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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. | "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. | "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." |
The former four-star Marine general has described Nato as the most successful military alliance in modern history, clashing with Mr Trump's comments undercutting the almost 70-year-old organisation. | |
General Mattis also gave his support to the intelligence community, saying he had a "very, very high degree of confidence" in them despite the president-elect's recent doubts over their assessments. | |
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. | 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. |
Who is General 'Mad Dog' Mattis? | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 lawful, 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 was put on the defensive on Wednesday when Florida Senator Marco Rubio pressed Mr Tillerson to label President Putin a war criminal for his actions in Syria and elsewhere. | |
"I would not use that term," the Texas multimillionaire said, adding that those were "very, very serious charges to make". | |
But Mr Tillerson did side with the US intelligence assessment that Mr Putin likely directed the hacks on the US Democratic party, calling it a "fair assumption". | |
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. | 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. | 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. | But he has heavily criticised welfare programmes saying that they breed dependency. |