President Obama nominated Ashton Carter as Defense Secretary on Friday, a week after Chuck Hagel announced he would resign from the post last week.
Carter comes with experience—he served as Deputy Defense Secretary until last December. As TIME’s Mark Thompson wrote earlier this week, he’s “by far Obama’s safest, most predictable choice”:
Carter’s 2011-2013 background as the Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian, largely responsible for the building’s day-to-day management, primes him for the military’s tough budget environment. He’s also an expert on nuclear weapons and military technology, having served as the Defense Department’s top weapons buyer from 2009 to 2011.
Unlike Hagel—who served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam and was wounded twice—Carter has never worn a U.S. military uniform. And, also unlike Hagel—twice elected as a Republican senator from Nebraska—Carter hasn’t engaged in partisan politics.
Of course, given Hagel’s vague tenure and unceremonious dumping from his Pentagon post, the value such experience affords may be dubious.
[WSJ]
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