Thread by @jseldin

"My parent's Greatest Generation [WWII], they fought to establish an int'l order that has prevented great power war for over 7 decades & it's currently under the most stress since the end of the Cold War" Gen Mark Milley, nominated as next chairman of @thejointstaff, tells #SASC

"From #EastAsia to the #MiddleEast to Eastern #Europe, authoritarian actors are testing the limits of the int'l system & seeking regional dominance while challenging int'l norms & undermining US interests" Gen Milley warns #SASC

"Our goal should be to sustain Great Power peace that has existed since World War II and deal firmly with all those who might challenge us" per Gen Milley

Of military in age of information warfare, Gen. Milley says, "We must adapt faster"

"if confirmed, I will support our diplomatic efforts to counter destabilizing activities by revisionist powers, rogue regimes & non-state actors" per Gen Milley "Alliances & partnerships are critical to advancing our national security interests..."

"There's many reasons why there hasn't been a great power war since 1945. Clearly one of them is nuclear deterrence" per Gen Milley, nominated to be the next chairman of @thejointstaff, at #SASC

On all the civilian vacancies at top @DeptofDefense posts, "I think it's very important to fill the nominated positions & get them through the systems as quickly as we can" per Gen Milley "Civilian oversight is of critical importance"

War w/#Iran? Impact on US defense strategy? "I don't know that that would happen but if it did happen it would obviously have a significant impact on the distribution of the force" in regards to concerns re #Russia #China

#Iran, "They've always been a malign actor" per Gen Milley "Iranian terrorist organizations, terrorist supported organizations killed my soldiers when I was in #Iraq"

"Their intensity of malign activity has increased" since US withdrew from #JCPOA, Milley adds

#China, "They want to have the capability to defeat us by mid-century" per Gen Milley, nominated to be chair of @thejointstaff "So they're moving out on that in the domains & all the different capabilities"

Asked about lack of on-camera @DeptofDefense/Pentagon briefings, Gen Milley says "I didn't even realize it was that many days but I would commit tot you that if I'm confirmed I commit to transparency...The American ppl have a right to know what their military is doing"

Low-yield nuclear capabilities, "I think it's an important capability to have in our arsenal in order to deal w/any potential adversaries" per Gen Milley

"I would like to see more in terms of some of the higher technologies...to set the conditions for the 2030s & beyond" Gen Milley tells #SASC of prepping for competition in the #GrayZone "Things like #ArtificialIntelligence I think will become critical"

"If you meet the medical, the behavior health, the conduct standards & the physical standards...it's my view you should be welcomed in" Gen Mark Milley, nominated to be the next chair of @thejointstaff tells #SASC re #transgender ban

"It's about standards, not an identity"

"We probably need to do a little bit more with respect to some countries down there" Gen Milley says of Central/South America "These countries are plagued w/significant poverty, significant violence...That drives the push factors for ppl to immigrate that we see"

.@SenAngusKing asks Gen Milley if he's going to be intimidated

Gen Milley: "Absolutely not. By no one, ever...We are not going to be intimidated into making stupid decisions"

"it's slow. It's painful. it's hard," Gen Milley says of #Afghanistan

"American participation in the war in Afghanistan comes to an end when our interests are met. And I think that will be met by a negotiated settlement w/the #Taliban. And I think we're seeing some progress"

"I think pulling out prematurely would be a strategic mistake" per Gen Milley of #Afghanistan

In #Syria #Iraq, "There's a modest amount of capability that needs to remain there" to counter #ISIS organization & ideology, Gen Mark Milley, nominated to be next chair of @thejointstaff, tells #SASC

"#China has expanded throughout all the regions of the globe" per Milley "They're primarily in competition for resources in order to build&improve their military..."

"What we need to do is continue uphold the norms of the int'l order that's been in place for the last 7 decades"

"It's palpable...to see the the anxiety & the fear these countries have of an aggressive #China" Gen Milley say of #IndoPacific region "They want the #UnitedStates there...they want forward presence. They believe we're a force of stability"

"Our key task is assurance and some of the military dimensions of that would be to do exercises and ensure that we have interoperability with the various forces in all the domains throughout the area" per Gen Milley "And we do that"

"#Iran is a malign actor & I think it's important that we bring them back into the community of nations & we establish diplomatic relations...so we can approach this from a diplomatic angle" per Gen Milley, nominated to be next chair of @thejointstaff

"it appears to be there was an attempt by some small [#Iran|ian] naval vessels to takeover a commercial vessel" per Gen Milley, of #IRGC attack fended off by British

"Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principal...and we have a crucial role to enforce that norm"

"#China's already militarized the #SouthChinaSea" per Gen Milley "Having said that, our freedom of navigation efforts are critical"

"Are the adequate? I think to date they have been"