the churn

James Mattis still thinks sanctions must be strong
against the clique of Putin's oligarchs
and doesn't hesitate to say his boss is wrong
but his is not the voice to which Trump harks.
The general disdains ideologues
he deals in probabilities, and facts
and butts heads with the orange demagogue
who-right or wrong--wants always to attack.
The last adult to hold the boss' ear
who earned full clearance the old-fashioned way
sage councilor, Trump's unequipped to hear
might be relieved if he were fired today.
It's rumored that McMaster's out the door
for thinking that we shouldn't rush to war.