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| Trump names Gen James 'Mad Dog' Mattis as defence secretary | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President-elect Donald Trump has named General James Mattis as his defence secretary. | US President-elect Donald Trump has named General James Mattis as his defence secretary. |
| "He's our best," Mr Trump said, as he announced the nomination to a rally of supporters in Ohio. | |
| Gen Mattis, who is known as "Mad Dog", was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration's Middle East policy, particularly on Iran. | Gen Mattis, who is known as "Mad Dog", was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration's Middle East policy, particularly on Iran. |
| He has referred to Iran as "the single most enduring threat to stability and peace in the Middle East". | He has referred to Iran as "the single most enduring threat to stability and peace in the Middle East". |
| Mr Trump made the announcement in Cincinnati at the start of a "USA Thank You Tour 2016" for his supporters. | |
| "We are going to appoint 'Mad Dog' Mattis as our secretary of defence," he told the crowd. | |
| "They say he's the closest thing to General George Patton [World War Two commander] that we have." | |
| Mr Trump has previously described Gen Mattis, 66, as "a true general's general". | |
| The retired Marine Corps officer led an assault battalion during the first Gulf war in 1991 and commanded a task force into southern Afghanistan in 2001. | |
| He also took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and played a key role a year later in the Battle of Fallujah. | He also took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and played a key role a year later in the Battle of Fallujah. |
| Gen Mattis retired in 2013 after serving as the commander of the US Central Command. | |
| Correspondents say his nomination will be popular among US forces. | |
| However, a constitutional hurdle must be overcome before he can be appointed. | |
| Under US law, a retired officer must be out of uniform for at least seven years before he or she can serve as defence secretary. | |
| Republican-controlled Congress will have to approve legislation bypassing the requirement so he can take up the role. |