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Retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, President Donald Trump’s pick for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during his nomination hearing Tuesday that “our number one job is to create peace through overwhelming strength, and if need be, fight and win our nation's wars."
“As we sit here now, our nation faces an unprecedented rising global risk. Our adversaries are advancing. Global nuclear threats are on the rise, and deterrence is paramount. Our national defense requires urgent action and reform across the board. We must go faster. We must move with a sense of urgency,” asserted Caine in his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Caine testified that China and Russia continue to be threats to the United States.
In his responses to Advanced Policy Questions, Caine noted China has made “significant military improvements.” However, he continued, “the PLA still has deficiencies in commander proficiency, long-distance logistics, urban warfare, and the PLA lacks modern warfare experience writ large.”
Concerning Russia, Caine said that, due to its conflict with Ukraine, the Russians are growing increasingly dependent on its nuclear arsenal to defend themselves.
China and Russia are not the only global concerns.
“It’s not something, Senator, unfortunately, that we can ever take our eyes off of completely,” responded Caine to a question from Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, regarding the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., pressed Caine on whether he believes the U.S. has adequate money and resources necessary to defend the homeland and the world.
“There are very few things that [Americans] set their minds to that we can’t achieve,” Caine said. “Despite the serious challenges in front of us, we’ve always Rogered up to those challenges.”
If confirmed, Caine would be the first career National Guard officer to serve as principal military advisor to the president, defense secretary and National Security Council.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ark., asked Caine about his role in recruitment. Currently, the U.S. military consists of over 2.8 million personnel.
Caine called serving in the military “a special privilege.”
“I think it’s an opportunity for me to be another voice of encouragement for those young men and women who have the capability and meet the standards to come into the service.”
Caine brings a range of military experience to the table. He flew F-16’s in the New York Air Guard and patrolled the skies over the nation’s capital after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a member of the D.C. Guard. He also worked in special operations and his last assignment was associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., before retiring in December.
Caine also has a civilian career as an entrepreneur and investor.
Caine committed to giving the president the best military advice.
“It’s the whole job…Even when the president has different feelings about [the advice],” he said. “It’s exactly what the nation pays me to do.”
Caine does not meet the position’s prerequisites, such as being a combatant commander or service chief, as laid out in a 1986 law. The law, however, does allow a president to waive those requirements.
The SASC will next vote on whether to advance Caine’s nomination before a vote potentially occurs before the full Senate.
— By Donald Lambert
