Dog my cats if Marine Gen. James Mattis hasn't been chosen to replace Gen. Petraeus as chief of U.S. Central Command!  Good move, thinks Victor Davis Hanson, as does Mac Owens.  I had the pleasure of having a beer with the general at the Mudville Pub a month or so ago.  He joined Mac and his students for one of their weekly evening "seminars" (the pub is next to Cardines Field, the oldest baseball field in continuous use in the US; it's in the heart of Newport, a terrific place).  It was a broad ranging seminar, almost two hours long, in which Mattis revealed himself for what he is: thoughtful and witty, it is clear he is at home living in the arena, and knows what's worth fighting for.  In short, an entirely American man.  Godspeed, General.