Defense Nominee James Mattis Breaks with Trump over Russian Federation

The legislation, approved 81-17, excuses Mattis from a requirement that members of the military be separated from the service for at least seven years before being eligible to run the Pentagon.

Following a hearing on Mattis’ confirmation Thursday morning, the Senate committee considered identical legislation, passing it in a 24-3 vote. Kirsten Gillibrand, who noted that Mattis had raised questions in the past about whether gays serving openly and women taking in combat roles may undermine the potency of United States forces.

“If confirmed, he looks forward to working with both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, which play critical roles in supporting our forces and ensuring civilian control of the military”. “Those principles are being gutted and ignored”.

The nominee for Defense secretary did issue a warning on Thursday however, claiming that world powers are on edge.

Mattis, who led U.S. Central Command from 2010 until 2013, outlined his priorities for the military should he be confirmed.

The GOP-led panel voted 34-28 to pass a measure that grants Mattis a one-time exception from the law that bars former USA service members who have been out of uniform for less than seven years from holding the job.

Mattis was scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday after his Senate confirmation hearing, but Trump transition officials cancelled his appearance on Wednesday.

Voting against the waiver were three Democrats: Gillibrand, Sen. The bill will now advance to the House, where lawmakers will vote on it to pave the way for Mattis’ swift confirmation one week before the president-elect is inaugurated in Washington.

Gillibrand faced the conundrum of standing by what she described as something “so important to our democracy and our American values”, versus the practical reality that Mattis could be instrumental in guiding a president with no government experience, and a penchant for belligerent statements and tweets.

Mattis also took a hard-line stance on Russian Federation, another sign of divergence with Trump, who said during the campaign that he would “look at” pulling the usa out of the “obsolete” North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance because it was “costing us a fortune”.

Mattis agreed that those policies cause concerns.

“I think it is an imperfect arms control agreement”, he said.

“I believe military service is a touchstone for patriots of whatever stripe”.

“I will work to make sure our strategy and military calculus are employed to reinforce traditional tools of diplomacy, ensuring our President and our diplomats negotiate from a position of strength”, he said.

MATTIS: “Frankly, senator, I’ve never cared about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with”.

“I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military”, Mattis declared, reports Stars and Stripes.

Senators are expected to ask Mr Mattis how he would grapple with Iran’s influence in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and beyond.

Gillibrand repeatedly try to ask Mattis if he meant to roll back the Defense Department’s decisions to open combat positions to women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.