MATTIS SAYS PUTIN IS ‘ TRYING TO BREAK’ NATO
Defense nominee warns USA faces global threats
James Mattis, Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Pentagon, testified Thursday that he supports efforts to engage with Russia but doubted the two countries would find ways to cooperate.
“I have very modest expectations about areas of cooperation with Mr. ( Vladimir) Putin,” Mattis said.
Trump has spoken somewhat admiringly of the Russian leader and suggested the two countries could cooperate in fighting the Islamic State.
Mattis faced mostly polite questioning during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggesting his nomination will not face serious opposition in the Senate.
Democratic leaders expressed hope that Mattis, a blunt- talking retired Marine four- star general, would be a moderating influence on Trump, whose controversial statements and tweets have fueled concerns about his character.
“You will help oversee national security policy for a president who lacks foreign policy and defense experience and whose temperament is far different from prior presidents,” Sen. Jack Reed, D- R. I., said. “Many Americans, and many in this body on both sides of the aisle are rightly concerned about how he may respond when he is tested by Russia, Iran, North Korea and other transnational threats such as cyber.”
Mattis, a combat leader with more than four decades of uniformed service, is a departure from most recent Defense secretaries, who came from the ranks of civilian government service or politics.
The Republican- led Senate passed a special waiver 81- 17 to allow Mattis to run the Pentagon, since federal law requires a seven- year gap between retirement from the military and assuming the Cabinet post.
The statute was designed to safeguard the principle of civilian control over the military. After Thursday’s hearing, the committee approved the waiver 24- 3 and sent the measure to the full Senate.
The House Armed Services Commit- tee also backed the waiver in a 34- 28 vote. The full House is to vote Friday.
Mattis described growing global threats and said the U. S. armed forces must remain the best- led and “most lethal” in the world, acknowledging the nation has “shrunk our military capability.”
Mattis said there are “an increasing number of areas where we will have to confront Russia,” adding that Putin is “trying to break” NATO.
Threats from Russia, China and global terrorism represent the biggest threat to world order since World War II, he said.
Mattis faced questions about the integration of women into the infantry.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D- N. Y., cited Mattis’ speeches expressing concerns about allowing women into the infantry.
Mattis said he was coming into the job without preconceived ideas. “I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military,” he said.
He said his chief concern was military readiness and the “lethality” of the force, which could suggest he might review some aspects of the policy if it could be shown that it hurt capabilities.