed one significant bill.

每個人都竭力模仿或許只有金正恩(Kim Jong Un)的領導班子纔會發出的諂媚之聲。實際上，特朗普在開場白中就爲這個會議確立了“平壤基調”：“從未有任何一位總統……比我們通過了更多法案、比我們取得了更多成就。”其實他連一項重大法案都沒有推動通過。

In that context, Mr Mattis showed guts in stating his actual role: “It is an honour to represent the men and women of the department of defence,” he said. The US military existed so that “our diplomats always negotiate from a position of strength”, he added. He made no mention of Mr Trump.

在這種氛圍之下，馬蒂斯展現出了自己的勇氣，他如實聲明瞭自己的職責：“代表國防部的全體官兵是一種榮幸。”美國軍隊的存在使“我國的外交官總是能夠站在有利的地位進行談判”，他補充道，但隻字未提特朗普。

There — in that Potemkin White House display — was the kernel of how the Trump presidency has unfolded. The show is all about one man. The others, barring Mr Mattis, are dispensable. Indeed, Mr Trump often taunts his staff about how easily he can fire them. Bullies never respect sycophants. Not once, however, has Mr Trump taken that risk with Mr Mattis. The chances of triggering his resignation would be too high.

這場“波將金式”(Potemkin)的白宮表演揭示了特朗普總統任期暴露出來的“骨子裏”。這場戲只是關於一個人。其他人（除了馬蒂斯）都可有可無。的確，特朗普經常奚落自己的閣員，吹噓他有權隨時把他們炒掉。橫行霸道者從來不會尊重馬屁精。但特朗普一次都不敢這樣對馬蒂斯放肆。觸發他辭職的可能性太高。

But let us suppose he were to leave or to be fired. Indeed, it is plausible at some point. Mr Mattis has contradicted the president on several critical policies. Mr Trump tweeted on North Korea: “Talking is not the answer!” A few hours later Mr Mattis said: “We are never out of diplomatic solutions. We always look for more.”

但是，讓我們假設他將離職或是被解僱。的確，這種假設在某個節骨眼上看起來可信。馬蒂斯曾在幾項關鍵政策上頂撞總統的表態。特朗普曾在朝鮮問題上發推文稱：“談判不是答案！”幾小時後馬蒂斯表示：“我們永遠不會放棄外交解決方案。我們永遠在尋求更多外交途徑。”

When Mr Trump said the Iran nuclear deal was a disaster, Mr Mattis told Congress he would recommend the president should stick with the deal. When Mr Trump said transgender Americans would no longer be eligible to serve in the US military, Mr Mattis killed the initiative by requesting a review. Most tellingly, he was overheard reassuring a group of US soldiers overseas to stay strong while the storm rages back home. “You just hold the line until our country gets back to understanding and respecting each other and showing it,” Mr Mattis said. “We’ll get the power of inspiration back.”

當特朗普說伊朗核協議是一場災難時，馬蒂斯告訴國會，他會建議總統堅守這一協議。當特朗普稱，將禁止跨性別人士在美國軍隊服役時，馬蒂斯通過請求審議，凍結了這一舉措。最說明問題的是，有人聽到他安慰一羣駐外美國軍人在這場國內風暴中保持內心堅強。“你們只需要堅持下去，直至我們的國家重新學會相互理解和相互尊重，並展現出來，”馬蒂斯說，“我們將重獲鼓舞人心的力量。”

Let us hope his forecast is correct. In the meantime, America’s allies are becoming experts in cognitive dissonance. On the one hand they hear the US president downgrade their value while heaping praise on America’s adversaries. On the other hand, America’s defence chief tells allies what they want to hear. The US has not changed, he says. The phrase “America first” has never escaped Mr Mattis’s lips.

但願他的先見是正確的。與此同時，美國的盟友正在成爲認知失調的專家。一方面，他們聽到美國總統貶低他們的價值，卻給美國的對手點贊。另一方面，他們又從美國國防部長那裏聽到了自己想聽的話。馬蒂斯表示，美國沒有改變。“美國優先”這個詞從未在馬蒂斯口中蹦出。

People around the defence secretary are not shy of stating his role. Abroad that means strategic reassurance. At home it means minding Mr Trump.

馬蒂斯周圍的人並不諱言他扮演的角色。在國外，他的角色意味着讓盟友們在戰略上放心。在國內，他的角色意味着“照看”特朗普。

When I asked a senior Pentagon official to list the department’s three strategic priorities, I expected North Korea would top the list. The response was: “Educating the president, educating the president and educating the president.” America’s allies know Mr Mattis does this — as do people in Washington.

當我請一名五角大樓高級官員列出美國國防部的三項戰略優先時，我心想朝鮮肯定會居於首位。但我得到的答覆是：“教育總統、教育總統、教育總統”。美國的盟友們知道馬蒂斯在教育總統，華盛頓的政界人士也知道。

But what if he were to leave? Imagine if Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, or Chris Christie, the outgoing New Jersey governor, were to replace Mr Mattis. Each would jump at the job.

但如果他要離開了怎麼辦？設想一下，如果由紐約前市長魯迪?朱利安尼(Rudy Giuliani)或是即將離任的新澤西州州長克里斯?克里斯蒂(Chris Christie)接替馬蒂斯。兩人都會迫不及待地接受這份工作。

One of the reasons we still sleep at night is because Mr Trump would need to go through Mr Mattis to use nuclear weapons. Mr Mattis advises soldiers to “engage your brain before you engage your weapon”.

當下我們晚上仍然能夠入睡的原因之一是，特朗普需要通過馬蒂斯才能動用核武器。而馬蒂斯建議官兵們“在動用武器之前先動動大腦”。

At a time when the US foreign service is being dismantled, Mr Mattis argues that the more the US spends on diplomats the less it would need to spend on ammunition. These are wise precepts. His nickname may be “Mad Dog”. In reality Mr Mattis is a rational human. In these times — and for that alone — he deserves a medal.

在美國外交部門遭撤併之際，馬蒂斯主張，美國在外交官身上的花得越多，在彈藥上需要的開支就越少。這些都是至理名言。他的綽號或許叫“瘋狗”。在現實中，馬蒂斯是一個理性的人。在當今世代，僅憑這一點就應該授予他一枚獎章。