WASHINGTON: Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan's first full day on the Pentagon's helm was overshadowed Wednesday when President Donald Trump attacked his predecessor Jim Mattis.
Shanahan, who took the Pentagon's top spot January 1 after serving as deputy defense secretary, was thrust onto the sector stage when Mattis surrender last month amid long-running disagreements with President Donald Trump.
During televised remarks forward of his first cabinet meeting of 2019, Trump claimed he had "essentially fired" Mattis, even supposing the previous Pentagon leader had pointedly surrender his put up over more than one disagreements.
"I'm not happy with what (Mattis has) done in Afghanistan and I shouldn't be happy," Trump stated, as Shanahan sat by way of his side.
"I wish him well. I hope he does well. But as you know, President Obama fired him and essentially so did I. I want results."
Mattis, a former Marine common, was head of US Central Command when Obama fired him in 2013 over his hawkish perspectives on Iran.
While it is common for Trump to turn on former staffers and make demeaning remarks after they've left their put up, the Mattis criticism is notable as Trump had continuously touted his admiration for the person he known as "Mad Dog Mattis."
The drama came after Shanahan sought to put out his priorities for America's massive defense division and how he intends to deal with an pressing checklist of geopolitical to-dos, including the United States withdrawal from Syria.
Soon after arriving on the Pentagon, Shanahan instructed colleagues to focus on the National Defense Strategy, a Mattis-era evaluate that highlights "Great Power competition" with Russia and China.
"In 2019, the National Defense Strategy remains our guide. America's military strength remains our focus," Shanahan stated in a New Year's message on Twitter.
A defense reputable added that Shanahan had instructed colleagues a big concern could be China.
"While we are focused on ongoing operations, Acting Secretary Shanahan told the team to remember: China, China, China," the reputable stated.
The US accuses Beijing of an ongoing development of army and economic espionage, and has criticized China's ambitious "Belt and Road" business and infrastructure initiative as being a type of economic coercion.
Shanahan should oversee the tempo at which the United States pulls some 2,200 troops out of Syria, following the president's resolution to exit the war-torn country.
Last month, Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group in Syria and claimed the jihadists have been beaten "badly," even supposing they still quantity in the thousands.
He has since backpedaled and urged extra of a phased timeline for the withdrawal.
"We're withdrawing," Trump stated, including it might occur "over a period of time."
At another point, Trump instructed Shanahan he wanted him to categorise various stories, presumably including the ones detailing the security disaster in Afghanistan.
"For these reports to be given out and essentially given out to the enemy, that's insane," Trump instructed Shanahan.
"I don't want it to happen anymore Mr Secretary, you understand that."
According to US officials, Trump could also be mulling a 50 percent drawdown in Afghanistan -- another momentous transfer that has left lawmakers and international allies fearing for what comes next.
Little identified outside trade and Washington circles, Shanahan takes the sector stage at a time of tumultuous adjustments and unpredictable international policy strikes beneath Trump.
Shanahan, 56, did not serve in the army and ahead of but serving as deputy defense secretary he spent greater than 30 years at Boeing.
While Shanahan has now not all the time had day by day involvement in thorny geopolitical issues like Syria, officials say he is ready to tackle them and in the past stuffed in for Mattis when he was touring.
Despite a lack of international policy or army revel in, Shanahan's govt and technical knowledge made him neatly suited to the Pentagon's quantity two position, which focuses extra on the Defense Department's trade side.
But some critics have puzzled whether or not a man with deep industry ties should be working the Pentagon.
At his confirmation listening to to be deputy, the overdue senator John McCain stated a lack of detail in some of Shanahan's international policy solutions was "almost insulting," and he expressed issues that hanging a former defense govt in the Pentagon may well be akin to hanging a fox "back in to the henhouse."
Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, Shanahan's spokesman, stated he had recused himself from any matters involving Boeing.
Also Wednesday, Shanahan introduced that the Pentagon's comptroller, David Norquist, will carry out the duties of deputy secretary of defense.
