US defense chief nominee pledges to reinforce security in "dangerous world"

US President Barack Obama's defense secretary nominee on Wednesday pledged to protect the nation and its allies in a turbulent world...

Ash Carter, who served as deputy secretary of defense from October 2011 to December 2013, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that if he was confirmed as defense secretary, his responsibilities would be to protect America and its friends and allies in a turbulent and dangerous world.

The dangers include continuing turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, "malignant and savage terrorism" emanating from the region, an ongoing war in Afghanistan and a reversion to old-style security thinking in parts of Europe, he said at his Senate confirmation hearing.

Dangers to the United States and its allies and friends also may arise from long-standing past tensions and rapid changes in Asia, a continuing need for the stabilizing US role in that region, a continuing imperative to counter the spread or use of weapons of mass destruction, Carter told the Senate panel.

"Strategy," Carter added, "needs to keep all these problems in perspective and to craft lasting approaches to each of them."

Carter said he promised the president that as defense secretary he would offer Obama his most candid strategic advice.

"In formulating that advice, I intend to confer widely among civilian and military leaders, including those on this committee, and among experts and foreign partners," he added.

Meanwhile, Carter pledged to work with Congress to find a way through defense budget turmoil and the looming spending cuts of sequestration, which are scheduled to take effect in 2016 unless U. S. Congress changes current budget law.

"Sequester is risky to our defense," he said. "It introduces turbulence and uncertainty that are wasteful and conveys a misleadingly diminished picture of our power in the eyes of friends and foes alike."

"Issues and solutions change over time, as technology and industry change, he said, adding that the issues extend from acquisition, and this is important to all other parts of the defense budget, including force size, compensation, and training as well as equipment.

If confirmed as defense secretary, Carter said he'd work to make needed changes in the Pentagon and to seek support from Congress, which holds the power of the purse.
  Source:Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
5/2/15
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