WASHINGTON -- ‘Tis not the season to be jolly, thanks to Donald Trump. His sudden, unilateral decision to withdraw troops from Syria, forcing the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis -- one of the last bulwarks against the president’s impulsivity -- has cast a pall on the holidays and, perhaps, the future. In his letter of resignation, Mattis said the president deserves a defense secretary who is “better aligned” with his worldview.