Mattis Waiver Confirmed by Senate

Donald Trump is shrugging off the contradictions that have emerged this week between his own views and those expressed by his Cabinet nominees at their Senate confirmation hearings.

Senators are expected to ask Mattis how he would grapple with Iran’s influence in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and beyond. “My view is that nations with allies thrive and nations without allies don’t”, he argued. “We’ll work with you when we can work with you otherwise you need to leave us alone”.

“That means we are protecting them and they are getting all sorts of military protection and other things and they’re ripping off the United States”.

Another nominee, Homeland Security secretary-designate John Kelly, disputed Trump over another high-profile issue: A proposed wall along the U.S. -Mexico border.

“This is a major issue affecting the principle of civilian control of the military, and Ranking Member Smith believes deeply that Gen. Mattis should come speak with the members about it”, Youngsmith said.

Allegations, vehemently denied by Trump and his aides, have also swirled around the incoming president after the publication of a report claiming he had been in contact with Russian intelligence services over a period of five years.

“Israel is a fellow democracy and I think Israel’s security is very important to the US”, Mattis said. His comments appeared to align more with the sentiments of the Armed Services Committee’s chairman, Sen. The committee voted 24-3 to approve a waiver allowing Mattis – a four-star general with four decades of experience in the Marine Corps – to serve as defense secretary despite not being seven years removed from military service, as law requires. He called civilian control “a fundamental tenet of the American military tradition”.

“Mattis was furious”, said the source. And why was it supposedly Team Trump, not Mattis himself, who asked for the cancellation?

At the same time, this country needs to be prepared to defend itself. “I don’t think that is a message we should have accepted”. “You have my word I will do that”.

Mattis, 66, retired in 2013 after serving as commander of U.S. Central Command in charge of all U.S. forces in the Middle East.

In the past, Mattis has said Iran is a greater threat than terrorist groups such as ISIS or al-Qaeda.

“If confirmed, I will also encourage our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies to spend their defense dollars more wisely – with appropriate and agreed shares devoted to procurement, research and development – and to transform their forces”, Mattis said.

He claimed that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.

“We have to restore a better relationship with Israel and Arab allies”, Mattis said.

This was exacerbated on Wednesday when Mr Trump said an unsubstantiated dossier alleging Russian Federation had compromising material on him may have been leaked by United States intelligence.

Trump has said that his “big, beautiful” wall, which was very much a cornerstone of his campaign, would be part of a multi-pronged plan to curb illegal immigration, which Trump tied to job loss and crime. “But I’m not coming in looking for problems”.

No career military officer has led the Pentagon since the 1950s, but even some of Trump’s strongest critics have supported the exception for Mattis.