What is he pentagonite?

Russia has the greatest threat to world order since the Second World War. This was announced at the hearing in the Senate by the US Donald Trump, nominated by the US President Donald Trump for the post of Minister of Defense, James Mattis, reports Reuters. With other threats, he called Islamic terrorism and the actions of China in the South China Sea.

Mattis also stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to split NATO. At the same time, the candidate for the post of head of the Pentagon noted the key significance of the alliance to ensure US security. "History gives a clear lesson: countries with strong allies flourish, and those who do not have such allies are dying," said a retired general.

Answering the questions of the senators, Mattis emphasized that he would advocate strengthening NATO unity, in particular, for supporting the Baltic countries that feel the threat from Russia, and for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the same time, he stated that the United States needs to strengthen its military power.

Mattis also said that together with his subordinates plans to develop a project of strategy for the confrontation of Russia in the world arena. "I would like to know closer to my security team, to develop a draft strategy to counteract Russia due to what it has already done," he said.

However, Mattis left the answer to the question of expanding US sanctions against Russia. The candidate also did not answer the question of whether possible new cyber attacks from Russia in the United States have military consequences. “The decision on wars is not made by automatic,” he said. As Mattis emphasized, he intends to study this issue in more detail and develop the principles of counteracting potential threats in the cyberosphere.

The United States should interact with Russia, Mattis believes, because countries interacted even during the Cold War. At the same time, the candidate said, the United States must resist Russia in areas where cooperation is impossible, and defend itself from Russia if it acts against American interests.

CIA candidate Mike Pompeo also called Russia a threat and noted that it is aggressively operating in Ukraine. Pompeo added that he considers the information about Russia's involvement in hacker attacks in the United States.

Mattis, who retired in 2013, may become the first personnel soldier at the head of the Pentagon in more than half a century. American legislation prohibits the military who have been retired for less than seven years to head the Ministry of Defense. However, the Senate can make a special decision and make an exception.

Mattis took part in the fighting as part of the Operation in the desert in 1991, and also participated in the operation in Afghanistan against the Taliban. Then Mattis took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was a participant in the battle for Falludge in 2004. From 2007 to 2010, he headed the Interdeplate Command of the US Armed Forces

The nickname "Frantic Dog" General received for his implacable attitude to Islamic extremists. On his account there are many ambiguous and tough statements.

The day before, Tillerson said to Trump to the post of Secretary of State Rex at a hearing in the Senate that " Russia is a threat today ." The concern of the actions of Russia, which is expressed by the US allies in NATO, called the candidate reasonable.

In addition, Tillerson negatively answered the direct question of the Senator-Democrat Ben Cardin about whether Russia has the right to Crimea. The candidate also announced the support of the Magnitsky law and assured that he had never sought to remove the sanctions imposed against Moscow.

When asked whether it is true that the hacker attacks in the United States during the presidential election authorized Putin personally, the candidate replied: "I think this is the right assumption." At the same time, Tillerson evaded the answer to another question - whether he considers Putin a war criminal in connection with Russia's actions in Aleppo. “I would not use such a definition,” said the candidate.