Trump's pick to be next Joint Chiefs chair acknowledges being an ‘unconventional nominee'
US President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledged Tuesday that he was an unconventional pick, but vowed to garner the support of American lawmakers and the public.
'I acknowledge that I'm an unconventional nominee; these are unconventional times. It is 9:48PM in Beijing, 6:48PM in Tehran, 4:48PM in Moscow, and 10:48PM in Pyongyang. As we sit here now, our nation faces an unprecedented rising global risk,' retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine said.
Caine said US adversaries were advancing, global nuclear threats were on the rise, and deterrence was paramount. 'Our national defense requires urgent action and reform across the board. We must go faster; we must move with a sense of urgency. We can never forget that our number one job is to create peace through overwhelming strength, and if need be, fight and win our nation's wars,' he said during a hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC).
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump dismissed the top US military general in a social media post, while the Pentagon chief simultaneously announced the removal of several senior officers. Trump revealed that Caine would be his choice to replace General CQ Brown, who had served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for 16 months under the Biden administration.
A career fighter pilot, Caine—also known as 'Razin'—most recently served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA. He previously held key roles in Iraq, with Trump touting his efforts as 'instrumental' in defeating ISIS.
However, controversy arose when Trump claimed that Caine had expressed admiration for him and had worn a MAGA hat. Caine denied the account, stating: 'I think the president was actually talking about somebody else. I've never worn any political merchandise or said anything to that effect.'
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Asharq Al-Awsat
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