Joint Chiefs Nominee Calls Russia #1 Threat, Proposes Arming Ukraine

Sputnik News

20:09 09.07.2015(updated 20:34 09.07.2015)

During the course of his confirmation hearing before the Senate to become the next Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. stated that Russia poses 'the greatest threat' to US national security, adding that it would be 'reasonable' for the US to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, AP reports.

Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Dunford noted that Russia's 'behavior' is 'nothing short of alarming,' adding that Moscow 'presents the greatest threat to our national security.'

'If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I'd have to point to Russia,' Dunford noted, citing Russia's alleged misdeeds, combined with its sizable nuclear weapons stockpile.

Referring to mythical Russian involvement in the civil war in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow has repeatedly dismissed for lack of evidence, Dunford stated it would be 'reasonable' to provide Ukraine with lethal weaponry.

'Chairman, from a military perspective I think it's reasonable that we provide that support to the Ukrainians,' Dunford noted. 'Frankly, without that kind of support, they are not going to be able to defend themselves against Russian aggression,' the general added.

The general's comment was met with enthusiastic approval from Republican Senator John McCain, the committee's chairman, who took the opportunity to score some political points against Barack Obama by declaring that while 'Vladimir Putin's Russia continues its onslaught in Ukraine,' the US 'has refused Ukraine the weapons it needs and deserves for its defense.'

The hearing also covered other military matters, including the war in Afghanistan, the air campaign against ISIL, US assistance for rebels fighting against the Syrian government, and issues related to future defense budgets.

Expected to easily pass Senate confirmation hearings, Dunford is set to become the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a group of military officers who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military issues.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington and Kiev are presently in negotiations on the expansion of the US military training program in western Ukraine to include regular army and special forces units.

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