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Defense nominee Carter ‘inclined’ to provide U.S. arms to Ukraine Defense nominee Carter casts himself as independent voice
(about 7 hours later)
Ashton B. Carter, President Obama’s choice to become his fourth secretary of defense, said Wednesday that he was “very much inclined” to provide arms to Ukraine to fend off Russian-backed rebels, something the White House so far has resisted. Ashton B. Carter, President Obama’s choice to become the next secretary of defense, promised lawmakers Wednesday that he would keep an independent voice and showed a willingness to differ with the White House over its strategy in several global hotspots.
“We need to support the Ukrainians in defending themselves,” Carter said at his Senate confirmation hearing. Carter, 60, a physicist who has held several senior posts at the Pentagon dating to the Carter administration, said he was “very much inclined” to provide arms to Ukraine, would be open to reviewing U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan and would be cautious about releasing prisoners from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — in each case potentially putting him at odds with Obama.
In response to a pointed question from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carter said he would first need to consult with U.S. military leaders and Ukrainian officials before making a specific recommendation about what kind of weapons Washington should send to Kiev. But he left no doubt that he supported the idea. “I’ll be entirely straight and up front with the president and make my advice as cogent and as useful to him in making his decisions as I possibly can,” Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a relatively smooth nomination hearing that seemed likely to lead to his confirmation. “That’s what I’ve pledged to do. That’s what I will do.”
“I am inclined in the direction of providing them with arms, including . . . lethal arms,” he said. Some of Obama’s top foreign-policy advisers have long pressed him to take a more aggressive stance in conflict zones. The president has been generally wary of committing U.S. troops or taking steps that could exacerbate instability, but many of the problems have festered and drawn increasing criticism from Congress, including Democrats.
The Obama administration has provided night-vision goggles, body armor and other supplies to the Ukrainian government but has drawn the line at funneling weapons out of fear that they would merely escalate the conflict with the rebels and provoke countermeasures from the Russian government. Carter was careful not to directly contradict Obama. Yet he made clear that he would favor providing Ukraine with arms to fend off Russian-backed rebels, something the White House so far has resisted.
“We need to support the Ukrainians in defending themselves,” Carter said in response to pointed questions from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the committee chairman. “I am inclined in the direction of providing them with arms, including . . . lethal arms.”
The Obama administration has provided night-vision goggles, body armor and other supplies to the Ukrainian government but has drawn the line at funneling weapons out of fear that they would merely worsen the conflict with the rebels and provoke countermeasures from the Russian government.
Several U.S. military and civilian leaders have been pressing the White House to reconsider in recent weeks as the rebels have continued to make gains and Russian President Vladi­mir Putin has shown no sign of halting Moscow’s aggressive intervention in Ukraine.Several U.S. military and civilian leaders have been pressing the White House to reconsider in recent weeks as the rebels have continued to make gains and Russian President Vladi­mir Putin has shown no sign of halting Moscow’s aggressive intervention in Ukraine.
Carter’s unvarnished support for arming Ukraine could help hasten a change in U.S. policy, something that a bipartisan group of lawmakers have said they would welcome. A senior administration official said Wednesday that the White House was “reevaluating our security assistance” to Ukraine in light of the intensified fighting there and that Vice President Biden would discuss the issue with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Europe this week.
Facing no significant opposition on Capitol Hill, Carter, a 60-year-old physicist and former No. 2 official at the Pentagon, is expected to win easy approval from the Senate to become the next secretary of defense. But lawmakers used Wednesday’s hearing to air a broad critique of the Obama administration’s foreign policies and to press Carter on whether he would favor any changes. “Our goal here is to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict,” the senior official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. “We do not see a military resolution in the offing. And in that respect, our sanctions policy as well as our security assistance are aimed at changing the incentive structure facing Russia and encouraging them to settle this conflict at a negotiating table.”
Russian leaders have had a muted reaction to the renewed push in Washington to arm Ukraine, and there was no immediate response to Carter’s declaration on Wednesday.
Increasing military support for Ukraine could open fissures between the United States and Europe, which so far have been careful to present a unified front on sanctions against Russia.
Merkel said this week she would not be willing to send German arms to Ukraine and that there was no military solution to the conflict. Other European nations with close ties to Russia may object even more strongly, raising the prospect they would veto further sanctions against Moscow, which in the European Union require a consensus of all 28 member states.
Inside NATO, there are mixed opinions about the wisdom of increasing military support for Ukraine. Some officials, speaking on background to discuss sensitive planning discussions, say there is no reason to hold back from shipping weapons to Ukraine, given that little else has deterred Russia.
Other officials say that weaponry that could actually change the course of battle would be too sophisticated for the Ukrainian army to operate on its own. Such aid would require Western military forces on the ground to assist — a step that would risk a far broader confrontation with Russia.
