Senator Ernst, who has been a leading voice on the need to push for a more global effort to address ISIS – specifically in Southeast Asia, stressed to General Mattis that “we cannot turn a blind eye to ISIS in regions outside the Middle East, such as in Southeast Asia.” General Mattis agreed with her concerns, and stated “it must, as you point out, be a much broader approach.”
Additionally, Ernst pointed out that Russia continues to modernize its service rifles, and asked General Mattis if he would work with her to update our military’s weapons. She quoted General Mattis and said, “Our military’s current service rifle shoots a bullet, that as you noted, is ‘illegal for shooting small deer in nearly all states due to its lack of killing power.’” General Mattis agreed with her approach and confirmed he would work with Senator Ernst.
Following the hearing, Senator Ernst supported a measure to allow General Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense after retiring from the Marine Corps in 2013, upon confirmation in the Senate. This measure passed the Senate Armed Services Committee and will head to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Transcript:
Senator Ernst: Can I get your confirmation that you will make cutting wasteful spending a priority?
General Mattis: Yes.
Senator Ernst: Do you commit to working with me to combat and prevent military sexual assault and retaliation?
General Mattis: Absolutely.
Senator Ernst: Do you commit to leveraging the unique capabilities of our Guard and Reserve forces to enhance our national security missions?
General Mattis: Yes.
Senator Ernst: Will you provide me with advance notice should you decide to make any changes to the gender integration policies that are in place?
General Mattis: I will always keep this committee informed, ma’am.
Senator Ernst: I appreciate your commitment, and I want to thank Senator McCaskill for bringing up the SAPR Course. We’ve had discussions about this in the past. When I graduated my Engineer Officer Basic Course in 1993, I and the 11 other women that attended that course were not afforded the opportunity to even compete for the SAPR course, so I am glad that we have rectified that in the years since.
Flash forward 10 years to 2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom I, I was a transportation company commander serving in Kuwait and Iraq. I had an assigned weapon of an M-9, 9 millimeter pistol, but I also had assigned to me an M-16 rifle, because the joke that we had in the military was that sometimes the most effective use of an M-9 is to simply throw it at your adversary. When I met with you last week, you emphasized that you are committed to making our military “more lethal.” To do this, I think you need to start with our military’s small arms. Russia continues to upgrade its service rifle, and all while we continue to modify our M-4s. Many of our troops still carry M-16s. The Army can’t even figure out how to replace the M-9 pistol first issued in 1982. Take a look at their 350 page micromanaging requirements document if you want to know why it’s taking so long to get this accomplished. Our military’s current service rifle shoots a bullet, that as you noted, is “illegal for shooting small deer in nearly all states due to its lack of killing power.” Do you agree that we cannot grow a more lethal force while using outdated small arms and ammunition?
General Mattis: I do agree with that approach, ma’am. I have been away for several years, and as you know, the Army, the Special Forces, and the Marines have all been working on creating a more lethal round for the M-16 and M-4, so I am not current on it right now what they’ve done with the actual ammunition to perhaps increase the lethality, so I would have to get current on that, but I am 100 percent in agreement with the approach you’re taking.
Senator Ernst: Certainly. Lethality is very, very important and we do need to relook that because I do think that we need to be on par with any of our adversaries.
I am well aware of your experience in CENTCOM and I thank you for your great service. That region will inevitably and rightfully remain a major focal point when talking about Islamic extremism. However, I do believe we need to look at other regions around the globe and we cannot
turn a blind eye to ISIS in regions outside the Middle East, such as in Southeast Asia. There are many news reports that have shown those areas are very active and in reports from last year, I noted over 57 Philippine government forces have been killed in battles linked with ISIS groups. There also was an attempted US embassy bombing in Manila, and many other ISIS claimed attacks throughout that region. Secretary Carter did agree with my assessment on ISIS in Southeast Asia, and President Obama was made well aware of my concerns. However, we have yet to develop a strategy to combat ISIS, especially in those regions where we are not focusing. How should our new administration address the rising threat of ISIS in Southeast Asia – and will you commit to working with me on this sir?
General Mattis: Absolutely Senator. The way we do this is, I think we have to deliver a very hard blow against ISIS in the Middle East so that there is no sense of invulnerability or invincibility there. There’s got to be a military defeat of them there, but it must, as you point out, be a much broader approach. This requires an integrated strategy so you don’t squeeze them in one place, and then they develop in another, and we really are right back to square one. We’ve got to have the integrated strategy on this, and it’s got to be one that goes after the recruiting and their fundraising as well as delivering the military blow against them in the Middle East, and that way, you slow down this growth and start rolling it back by, with, and through allies.
Sarah Palin would be much better.
^^^ Stupidity is strong in this one. Sounds just like that moronic old geezer LVS.
Sounds like a pitch for the (MIC) military industrial complex – ps – gun manufactures (us military) to change to a say .308mm – costing the taxpayers billions of dollars – bringing this up 10 -40 years late maybe as they have been in use this long – colt 1911 is about 100 years old and the preferred side arm of our military,
The Glock is a much better .45 than the Colt.
She asked the needed questions and received the right answers. Good job Joni.
Questions that can be answered by Yes or No are no brainers.
This video explains ISIS, remember the occult significance of the word ISIS is an Egyptian godess deity is a favorite of the occult mystery’s and secret society’s that run this planet, https://youtu.be/dYXXcwuJtbQ.
Joni pitched this guy soft balls. She should have stayed home and not made a fool of herself. Her combat duty sure didnt show with these elementary school questions.
Ernst was in a combat zone, not combat.
She never left Kuwait.
I would say Mattis was picked because he knows how to solve the problem – a 10 to 15 year problem – Trump knows and your a politician and that has been Americas problem over the years and NOT the solution. By the way that . 223 round spins at 2300 feet per second and makes a hole as big as a beer can – larger caliber are used for long range sniper rifles. I would be concerned about the 50 caliber multiple machine guns in the back of the new Toyota trucks that the US somehow put in ISIS hands
Somehow does not apply, they created them, they have their game down 100 to 200 years in advance, their god is Baal and he requires human ritual sacrifice, the military does not exist to protect people they are a tool for the Royal bloodlines there are 13, the U.S is the military, London is the financial and the Vatican is the religion, the one who holds the crown controls all.