Shanahan, who took the Pentagon's top spot January 1 after serving as deputy defense secretary, was thrust onto the sector stage when Mattis surrender last month amid long-running disagreements with President Donald Trump.
During televised remarks forward of his first cabinet meeting of 2019, Trump claimed he had "essentially fired" Mattis, even supposing the previous Pentagon leader had pointedly surrender his put up over more than one disagreements.
"I'm not happy with what (Mattis has) done in Afghanistan and I shouldn't be happy," Trump stated, as Shanahan sat by way of his side.
"I wish him well. I hope he does well. But as you know, President Obama fired him and essentially so did I. I want results."
Mattis, a former Marine common, was head of US Central Command when Obama fired him in 2013 over his hawkish perspectives on Iran.
While it is common for Trump to turn on former staffers and make demeaning remarks after they've left their put up, the Mattis criticism is notable as Trump had continuously touted his admiration for the person he known as "Mad Dog Mattis."
The drama came after Shanahan sought to put out his priorities for America's massive defense division and how he intends to deal with an pressing checklist of geopolitical to-dos, including the United States withdrawal from Syria.
Soon after arriving on the Pentagon, Shanahan instructed colleagues to focus on the National Defense Strategy, a Mattis-era evaluate that highlights "Great Power competition" with Russia and China.
"In 2019, the National Defense Strategy remains our guide. America's military strength remains our focus," Shanahan stated in a New Year's message on Twitter.
A defense reputable added that Shanahan had instructed colleagues a big concern could be China.
"While we are focused on ongoing operations, Acting Secretary Shanahan told the team to remember: China, China, China," the reputable stated.
The US accuses Beijing of an ongoing development of army and economic espionage, and has criticized China's ambitious "Belt and Road" business and infrastructure initiative as being a type of economic coercion.
Shanahan should oversee the tempo at which the United States pulls some 2,200 troops out of Syria, following the president's resolution to exit the war-torn country.
Last month, Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group in Syria and claimed the jihadists have been beaten "badly," even supposing they still quantity in the thousands.
He has since backpedaled and urged extra of a phased timeline for the withdrawal.
"We're withdrawing," Trump stated, including it might occur "over a period of time."
At another point, Trump instructed Shanahan he wanted him to categorise various stories, presumably including the ones detailing the security disaster in Afghanistan.
"For these reports to be given out and essentially given out to the enemy, that's insane," Trump instructed Shanahan.
"I don't want it to happen anymore Mr Secretary, you understand that."
According to US officials, Trump could also be mulling a 50 percent drawdown in Afghanistan -- another momentous transfer that has left lawmakers and international allies fearing for what comes next.
Little identified outside trade and Washington circles, Shanahan takes the sector stage at a time of tumultuous adjustments and unpredictable international policy strikes beneath Trump.
Shanahan, 56, did not serve in the army and ahead of but serving as deputy defense secretary he spent greater than 30 years at Boeing.
While Shanahan has now not all the time had day by day involvement in thorny geopolitical issues like Syria, officials say he is ready to tackle them and in the past stuffed in for Mattis when he was touring.
Despite a lack of international policy or army revel in, Shanahan's govt and technical knowledge made him neatly suited to the Pentagon's quantity two position, which focuses extra on the Defense Department's trade side.
But some critics have puzzled whether or not a man with deep industry ties should be working the Pentagon.
At his confirmation listening to to be deputy, the overdue senator John McCain stated a lack of detail in some of Shanahan's international policy solutions was "almost insulting," and he expressed issues that hanging a former defense govt in the Pentagon may well be akin to hanging a fox "back in to the henhouse."
Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, Shanahan's spokesman, stated he had recused himself from any matters involving Boeing.
Also Wednesday, Shanahan introduced that the Pentagon's comptroller, David Norquist, will carry out the duties of deputy secretary of defense.
Patrick Shanahan takes Pentagon helm as Trump blasts Mattis
![Patrick Shanahan takes Pentagon helm as Trump blasts Mattis]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 03, 2019
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