patrick.net

Defense secretary nominee James Mattis on Thursday ranked Russia and the national debt as top threats to U.S. national security and said that President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran was “imperfect” but must be enforced.

“It’s not a deal I would have signed,” the retired Marine general said in a wide-ranging Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on his virtually certain confirmation. “But when America gives her word, we have to live up to it and work with our allies.”

During a three-hour appearance before lawmakers who rarely challenged him, Mattis repeatedly criticized Russia, promised that President-elect Donald Trump would enforce NATO’s automatic mutual-defense agreement, and said he had no plans to roll back the role of women or LGBTQ Americans in the military. He also put some distance between himself and his frequently cited nickname, “Mad Dog,” which he is known to loathe when used by people other than Marines who served under him in combat.

“I assure you that nickname was given to me by the press, and some of you may have experienced similar occasions with the press where perhaps they did not get it quite right,” Mattis said to approving chuckles from his audience.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/defense-secretary-pick-mattis-says-russia-top-threat-will-enforce-iran-deal-185357939.html

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