U.S. defense elite rally behind Trump's unusual Pentagon pickSIMI VALLEY, California (Reuters) - Often fiercely divided over policy, Republican and Democratic national security elite gathering this weekend in California appeared to largely agree on one thing: President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary. James Mattis, a retired Marine general, is an unorthodox choice. Because he retired only in 2013, Mattis is technically ineligible for the job since he has not been a civilian for at least seven years. That means Congress would need to grant a waiver — something it hasn’t done since 1950. Democrat Leon Panetta, a former U.S. defense secretary critical of Trump, says it is worth it. He sees in Mattis a chance that a Trump administration would adhere to core alliances and principles, even ones challenged by Trump during his election campaign. That would include U.S. support for NATO and recognition of longstanding threats, including from Russia. “(Mattis) shares beliefs that have been at the heart and soul of protecting our national security for a long time,” Panetta, who was also CIA director under President Barack Obama, told Reuters in an interview at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Mattis, a 66-year-old commander who is revered by Marines, is known for his tough-talk, wariness of Iran and combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although Trump has played up Mattis’ “Mad Dog” nickname and tough-guy image, Marines and others who served with him portrayed Mattis as a scholar and strategist who would seek to avoid open conflict. “I’ve never met anybody who tried harder to win without fighting,” said Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller. “(He’s someone) that understands information, relationships, how to negotiate, how to engage below the level of conflict. At the same time ... if you have to fight, ok, there’s no way that we’re not going to win.”  It is unclear how much influence Mattis will have over Trump, who has also already named Michael Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, as his national security adviser. Flynn was also a close advisor during the 2016 campaign, adopting much of Trump’s rhetoric. For Mattis to be confirmed, the Senate and the House of Representatives both must pass a waiver exempting him from a law written to ensure that the military is under civilian command. Legislators have granted such a waiver only once, in 1950, when Congress passed an act that allowed General George Marshall, who had retired in 1945, to serve as Pentagon chief. But Marine General Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who serves as the president’s top uniformed military advisor, flatly dismissed any concerns about having a recently retired general in the post, when asked at the forum.  “Do I have any concerns? No,” said Dunford, who once counted Mattis as his commander.  Republican Dick Cheney, a former defense secretary and vice president, called Mattis a great choice. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told a small group of reporters who traveled with him to California that the support expressed at the forum for Mattis appeared to be bipartisan. “Everyone has great confidence that he’s going to be able to master the job, both sides of the aisle,” should he get confirmed, Work said after the event. Representative Mac Thornberry, the Republican who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said he expected to start informal meetings on the waiver in the coming days. He hoped to settle the waiver issue before Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. “We need a secretary of defense on the ground, running, as quickly as possible. At the same time, I don’t think it’s right to try to jam it through,” Thornberry told Reuters. “It needs a debate or discussion at least. But we need to do it early.”  Some Democrats have raised concerns about civilian control of the military — as well as having too many generals in the top tiers of the government.  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, has said she would not back a waiver for Mattis. Congresswoman Susan Davis, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said at the forum she wanted to learn more about Mattis. But Panetta warned fellow Democrats against blocking him. “Considering the other picks that (Trump) has made, this would be the wrong target,” he said. politicsNews
defense elite rally behind trump unusual pentagon picksimi valley california reuters often fiercely divided policy republican democratic national security elite gathering weekend california appeared largely agree one thing donald trump pick defense secretary james mantis retired marine general unorthodox choice because retired mantis technically ineligible job since civilian least seven years that means congress would need grant waiver something done since democrat leon palette former defense secretary critical trump says worth he sees mantis chance trump administration would adhere core alliances principles even ones challenged trump election campaign that would include support nato recognition longstanding threats including russia mantis shares beliefs heart soul protecting national security long time palette also cia director president barack obama told reuters interview reagan national defense forum mantis commander revered marines known awareness iran combat experience afghanistan iraq although trump played mantis mad dog nickname image marines others served portrayed mantis scholar strategist would seek avoid open conflict i never met anybody tried harder win without fighting said marine corps commandant robert seller he someone understands information relationships negotiate engage level conflict at time fight ok way going it unclear much influence mantis trump also already named michael flynn retired army lieutenant general national security adviser flynn also close advisor campaign adopting much trump rhetoric for mantis confirmed senate house representatives must pass waiver exemption law written ensure military civilian command legislators granted waiver congress passed act allowed general george marshall retired serve pentagon chief but marine general joseph unfold current chairman joint chiefs staff serves president top uniformed military advisor flatly dismissed concerns recently retired general post asked forum do i concerns no said unfold counted mantis commander republican dick henry former defense secretary vice president called mantis great choice deputy defense secretary robert work told small group reporters traveled california support expressed forum mantis appeared bipartisan everyone great confidence going able master job sides aisle get confirmed work said event representative mac thornberry republican chairs house armed services committee said expected start informal meetings waiver coming days he hoped settle waiver issue trump inauguration we need secretary defense ground running quickly possible at time i think right try jam thornberry told reuters it needs debate discussion least but need some democrats raised concerns civilian control military well many generals top tiers government senator kristen gillibrand democrat armed services committee said would back waiver mantis congressman susan davis democrat house armed services committee said forum wanted learn mantis but palette warned fellow democrats blocking considering picks trump made would wrong target said politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: