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Ashton Carter, Defense Nominee, Says He Would Consider More Military Aid to Ukraine Defense Nominee Says He Would Consider More U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — Ashton B. Carter, President Obama’s nominee for secretary of defense, told senators on Wednesday that he would consider increased American military assistance to Ukraine, including the sale of lethal arms, as part of the country’s effort to fight Russian-backed separatists in the east.WASHINGTON — Ashton B. Carter, President Obama’s nominee for secretary of defense, told senators on Wednesday that he would consider increased American military assistance to Ukraine, including the sale of lethal arms, as part of the country’s effort to fight Russian-backed separatists in the east.
Mr. Carter’s comments, which came as he cruised through a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, echoed those of senior administration officials, who in recent weeks have indicated that the White House is rethinking its opposition to arming Ukraine in what is turning into a proxy war with Russia. Mr. Carter’s comments, which came as he cruised through a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, echoed those of senior administration officials, who have indicated in recent weeks that the White House is rethinking its opposition to arming Ukraine in what is turning into a proxy war with Russia.
Thus far, the United States has not provided the type of lethal aid that Ukraine has asked for, out of fear of further inflaming the situation.Thus far, the United States has not provided the type of lethal aid that Ukraine has asked for, out of fear of further inflaming the situation.
But the “ability of Ukraine to find its own way as an independent country” is now at risk, Mr. Carter said. Russia, he said, has “obviously” not respected Ukraine’s territorial integrity.But the “ability of Ukraine to find its own way as an independent country” is now at risk, Mr. Carter said. Russia, he said, has “obviously” not respected Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Mr. Carter’s comments came as Republican senators served him a series of expected questions that he handled deftly.Mr. Carter’s comments came as Republican senators served him a series of expected questions that he handled deftly.
A former deputy defense secretary, Mr. Carter, 60, presented himself as an advocate of forceful yet prudent use of American power overseas. He implored Congress to get rid of the mandatory across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration, echoing defense officials who never miss an opportunity to deplore the potential cuts to the military budget. And he parried Senator John McCain’s challenge of the Obama administration’s strategy against the Islamic State, particularly in the aftermath of the brutal execution of a Jordanian Air Force pilot.A former deputy defense secretary, Mr. Carter, 60, presented himself as an advocate of forceful yet prudent use of American power overseas. He implored Congress to get rid of the mandatory across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration, echoing defense officials who never miss an opportunity to deplore the potential cuts to the military budget. And he parried Senator John McCain’s challenge of the Obama administration’s strategy against the Islamic State, particularly in the aftermath of the brutal execution of a Jordanian Air Force pilot.
“I believe I understand our strategy,” Mr. Carter said after Mr. McCain had asked him, “Do we have a strategy at this time?”“I believe I understand our strategy,” Mr. Carter said after Mr. McCain had asked him, “Do we have a strategy at this time?”
Mr. Carter even dodged what was expected to be one of the most contentious issues — the Obama administration’s recent increase in the pace of transferring detainees out of the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Several Republican senators, including Mr. McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, have proposed legislation that would place a moratorium on the release of most of the remaining prisoners. Mr. Carter even dodged what had been expected to be one of the most contentious issues — the Obama administration’s recent increase in the pace of transferring detainees out of the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Several Republican senators, including Mr. McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, have proposed legislation that would place a moratorium on the release of most of the remaining prisoners.
Although there are still more than 100 detainees at Guantánamo Bay, senior administration officials say the president is expecting Mr. Carter to move more aggressively on emptying it than did Chuck Hagel, the current defense secretary.Although there are still more than 100 detainees at Guantánamo Bay, senior administration officials say the president is expecting Mr. Carter to move more aggressively on emptying it than did Chuck Hagel, the current defense secretary.
The defense secretary has the power to delay approval of prisoner transfers from Guantánamo, and Mr. Hagel, fearful that freed detainees could become a security threat to American troops abroad, moved slowly. His actions frustrated the White House, and he ultimately resigned under pressure.The defense secretary has the power to delay approval of prisoner transfers from Guantánamo, and Mr. Hagel, fearful that freed detainees could become a security threat to American troops abroad, moved slowly. His actions frustrated the White House, and he ultimately resigned under pressure.
Wednesday’s hearing was the first time Republican senators could question Mr. Carter about Guantánamo transfers, but Ms. Ayotte simply asked him to promise that as defense secretary he would not let the White House pressure him into increasing the pace.Wednesday’s hearing was the first time Republican senators could question Mr. Carter about Guantánamo transfers, but Ms. Ayotte simply asked him to promise that as defense secretary he would not let the White House pressure him into increasing the pace.
“Absolutely, senator,” Mr. Carter replied.“Absolutely, senator,” Mr. Carter replied.
And “you will commit to this committee and to all of us that you will not allow the release of someone that you think could re-engage in terrorism so that our men and women in uniform will be confronted with them again?” Ms. Ayotte pressed.And “you will commit to this committee and to all of us that you will not allow the release of someone that you think could re-engage in terrorism so that our men and women in uniform will be confronted with them again?” Ms. Ayotte pressed.
“I do, senator,” Mr. Carter said. “As in everything else I do, I’ll play it absolutely straight.”“I do, senator,” Mr. Carter said. “As in everything else I do, I’ll play it absolutely straight.”
In interviews with senators last week, Mr. Carter largely backed Mr. Obama on the wide range of issues facing the military, like counterterrorism in Yemen and airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, according to congressional staffers.In interviews with senators last week, Mr. Carter largely backed Mr. Obama on the wide range of issues facing the military, like counterterrorism in Yemen and airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, according to congressional staffers.
And in his written answers to 328 “advance policy questions” submitted to the committee, Mr. Carter said that Sunni tribes in Iraq needed to be integrated into the Iraqi military, that American military resources had been “adequately balanced” to meet terrorism threats in North and East Africa, and that the goal of the fight against the Islamic State was to get to a point where the Sunni militancy “must no longer be a threat to Iraq, the region, the United States, and our partners.” And in his written answers to 328 “advance policy questions” submitted to the committee, Mr. Carter said that Sunni tribes in Iraq needed to be integrated into the Iraqi military, that American military resources had been “adequately balanced” to meet terrorism threats in North and East Africa, and that the goal of the fight against the Islamic State was to get to a point where the Sunni militancy “must no longer be a threat to Iraq, the region, the United States and our partners.”
Asked whether removing President Bashar al-Assad of Syria from power is part of the current American strategy in that country, Mr. Carter’s reply carefully danced through the Obama administration’s evolving views on what to do about Mr. Assad: “As the president has said, Assad has lost legitimacy and cannot be a part of the long-term future of Syria,” Mr. Carter wrote in the questionnaire, which was obtained by The New York Times. Asked whether removing President Bashar al-Assad of Syria from power was part of the current American strategy in that country, Mr. Carter danced carefully through the Obama administration’s evolving views on what to do about Mr. Assad: “As the president has said, Assad has lost legitimacy and cannot be a part of the long-term future of Syria,” he wrote in the questionnaire, which was obtained by The New York Times.
Mr. McCain said he expected that Mr. Carter’s confirmation would go before the full Senate before the next recess, which is to take place the week of Feb. 16.Mr. McCain said he expected that Mr. Carter’s confirmation would go before the full Senate before the next recess, which is to take place the week of Feb. 16.