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Trump top nominees Pompeo and Mattis warn of Russia threat | Trump top nominees Pompeo and Mattis warn of Russia threat |
(35 minutes later) | |
President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for defence secretary and spy chief have been taking aim at Russia during their Senate confirmation hearings. | President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for defence secretary and spy chief have been taking aim at Russia during their Senate confirmation hearings. |
General James Mattis, defence secretary nominee, warned Nato was under its biggest attack since World War Two. | General James Mattis, defence secretary nominee, warned Nato was under its biggest attack since World War Two. |
Mike Pompeo, Mr Trump's pick to lead the CIA, said Moscow posed a threat in Europe and was "asserting itself aggressively" in Ukraine. | Mike Pompeo, Mr Trump's pick to lead the CIA, said Moscow posed a threat in Europe and was "asserting itself aggressively" in Ukraine. |
The tough talk follows Mr Trump's call for warmer relations with Moscow. | The tough talk follows Mr Trump's call for warmer relations with Moscow. |
Mr Mattis, a retired general and Mr Trump's pick for Pentagon chief, said Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to divide Nato nations. | Mr Mattis, a retired general and Mr Trump's pick for Pentagon chief, said Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to divide Nato nations. |
"I think right now the most important thing is that we recognise the reality of what we deal with with Mr Putin," he told the Armed Services Committee. | |
"And we recognise that he is trying to break the North Atlantic Alliance and that we take the steps... to defend ourselves where we must. | |
"I think it's under the biggest attack since World War II, sir, and that's from Russia, from terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea." | "I think it's under the biggest attack since World War II, sir, and that's from Russia, from terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea." |
If confirmed, Mr Mattis, nicknamed Mad Dog, would be the first career military officer to serve as secretary of defence in more than 50 years. | |
But the committee would have to approve an exception to a rule that says former military staff must spend a minimum of seven years out of office before they can run the Pentagon. | |
Mr Pompeo, Mr Trump's choice for CIA director, faced questions over the president-elect's rift with the US intelligence community. | |
He told the Intelligence Committee he had "every confidence" in the US intelligence services. | He told the Intelligence Committee he had "every confidence" in the US intelligence services. |
Their assessment that state-directed Russia hackers meddled in the US election was "sound", he added. | Their assessment that state-directed Russia hackers meddled in the US election was "sound", he added. |
The conservative Kansas Republican was quick to criticise Russia for invading and occupying Ukraine, threatening Europe and "doing nearly nothing" to destroy the so-called Islamic State. | |
But when asked what was the greatest security threat to the US, he cited terrorism foremost and lumped Russia in behind North Korea and China. | |
Mr Pompeo, who previously said the CIA's post-9/11 interrogation practices were "within the law", was questioned about that issue, too. | Mr Pompeo, who previously said the CIA's post-9/11 interrogation practices were "within the law", was questioned about that issue, too. |
He was asked if he would support the statement that "the CIA is out of the enhanced interrogation" business. | He was asked if he would support the statement that "the CIA is out of the enhanced interrogation" business. |
Mr Pompeo said: "Yes, you have my full commitment to that." | Mr Pompeo said: "Yes, you have my full commitment to that." |
He added he would "absolutely not" restart those programmes if asked to do so by the president-elect. | He added he would "absolutely not" restart those programmes if asked to do so by the president-elect. |
Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's choice for secretary of state, is also undergoing a second day of grilling before the Foreign Relations Committee. | Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's choice for secretary of state, is also undergoing a second day of grilling before the Foreign Relations Committee. |
The former chief executive of Exxon Mobil faced sharp questioning on Wednesday from Republican senator Marco Rubio. | The former chief executive of Exxon Mobil faced sharp questioning on Wednesday from Republican senator Marco Rubio. |
Ben Carson, Mr Trump's nominee for housing secretary, is also being questioned by senators. | Ben Carson, Mr Trump's nominee for housing secretary, is also being questioned by senators. |
Mr Carson, who ran for president, is a retired neurosurgeon with no direct experience of housing policy or of public office in general. | |
He was raised in a low-income Detroit neighbourhood by a mother who worked several jobs and relied on welfare to support her sons. | |
But he has heavily criticised welfare programmes saying that they breed dependency. | |