Support for arming Ukraine has grown on Capitol Hill. Shortly after Carter’s confirmation hearing concluded, a bipartisan group of 11 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee said they would hold a news conference Thursday to urge the White House to supply weapons to Kiev.
Carter’s warm reception from the panel contrasted sharply with the last time Obama nominated someone to lead the Pentagon. Two years ago, former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) barely passed muster with the Senate and eventualy fell out of favor with the White House as well. He agreed in November to step aside as soon as Obama could find a replacement.
Although Carter faced no significant opposition, lawmakers used the hearing to air a broad critique of the Obama’s policies and to press Carter on whether he would favor any changes.
When Carter offered a carefully worded defense of the White House’s strategy for fighting the Islamic State, for example, McCain was dismissive. “Doesn’t sound like a strategy to me,” he said.When Carter offered a carefully worded defense of the White House’s strategy for fighting the Islamic State, for example, McCain was dismissive. “Doesn’t sound like a strategy to me,” he said.
Even some Democratic lawmakers questioned the Obama administration’s overall approach to defeat Islamic State while containing Iranian ambitions in the region.Even some Democratic lawmakers questioned the Obama administration’s overall approach to defeat Islamic State while containing Iranian ambitions in the region.
“Is that a coherent strategy?” asked Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the senior Democrat on the committee. Carter said it was.“Is that a coherent strategy?” asked Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the senior Democrat on the committee. Carter said it was.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) urged Carter to “not succumb to any pressure” from the White House to move quickly to empty the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Although Obama has pledged for years to close the prison, many in Congress have questioned his renewed effort to release longtime inmates, saying some of them could still pose a threat.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) urged Carter to “not succumb to any pressure” from the White House to move quickly to empty the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Although Obama has pledged for years to close the prison, many in Congress have questioned his renewed effort to release longtime inmates, saying some of them could still pose a threat.
“I understand my responsibilities,” replied Carter, who as defense secretary would have to give final approval to any prisoner transfers. “As in everything else I do, I’ll play it absolutely straight.”“I understand my responsibilities,” replied Carter, who as defense secretary would have to give final approval to any prisoner transfers. “As in everything else I do, I’ll play it absolutely straight.”
On Afghanistan, Carter said he backed Obama’s pledge to withdraw all U.S. troops from the war zone by the end of next year. But in a nod to criticism from some lawmakers that the timetable is too hasty, he said he’d be flexible.On Afghanistan, Carter said he backed Obama’s pledge to withdraw all U.S. troops from the war zone by the end of next year. But in a nod to criticism from some lawmakers that the timetable is too hasty, he said he’d be flexible.
“The president has a plan. I support that plan. At the same time, it’s a plan. And if I’m confirmed, and I ascertain as the years go by that we need to change that plan, I will recommend those changes to the president,” Carter said. In his opening remarks, Carter said he believed defense spending is a mess and replete with waste — an assessment rarely shared by other officials at the Pentagon.
In his opening remarks, Carter said he believed defense spending is a mess and replete with waste — an assessment rarely shared by officials at the Pentagon.
“I cannot suggest support and stability for the defense budget without at the same time frankly noting that not every defense dollar is spent as well as it should be,” Carter said. “The taxpayer cannot comprehend it, let alone support the defense budget, when they read . . . of cost overruns, lack of accounting and accountability, needless overhead, and the like. This must stop.”“I cannot suggest support and stability for the defense budget without at the same time frankly noting that not every defense dollar is spent as well as it should be,” Carter said. “The taxpayer cannot comprehend it, let alone support the defense budget, when they read . . . of cost overruns, lack of accounting and accountability, needless overhead, and the like. This must stop.”
“Every company, state and city in the country has had to lean itself out in recent years, and it should be no different for the Pentagon,” he added.“Every company, state and city in the country has had to lean itself out in recent years, and it should be no different for the Pentagon,” he added.
The tone of Carter’s comments on the defense budget contrasts with the doom-laden warnings given last week before the same Senate committee by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They said the armed forces have suffered enough under a few years of relative austerity imposed by Congress and the White House and that the military would struggle to maintain its effectiveness if automatic spending caps are not lifted next year. Michael Birnbaum in Moscow contributed to this report.
Carter pledged that he would be a straight shooter with Obama and would always give him “my most candid strategic advice,” a message intended to reassure lawmakers who have criticized the White House for ignoring the counsel of senior civilians and uniformed leaders at the Pentagon.
He also indicated that he would have little patience for micromanaging or improper political interference from above or below, another concern expressed by two former defense secretaries who served under Obama — Robert M. Gates and Leon E. Panetta.
“The law also prescribes the chain of command, and if I am confirmed as secretary of defense I will be a stickler for the chain of command,” Carter said.