U.S. defense elite rally behind Trump's unusual Pentagon pickSIMI VALLEY, California (Reuters) - Often fiercely divided over policy, Republican and Democratic national security elite gathering this weekend in California appeared to largely agree on one thing: President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary. James Mattis, a retired Marine general, is an unorthodox choice. Because he retired only in 2013, Mattis is technically ineligible for the job since he has not been a civilian for at least seven years. That means Congress would need to grant a waiver — something it hasn’t done since 1950. Democrat Leon Panetta, a former U.S. defense secretary critical of Trump, says it is worth it. He sees in Mattis a chance that a Trump administration would adhere to core alliances and principles, even ones challenged by Trump during his election campaign. That would include U.S. support for NATO and recognition of longstanding threats, including from Russia. “(Mattis) shares beliefs that have been at the heart and soul of protecting our national security for a long time,” Panetta, who was also CIA director under President Barack Obama, told Reuters in an interview at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Mattis, a 66-year-old commander who is revered by Marines, is known for his tough-talk, wariness of Iran and combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although Trump has played up Mattis’ “Mad Dog” nickname and tough-guy image, Marines and others who served with him portrayed Mattis as a scholar and strategist who would seek to avoid open conflict. “I’ve never met anybody who tried harder to win without fighting,” said Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller. “(He’s someone) that understands information, relationships, how to negotiate, how to engage below the level of conflict. At the same time ... if you have to fight, ok, there’s no way that we’re not going to win.”  It is unclear how much influence Mattis will have over Trump, who has also already named Michael Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, as his national security adviser. Flynn was also a close advisor during the 2016 campaign, adopting much of Trump’s rhetoric. For Mattis to be confirmed, the Senate and the House of Representatives both must pass a waiver exempting him from a law written to ensure that the military is under civilian command. Legislators have granted such a waiver only once, in 1950, when Congress passed an act that allowed General George Marshall, who had retired in 1945, to serve as Pentagon chief. But Marine General Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who serves as the president’s top uniformed military advisor, flatly dismissed any concerns about having a recently retired general in the post, when asked at the forum.  “Do I have any concerns? No,” said Dunford, who once counted Mattis as his commander.  Republican Dick Cheney, a former defense secretary and vice president, called Mattis a great choice. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told a small group of reporters who traveled with him to California that the support expressed at the forum for Mattis appeared to be bipartisan. “Everyone has great confidence that he’s going to be able to master the job, both sides of the aisle,” should he get confirmed, Work said after the event. Representative Mac Thornberry, the Republican who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said he expected to start informal meetings on the waiver in the coming days. He hoped to settle the waiver issue before Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. “We need a secretary of defense on the ground, running, as quickly as possible. At the same time, I don’t think it’s right to try to jam it through,” Thornberry told Reuters. “It needs a debate or discussion at least. But we need to do it early.”  Some Democrats have raised concerns about civilian control of the military — as well as having too many generals in the top tiers of the government.  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, has said she would not back a waiver for Mattis. Congresswoman Susan Davis, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said at the forum she wanted to learn more about Mattis. But Panetta warned fellow Democrats against blocking him. “Considering the other picks that (Trump) has made, this would be the wrong target,” he said. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: defense elite rally behind trump unusual pentagon picksimi valley california reuters often fiercely divided policy republican democratic national security elite gathering weekend california appeared largely agree one thing donald trump pick defense secretary james mantis retired marine general unorthodox choice because retired mantis technically ineligible job since civilian least seven years that means congress would need grant waiver something done since democrat leon palette former defense secretary critical trump says worth he sees mantis chance trump administration would adhere core alliances principles even ones challenged trump election campaign that would include support nato recognition longstanding threats including russia mantis shares beliefs heart soul protecting national security long time palette also cia director president barack obama told reuters interview reagan national defense forum mantis commander revered marines known awareness iran combat experience afghanistan iraq although trump played mantis mad dog nickname image marines others served portrayed mantis scholar strategist would seek avoid open conflict i never met anybody tried harder win without fighting said marine corps commandant robert seller he someone understands information relationships negotiate engage level conflict at time fight ok way going it unclear much influence mantis trump also already named michael flynn retired army lieutenant general national security adviser flynn also close advisor campaign adopting much trump rhetoric for mantis confirmed senate house representatives must pass waiver exemption law written ensure military civilian command legislators granted waiver congress passed act allowed general george marshall retired serve pentagon chief but marine general joseph unfold current chairman joint chiefs staff serves president top uniformed military advisor flatly dismissed concerns recently retired general post asked forum do i concerns no said unfold counted mantis commander republican dick henry former defense secretary vice president called mantis great choice deputy defense secretary robert work told small group reporters traveled california support expressed forum mantis appeared bipartisan everyone great confidence going able master job sides aisle get confirmed work said event representative mac thornberry republican chairs house armed services committee said expected start informal meetings waiver coming days he hoped settle waiver issue trump inauguration we need secretary defense ground running quickly possible at time i think right try jam thornberry told reuters it needs debate discussion least but need some democrats raised concerns civilian control military well many generals top tiers government senator kristen gillibrand democrat armed services committee said would back waiver mantis congressman susan davis democrat house armed services committee said forum wanted learn mantis but palette warned fellow democrats blocking considering picks trump made would wrong target said politicsnews