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| Retired General James Mattis (Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Thomas WATKINS
How will President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, retired Marine general James Mattis, steer America's largest bureaucracy and the world's biggest war machine through what likely will be turbulent years to come?
Here are six of the most pressing issues that will land on Mattis's plate if he is confirmed:
- Iran -
Mattis is hawkish on Iran and has publicly called it the "single most belligerent actor in the Middle East."
The former Marine general, who commanded a division during the invasion of Iraq, has blamed the deaths of some US troops on Iranian support for Shiite militias in Anbar province.
And Mattis has accused Tehran of continuing to finance extremist networks that are destabilizing the Middle East.
Trump has slammed the Iran nuclear deal, and Mattis has also challenged it.
He has said the White House isn't doing enough to counter Iranian military moves in the region -- and is likely to push for a hard line against the Islamic Republic.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily