“I don’t recall what he asked me that day, precisely”, Pompeo replied, adding that Trump “has never asked me to do anything remotely that I consider improper”.
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Pompeo had previously described Washington’s relationship with Moscow as “complicated”, and even expressed hope that the USA would be able to find areas in which it could work with Russian Federation, including in counter-terrorism efforts.
First, Booker asked Pompeo about a 2013 speech in which Pompeo blasted American Islamic leaders for their “silence” in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings and said that made them “potentially complicit” in terrorism. “As I have argued throughout my time in public service, if we do not lead the calls for democracy, prosperity, and human rights around the world, who will? So, in turn, he has come to rely on us”, Pompeo said.
Pompeo didn’t respond to the latter question, but said he shared the president’s view that the Paris accords place “an undue burden” on the U.S. Critics have raised questions about Pompeo’s fitness to be the top diplomat, given his past hawkish views.
If confirmed, Pompeo would replace Rex Tillerson, who was one of the shortest-serving secretaries of state.
Concerns have also been raised about Pompeo’s record of anti-Muslim remarks and ties to anti-Islam groups. Trump also generally fumed about the Russian Federation investigation, which Comey had confirmed just two days prior. The U.S. has also found itself at odds with China over trade and North Korea over its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development.
Pompeo also pledged to fix the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six nations including the United States – one that has been jeopardised by Trump threatening to pull out unless a “better” deal can be struck. Pompeo responded that he thought Trump’s course of action there has been the right one – that the US has the goal of leaving but can’t do so until there is more stability in the country.
Menendez also questioned whether Pompeo would exert any independence “after a almost a year and a half of reckoning with President Trump’s erratic approach to foreign policy, which has left our allies confused and our adversaries emboldened”.
This article has been adapted from its original source. I think it will be terrific.
With Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) away from Washington battling brain cancer, at least one Democrat will be needed to join Republicans for Pompeo to be approved.
Central Intelligence Agency spokesman said Pompeo would have “no reason” to know about the many “layers” of the company, debunking reports he knowingly omitted his company’s business with the Chinese company.
The hearing – briefly interrupted by protesters chanting, “No more war, no Pompeo!” – gave lawmakers a rare chance to grill a top Trump official on some of the president’s most controversial foreign-policy measures.
POMPEO: I was on his show some, yes. “I stand by that position”, Pompeo told the New Jersey Democrat. “A loss in committee could make it easier for moderate Democrats to vote against Pompeo”.
“I’m perplexed by the nomination of people who love the Iraq War so much that they would advocate for a war with Iran next”.
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“My respect for every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation, is the same”, Pompeo told Booker and other members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Mendendez continued. “Will you stand up to President Trump and advise him differently when he is wrong?”
