POOL
Washington - 12 January 2017
1. Extreme wide of hearing room
2. Medium of James Mattis at witness table
3. SOUNDBITE (English): Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:
"I've watched three presidents commit themselves to new relationship with Vladimir Putin. All three have been an abysmal failure. Should we ignore the lessons of history in our relationship with Vladimir Putin? And what should we be doing."
4. SOUNDBITE (English): Gen. James Mattis, Defense Secretary Nominee:
"Chairman, history is not a straight jacket, but I've never found a better guide for the way ahead than studying the history. Since Yalta we have had a long list of times that we tried to engage positively with Russia. We have a relatively short list of successes in that regard and I think right now the most important thing is that we recognize the reality of what we deal with with Mr. Putin and we recognize that he is trying to break the North Atlantic Alliance and that we take the steps, the integrated steps, diplomatic, economic, military and the alliance steps, working with our allies to defend ourselves where we must."
5. SOUNDBITE (English): Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:
"AS we are all aware, following World War II, a New World Order was established, which has held for basically the last 70 years. Do you believe that world order is now under more strain than it's ever been?"
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Gen. James Mattis, Defense Secretary Nominee:
"I think it's under the biggest attack since World War II sir and that's from Russia, terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea."
7. SOUNDBITE (English): Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:
"And that would argue for us making sure we're adequately prepared these challenges."
8. SOUNDBITE (English): Gen. James Mattis, Defense Secretary Nominee:
"I think deterrent is critical right now. Absolutely and that requires the strongest military."
9. SOUNDBITE (English): Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:
"Do you think we a strong enough military today in order to achieve that goal?"
10. SOUNDBITE (English): Gen. James Mattis, Defense Secretary Nominee:
"No sir."
11. Medium of senators