People close to Carter say he has one advantage: a good relationship with Rice, whom he has known for many years. In brief remarks Friday, Carter pledged to give the president вЂњcandid military adviceвЂќ - a statement seen by some as an attempt to reassure those in the Pentagon who felt Hagel had little influence. Hagel was tapped for the Pentagon post in part because he was seen as someone who would largely acquiesce to the White House, though he, too, is said to have grown frustrated, particularly with the policymaking process overseen by National Security Adviser Susan Rice.Дespite persistent criticism of his foreign policy and decision making, Obama appears unlikely to oust Rice or other members of the White House national security team. Both have spoken with Carter in recent days. Two of ObamaвЂ™s previous Pentagon chiefs, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, have publicly aired their grievances with what they saw as White House micromanagement. The presidentвЂ™s relationship with the Pentagon has often been strained, with some officials in the department saying Obama views the military skeptically and centralizes decision making in the West Wing. If confirmed, Carter will become ObamaвЂ™s fourth defense secretary. вЂњAs we downsize, where are the areas where we can we afford risk?вЂќ вЂњAsh is going to have to focus on the question of risk,вЂќ Bash said.

Jeremy Bash, a former Pentagon chief of staff who is assisting Carter with the nomination process, said CarterвЂ™s primary focus would be on balancing a need to combat global threats with trimming the departmentвЂ™s budget. interests were at stake,вЂќ added Smith, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.Д¬arter will take over a Pentagon facing congressionally mandated budget cuts that have left some concerned about putting the military on weak footing. pursue something unilateral unless direct U.S. вЂњHe is not someone I get the sense who would want to see the U.S. She said he appears to share ObamaвЂ™s preference for taking military action alongside international partners, as in the current campaign against the Islamic State. вЂњThe world has changed since he departed,вЂќ said Julianne Smith, a former White House national security official who worked closely with Carter during ObamaвЂ™s first term. Carter offered no insight Friday into how he viewed the current U.S.

priority and before Russian President Vladimir Putin began maneuvering in Ukraine. The military is also increasing its presence in Eastern Europe, aimed at deterring Russian aggression, all while grappling with deep budget cuts.Д¬arter, who has held numerous high-level jobs at the Pentagon under Obama and in the Clinton administration, ended his most recent tenure at the department in late 2013, before the Islamic State became a top U.S. The Pentagon said the two men did speak by phone.ДЄdministration officials say Obama decided to make a change at the Pentagon after determining that Hagel, the Republican former Nebraska senator, wasnвЂ™t up to the job of managing a burgeoning military campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Hagel had been scheduled to attend CarterвЂ™s nomination ceremony, but abruptly backed out Friday morning. вЂњI expect he will face tough questions at his confirmation hearing about President ObamaвЂ™s failing national security policy, but I expect he will be confirmed.вЂќД¬arter would replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned last week under pressure from Obama. вЂњAshton Carter has the knowledge and capability to serve as secretary of defense during these difficult times,вЂќ said Sen. Still, Republicans are eager to use his hearings as a new chance to challenge Obama. The nomination of Carter, a physicist who has served two Democratic presidents at the Pentagon, was welcomed by some Republicans as well as Democrats, and he is expected to be easily confirmed by the new GOP-controlled Senate. вЂњWhen we talked about this job, we talked about how weвЂ™re going to have to make smart choices precisely because there are so many challenges out there,вЂќ Obama said. Obama announced CarterвЂ™s nomination at the White House Friday, praising the Pentagon veteran as an innovator and reformer who can quickly step back into an administration grappling with security challenges in the Mideast, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. But there is little indication the shake-up portends a broader shift in administration policy - nor is it clear that Carter can break into the presidentвЂ™s tight inner circle. WASHINGTON (AP) - The nomination of policy wonk Ashton Carter to lead the Defense Department marks the most significant change to President Barack ObamaвЂ™s beleaguered national security team in nearly two years.

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