Free Republic

The nation’s top military officer, Gen. Mark Milley, during a hearing on Wednesday, called Ukraine “an important national interest” of the United States, contradicting the views of the top 2024 Republican presidential contenders. Asked what the strategic end state is for Ukraine, Milley said President Joe Biden had been “very clear” from the beginning. “It’s very clear the strategic end state is the global rules-based international order that was put in place in 1945 is upheld,” he said. The loquacious general then gave an elaborate answer in which he called Ukraine “an important national interest.”

As the United States focuses on national security threats emanating from China and Russia, it hasn’t lost sight of the threat posed by Iran and North Korea. At a congressional hearing on Thursday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Iran threatens to destabilize the Middle East with its continuing support for terrorists and proxy forces. “Also, Iran is taking actions to improve its capabilities to produce a nuclear weapon, should it make the decision to do so, while continuing to build its missile forces,” Milley told the the House Appropriations Committee on Defense. …