San. Republican Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Tom Q otton Ton (R-Ark), on their growing attitude on Iran, Taiwan and NATO allies, President Trump’s elbber to serve as the defense for policy.
Republican Senators have raised concerns privately on Colbi’s previous statements, especially as they are in the U.S. Interpretes the National Security Center from the Middle East and Europe and as his past desire to remove from Taiwan and China.
Senate GOP Sources say that the nomination of Colbi can now be less respected by the Republican Senators that most of the controversial Trump’s cabinet elections have been confirmed by the Senate, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabard.
Colby’s past suggestion Senators are particularly terrified that the United States can tolerate nuclear armed Iran and will not be in the interest of the country to start military operations to destroy the infrastructure of Iran’s nuclear weapons.
Republican members of the Armed Services Committee also pressed Colby on some views as a soft tendency to defend Taiwan, named by the nominee as an emerging military capacity imbalance between China, which is now the world’s largest maritime warfare, and the United States.
The Senate Republican Conference Chairman K otton Ton asked some of the most directed questions at the Colby’s confirmed hearing on Tuesday.
“I have some worries about what you have said in the past, that is, if we choose to include nuclear Iran and hopes to stop Iran with a military force, we should bear nuclear Iran and try to include it.” “You have wisely cited this point of view, that worse than the prospects of Iran, equipped with nuclear weapons, will be the result of using force to try to stop them.
“It is definitely not my opinion, but more important, it is not President Trump’s policy,” Cotton announced.
Former US Army captain K otton ton, who was on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, noted that Trump has said for more than a decade that Iran could not be allowed to get nuclear weapons last month and that a nuclear Iran could not be allowed to get such an existing threat to the United States.
But Arkansas’s senator admitted that in his written reply of the Colby, the Committee, it is now said that the United States should deny Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
Colbi told K otton toning that he was committed to providing Trump to “trusted and real” military options to prevent Iran from going to nuclear, as us would probably be provided with refueling tankers and heavy bombers to attack Iran.
On the topic of Taiwan, the otton ton asked the nominee why he “softened” his attitude to guarantee safety for Taiwan.
“Over the past few years, you have begun to say… that Taiwan is an important interest, but it is not [an] It is not necessary for us to exist or it is not necessary for us. It looks like you have changed your thoughts somewhat in the last few years, “Cotton said.
“You will explain to us why you feel somewhat soft about Taiwan’s defense in the last few years? “He asked.
Colby replied that he has always said that Taiwan is “very important” for the United States, but he argued that he was “not interested in existence.”
But he said that due to the change in the “military balance” between the United States and China, the U.S. Policymakers have been forced to reconsider the national security interest in defending Taiwan in all struggles with China.
He said, “What has changed the Senator … there is a dramatic deterioration of military balance. “In extremely expensive efforts, which will destroy our military, in the extremely expensive efforts,” lack of preparedness on our part “, to advance China in the area of its own influence,” it is different to join in vain, in extremely expensive efforts. “
And Colby argued that Taiwan’s defense cost is below 3 percent of its total domestic production and that the level of GDP needs to be raised by up to 10 percent of GDP.
San. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) asked Colby about his views on US membership at NATO Alliance, which some Trump colleagues, like Tech billionaire Alon Musk, argued. Utah’s Musk and Sen. Mike Lee (R) recently called on the United States to retreat from NATO.
“Are you a strong supporter of the NATO connection?” Asked Sulliva. “You still think it’s a useful, important connection to the United States?”
Colby told the committee: “I do. Again, Senator, I believe in the drums, but I believe it … have to adapt. “
Colby pointed out that in 1988, West Germany, which was two -thirds of the current Germany size at the time, 12 active sections were raised in the field while the existing Germany could not “put a single section together.”
“It is not Tenable. I think we are seeing progress. The question now is how can we manage this dangerous period of transition? “He said.
Sullivan quickly interlocked: “I agree with all of them, but it is worth improving because it offers strength and power to the United States.”
US The Colonel Alaska Senator of the Marine Corps Reserve, then the nuclear armed, follows on cotton questions about their views about Iran.
He cited a Acquisition The Wall L Street Journal criticized the nominee for describing the Middle East as a “third region” on Monday and “the US nuclear could tolerate Iran.”
“That suggestion is no longer your opinion, right?” Suliva demanded.
Colby promised, “I believe that we should not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon and if confirmed, I believe it is my responsibility to provide a reliable, good military to prevent the outcome.
“You believe, in person?” Asked Sulliva.
Colby endorsed with his previous statements, explaining, “I have been in the policy for a long time.”
He added, “I would say everything I said,” he added.
“At that time, whom I was arguing – this conversation was 15 years ago – many opponents also received a flippent tendency to the employment of the military in casual or in some cases. The one I was arguing is a lot, “he said.
“Was my talk always right? Was my exact framing always right. No, “he said.
Sullivan cut it: “Is Iran’s nuclear weapon a threat to existence for the United States?”
“Yes,” Colby replied. “I think we now have the leadership of the Vice -President, the Defense Secretary and the President, who understands that we need to be strong military, but also understand the negative risks of military employment.”
Vice President Vance made a special presentation to the committee to support Colby’s nomination.
His presentation Freshman Sen. Was also done by Jim Banks (R-Ind.).
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
