McCain holds up Trump's Pentagon nominees over lack of Afghanistan details

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is holding up President Trump’s Pentagon nominations over a lack of details on the administration's plan for the war in Afghanistan.

McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Defense News on Tuesday that "we’ve been holding nominations … from the Pentagon to fill in those Pentagon jobs."

McCain had earlier Tuesday ripped into Defense Secretary James Mattisand Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford because the administration has given Congress limited information on its Afghanistan strategy, which was announced Aug. 21.

“In the six weeks since the president made his announcement, this committee and the Congress, more broadly, still does not know many of the crucial details of this strategy. This is totally unacceptable. I repeat, this is totally unacceptable,” McCain said at a committee hearing to discuss the new war plan.

“We expect — indeed, we require — a regular flow of detailed information about this war,” he said.

Trump has offered few details on his plan, beyond committing to end “arbitrary timetables for withdrawal” and calling for India and Pakistan to lend their support in the fight against terrorist groups.

“We want to be your partners, but this committee will not be a rubber stamp for any policy or president,” McCain told the Trump officials on Tuesday.

“It remains unclear why we should be confident that this new strategy could turn the tide in Afghanistan or bring us meaningfully closer to success than its failed predecessors.” 

“We will not accept a lack of information, a lack of strategy, a lack of coordination with this committee. And there are several methods, thanks to the Constitution, that we have to try to force a change in that relationship,” McCain told Mattis and Dunford.- Read More, thehill

McCain holds up Trump's Pentagon nominees over lack of Afghanistan details