Ashton Carter New SecDef?

[Cow Poke]

It looks like Ashton Carter, a theoretical physicist, may be the next Secretary of Defense.

He seems to be getting a "thumbs up" from both parties....

Source: WashingtonPost

President Obama will nominate Ashton B. Carter, a physicist with long experience at the Pentagon, as his new secretary of defense, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with the decision.

If confirmed by the Senate, Carter would succeed Chuck Hagel, the former Nebraska senator who is being pushed aside by the White House after less than two years in the job. Hagel, a Republican, fell out of favor with Obama and the president’s inner circle as the U.S. military became embroiled in a new war in the Middle East, a challenge that is expected to preoccupy the Obama administration for the remainder of its term.

Although Carter has more experience as a technocrat than as a wartime leader, his extensive national security credentials and the support for his nomination in Congress made him an appealing choice.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest declined Tuesday to confirm that Carter was the president’s selection but praised him liberally. He said that Carter had “served the president and the American people well” at the Pentagon.

“He is somebody who deserves and has demonstrated strong bipartisan support for his previous service in government,” Earnest said. “He has a detailed understanding of the way the Department of Defense works.”

.......

“Great, very highly qualified,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who will replace Levin as chairman next month, called Carter a “noncontroversial” choice. Both senators said they had yet to receive formal notification from the White House of Carter’s selection.

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[One Bad Pig]

I'm not sure what theoretical physics has to do with the Department of Defense, though it's nice that the nominee seems to have a good chance of getting accepted.

[Epoetker]

I think they mean 'physicist' more in terms of ballistics than laboratory experience, sounds like an okay choice, but may be bad for the types of wars the US is currently facing and likely to face.

[One Bad Pig]

I think they mean 'physicist' more in terms of ballistics than laboratory experience, sounds like an okay choice, but may be bad for the types of wars the US is currently facing and likely to face.

Considering our current Commander in Chief, I'll take 'okay' as the odds of him appointing someone better than okay are towards the 'none' side of "between slim and none."

[Cow Poke]

I'm not sure what theoretical physics has to do with the Department of Defense,

Maybe it's a way of making him sound smart or important. It seemed to be a big talking point.

though it's nice that the nominee seems to have a good chance of getting accepted.

[Cow Poke]

I liked his nomination acceptance speech -- particularly the part where he turned to Obama and made it clear that he was going to give candid advice.

"I pledge to you my most candid, strategic advice, and I pledge to you, you will receive equally candid military advice,"