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Gen. James Mattis testifies at Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense (WATCH LIVE) Russia, terrorists & China threaten world order, US 'ready to engage' - Mattis (WATCH LIVE)
(35 minutes later)
The Senate Armed Services Committee is hearing the testimony of retired Marine General James Mattis, picked by President-elect Donald Trump to take over the Department of Defense.The Senate Armed Services Committee is hearing the testimony of retired Marine General James Mattis, picked by President-elect Donald Trump to take over the Department of Defense.
His appointment requires a congressional waiver because federal law states that service members must wait seven years after retiring from active duty before they can hold senior civilian defense positions.His appointment requires a congressional waiver because federal law states that service members must wait seven years after retiring from active duty before they can hold senior civilian defense positions.
Mattis retired from the US Marine Corps in 2013 after serving as the 11th commander of US Central Command, replacing General David Petraeus as the overseer of US operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.Mattis retired from the US Marine Corps in 2013 after serving as the 11th commander of US Central Command, replacing General David Petraeus as the overseer of US operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Mattis was introduced by former Senators Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) and William Cohen (D-Maine), who also served as Defense Secretary under Bill Clinton.Mattis was introduced by former Senators Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) and William Cohen (D-Maine), who also served as Defense Secretary under Bill Clinton.
In addition to the Senate hearing, Mattis was supposed to appear before the House Armed Services Committee later on Thursday, but that appearance was canceled by the transition team, according to Military Times.In addition to the Senate hearing, Mattis was supposed to appear before the House Armed Services Committee later on Thursday, but that appearance was canceled by the transition team, according to Military Times.
The general’s nickname of ‘Mad Dog’ a “misnomer,” Cohen said. “It should be Braveheart,” he said, adding that Mattis is not only a courageous warrior but a scholar of military history, with an extensive collection of books.The general’s nickname of ‘Mad Dog’ a “misnomer,” Cohen said. “It should be Braveheart,” he said, adding that Mattis is not only a courageous warrior but a scholar of military history, with an extensive collection of books.
“Our Armed Forces must remain the best led, best equipped, and most ready force in the world,” Mattis told the lawmakers.“We must also embrace our international alliances and security partnerships. History is clear: nations with strong allies thrive and those without them wither.”“My watchwords will be solvency and security in providing for the protection of our people and the survival of our freedoms,” Mattis said. 
Senator John McCain questioned Mattis to get his opinion on how much threat Russia represents.
The world order is “under biggest attacks since WW2, from Russia, terrorist groups, and China’s actions in the South China Sea,” Mattis told McCain, agreeing with the bellicose senator that Russia is trying to break up NATO.
“I’m all for engagement” with Russia, “but we also have to recognize the reality of what Russia is up to,” Mattis told Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island).
The questions from Senators often returned to the issues of defense budget cut due to the legislation introduced by President Barack Obama in 2011.
“I don’t have a solution for… the self-inflicted wound of the Budget Control Act,” Mattis told Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), but promised he would spend the Pentagon’s budget on what it should be spent on.
Mattis also expressed his support to Israel.
“Israel is a fellow democracy and I think Israel’s security is very important to the US,” Mattis told Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). “Are there any other democracies in the Middle East?” Wicker asked.“No,” Mattis said.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) asked about the US troops in Poland in the context of US “reassuring” NATO allies.“NATO is the most successful military alliance probably in modern world history, maybe ever,” Mattis said, but mistakenly argued that “the first time NATO went into combat” was after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.The alliance actually went to war in 1999 against Yugoslavia.