From what I've read and heard, Tillerson, Haley, Mattis and others within Trump's inner circle have offered opposing views frequently. He reportedly wants a great deal of input, then makes a decision.
Obama largely ignored the input of his Joint Chiefs. They said as much. He preferred the advice of those in his cabinet.
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates was very outspoken about how Obama dissed his Generals regarding Afghanistan and Iraq, that he wasn't interested in their advice. LBJ did similar in Vietnam when he dispatched 200,000 additional troops into the fray.
Obama got himself in hot water with his base when having to walk back his No Boots on the Ground promise, something Petraeus warned him not to do...
Exuding confidence is fine, but you have to know when you are overmatched. Obama never could master that. A strategist he is not.
10/23/2018 9:40 PM (edited)