The Briefing Room

General Category => Military/Defense News => Topic started by: TomSea on March 06, 2019, 04:29:15 pm

Title: James Mattis looms large over Patrick Shanahan's audition for Pentagon chief
Post by: TomSea on March 06, 2019, 04:29:15 pm
Quote
James Mattis looms large over Patrick Shanahan's audition for Pentagon chief

 By Ben Wolfgang and Lauren Meier - The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan’s bid to win confirmation as long-term Pentagon chief is suffering on Capitol Hill because of a simple fact: He’s not James Mattis.

Congressional insiders say powerful lawmakers remain unwilling to throw their support behind Mr. Shanahan after a two-month audition, and it’s not because of any policy missteps or even concern about his ability to navigate the monumental job of running the U.S. military.

Instead, senators are measuring Mr. Shanahan — a former Boeing executive with no government experience before joining the Pentagon in July 2017 — against Mr. Mattis, a retired four-star Marine Corps general and towering figure who commanded enormous respect inside the Defense Department, on Capitol Hill and from governments around the world.

Read more at: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/5/patrick-shanahan-overshadowed-james-mattis-defense/ (https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/5/patrick-shanahan-overshadowed-james-mattis-defense/)