Incoming Top U.S. General: 'Russia is Top Military Threat'

Wall Street Journal: Joint Chiefs Chairman Nominee Says Russia Is Top Military Threat

Marine Commandant Joe Dunford says Ukraine can’t counter Russian aggression without lethal military assistance.

WASHINGTON—Gen. Joe Dunford, President Barack Obama’s nominee to become the Pentagon’s top military officer, said Thursday he believes Russia poses the biggest threat to U.S. national security and that Ukraine won’t be able to counter Russian aggression unless it is provided with lethal military assistance.

Amid potential threats that include China, Islamic State, Iranian influence across the Middle East and other challenges at home and abroad, Gen. Dunford singled out Russia for its nuclear capability and its recent history of aggression as presenting the gravest threat to the U.S.

“If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, you’d have to point to Russia,” Gen. Dunford said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

More News On Joint Chiefs Nominee Remarks That 'Russia is Top Military Threat'

Russia is top U.S. national security threat: Gen. Dunford -- Reuters
Russia is biggest threat to US national security, Joint Chiefs nominee tells Congress -- US News and World Report
Joint Chiefs nominee: Russia greatest threat to U.S. -- CNN
Joint Chiefs Nominee Warns of Threat of Russian Aggression -- NYT
Incoming Joint Chiefs chairman calls Russia, China top threats -- Military.com
Joint Chiefs Nominee: Russia, China Biggest Threats to US -- VOA
Russia is top threat to national security, US general says -- BBC
Obama's pick for joint chiefs chairman sides with Mitt Romney on Russia -- The Guardian
Russia is greatest threat to the U.S., says Joint Chiefs chairman nominee Gen. Joseph Dunford -- Washington Post

Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva Have Been Nominated To Serve As Chairman And Vice-Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Politico: The Pentagon Gets Two New Top Generals

Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva have been tapped to serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On Tuesday, President Obama nominated Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva to the Pentagon's top two posts.

Dunford, known as "Fightin' Joe," served as the top American officer and coalition commander in Afghanistan during the 2013-2014 transition period when Afghan forces took over operations from American troops, and is currently the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Dunford, who would replace General Martin Dempsey as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks, going from the single star of a brigadier general to four-star rank in little more than three years.

"I know Joe. I trust him," the president said during an introduction ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. "He’s already proven his ability to give me his unvarnished military advice." Dunford's selection was quickly praised by leading Republican lawmakers including Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain.

WNU Editor: Air Force General Paul Selva's nomination is the more interesting one .... politically speaking. His ties to Hillary Clinton started when she became Secretary of State .... and I suspect that if she should win the nomination AND Presidency .... will play a very important role in her administration. As to what will be the impact of these appointments overall .... their big job in the coming years will be to convince everyone in the Department of Defense to take a pay cut, to work more, and to not have the resources that they expect. On top of that .... they have numerous threats, wars, and minor conflicts to manage.

President Obama To Appoint Gen. Joseph F. Dunford As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Obama meets with Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, center, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left, on Sept. 30 in the Oval Office. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House)

CNN: Obama to tap Gen. Joseph Dunford as chairman of the Joint Chiefs

President Barack Obama plans to name a trusted military adviser with ties to his drawdown of troops in Afghanistan as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, multiple officials confirmed to CNN on Monday.

Obama plans to name Gen. Joseph F. Dunford to the post at the White House on Tuesday.

Dunford currently serves as the commandant of the Marine Corps. He'll replace Gen. Martin Dempsey,‎ who served in the top military role since 2011.

Before taking the top job at the Marine Corps, Dunford acted as the top military commander in Afghanistan, leading the international effort there as Obama seeks to withdraw American troops.

Dunford must first be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate before assuming the new post.

WNU Editor: He will have no problem in his confirmation process when he faces the US Senate.

More News On President Obama Appointing Gen. Joseph F. Dunford As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

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Obama to pick Marine Gen. Joe Dunford as Joint Chiefs Chairman - CBS/AP
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. set for Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman nomination -- Washington Times
Marine General Joseph Dunford chosen as Joint Chiefs chairman -- FOX News
Dunford tapped for Joint Chiefs chairman, Selva for vice -- Military Times
Obama taps Marine general as next Joint Chiefs Chairman -- The Hill
Obama picks Marines commandant to head Joint Chiefs of Staff -- UPI
Obama to Name Top Marine General as Nation's Top Military Officer -- VOA
Obama To Name Marine General To Become Top US Military Officer -- IBTimes

U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Wants A Robust U.S. Military Presence After 2014

U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Calls For Robust Force To Remain After 2014 -- Washington Post

The commander of military forces in Afghanistan said Tuesday that the United States and its allies should keep troops in Kabul and the “four corners” of the country after 2014, warning about growing uncertainty across the region as the withdrawal begins.

“Many Afghans have told me they no longer fear the Taliban as much as they fear what will happen after 2014,” Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his first congressional testimony since taking command in Kabul in February. “There is a growing sense that December 2014 is a cliff for the Afghan people.”

Read more ....

More News On General Dunford's Testimony On Afghanistan

US war commander: Assess Afghan combat performance before setting post-2014 US force size -- Washington Post/AP
Commander says U.S. troops should remain in Afghanistan -- USA today
Top general pushing to keep US troops in Afghanistan -- Global Post
ISAF Commander Notes ‘Growing Uncertainty’ in Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense
Afghanistan war can yet be won, US general tells Congress -- Christian Science Monitor
More Afghan Troops Operate Independently, Dunford Tells Congress -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Top general says U.S. to assess Afghan troops level after summer -- Reuters
New U.S. Commander Gets Tough Senate Reception -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: General Dunford is not going to get the "robust force" that he wants after 2014. Washington D.C. and the American public are done with Afghanistan .... and the general sentiment is to get our forces back home ASAP.

A New General For Afghanistan

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announces U.S. command changes in Europe and Afghanistan during a conference of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 10, 2012. U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, center, commander of U.S. European command and NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe, and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., assistant commandant of the Marine Corps participated in the press conference. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

In Afghanistan, Marine Gen. Dunford Is Expected To Take Command Of Allied Forces -- Washington Post

A Marine general with extensive combat experience in Iraq who sped up the ranks upon returning to the Pentagon has been nominated by President Obama to lead U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, who has not served in Afghanistan, will replace a fellow Marine four-star general, John R. Allen, who has been selected as the next supreme allied commander in Europe. Both moves, which are expected to occur early next year, require confirmation by the Senate and the North Atlantic Council, the principal decision-making body within NATO.

Read more ....

More News On The Appointment Of Marine Gen. Dunford To Head U.S./NATO Forces In Afghanistan

Marine General Expected To Be Next Commander In Afghanistan -- NPR
Gens. Allen, Dunford tapped for top commands -- Air Force Times
Joseph Dunford, Senior U.S. Marine General, Named Afghanistan Commander -- Huffington Post/Reuters
Obama nominates Dunford to head NATO forces in Afghanistan -- China Daily/Xinhuanet