New York Times: James Mattis, Outspoken Retired Marine, Is Trump’s Choice as Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Thursday he had chosen James N. Mattis, a hard-charging retired general who led a Marine division to Baghdad during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, to serve as his secretary of defense.
Mr. Trump made the announcement at a rally in Cincinnati, calling General Mattis “the closest thing we have to Gen. George Patton.”
General Mattis, 66, led the United States Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, from 2010 to 2013. His tour there was cut short by the Obama administration, which believed he was too hawkish on Iran.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 2, 2016
How Trump picking Mattis as Pentagon chief breaks with 65 years of U.S. history -- Dan Lamothe, Washington Post
Trump's pick of James Mattis to head the Pentagon sets up a spat in Congress -- L.A. Times
Mattis as Defense Secretary: Wartime Experience for a Country at War -- General Jack Keane, Cipher Brief
Trump's Defense Pick Accused of Delaying Aid to Wounded Soldiers -- NBC
Democrats could block Mattis nomination -- Politico
Iran Owns 4.5% Stake in German Company Behind Israeli Submarine Deal - Report -- Sputnik
S. Korea to begin preliminary design work for indigenous fighter jet in 2017 -- Yonhap
Japan Receives 1st F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- The Diplomat
Japan to Boost Military Spending in 2017 Fiscal Year to Record $46Bln -- Sputnik
Boris Johnson: UK won't block EU defence co-operation -- BBC
Anti-Daesh Coalition Loses Key French Aircraft Carrier to Maintenance -- Sputnik
Commander: More US Troops in Afghanistan Sent 'Strong Message' -- Military.com
US Coast Guard Chief Seeks Expanded Asia-Pacific Role -- VOA
Troubled $29 Billion U.S. Warship Sows Fresh Doubt on Worth -- Bloomberg
After Panama pit stop, Navy stealth ship steams toward San Diego -- San Diego Tribune
US Zumwalt Destroyers Will Get a Second Look From President Trump -- Sputnik
The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency Will Test-Fire its New Larger SM-3IIA Interceptor Missile in Space -- Scout Warrior
General: Army struggles to meet goal of 80,000 recruits -- The Arizona Republic
Congress Wants to Know Why Soldiers, Marines Don’t Use the Same Rifle Ammo -- Kit-Up!
Navy Shipbuilding, Uniforms Under Scrutiny in Defense Budget -- DoD Buzz
No Extra Fighter Jets in Compromise Defense Bill -- DoD Buzz
House Pushes Ahead with $611 Billion Defense Policy Bill -- AP
Trump Will Request More Troops, Ships, Planes: Thornberry -- DoD Buzz
Defense policy bill would bring the biggest organizational changes in 30 years -- Jaqueline Limas, Washington Examiner
White House: Obama supports registering women for military draft -- USA Today
Just one Trump transition aide for U.S. spy agencies: officials -- Reuters
What Is “Military Artificial Intelligence”? -- Brad Allenby, Slate