washington donald trump pick lead pentagon put russia top list threats u.s. interest thursday tell congress america must ready confront moscow necessary even back trump bid good relations remark retire marine general jam mattis late one trump cabinet pick veer away president-elect campaign rhetoric include praise russian president vladimir putin pledge improve tie secretary state nominee rex tillerson wednesday also express view odds trump key foreign policy issue like nuclear proliferation trade deal climate change relations mexico mattis say russia china islamist militants present big challenge u.s.-led world order since world war two call congress lift spend cap undermine military readiness engagement also recognize reality russia mattis say add decrease number areas unite state might cooperate moscow ask main threats u.s. interest mattis say would consider principle threats start russia mattis say want meet new trump national security team craft strategy confront russia do question possibility new u.s. sanction due enter white house eight days trump wednesday acknowledge russia likely hack democratic national committee email top democrats 2016 presidential election campaign conclusion reach u.s. spy agencies mattis cite russian involvement hack information warfare among challenge pose moscow others include treaty violations destabilize activities abroad alarm message moscow regard use nuclear weapons also accuse russia try undermine nato unlike trump appear question alliance campaign mattis strongly embrace call nato central america defense recognize putin try break north atlantic alliance mattis say senator john mccain republican chairman committee say could happy mattis nomination warn sternly optimism engage putin putin want enemy need us enemy never partner mccain exclaim mattis also single china activities south china sea build man-made islands anti-aircraft anti-missile batteries together russian activities threats islamist extremists mattis say china part mount assault global stability relationship beijing need carefully manage think world order big attack since world war two sir russia terrorist group china south china sea say mattis rail defense spend cap impose congress press say believe u.s. military strong enough properly deter potential adversaries mattis retire military 2013 technically ineligible job since civilian least seven years mean congress would need grant waiver something do since 1950 appear incline mattis testimony waiver clear first hurdle congress senate arm service committee approve full senate late back waiver overwhelm 81-17 vote reflect strong support mattis enjoy congress mark cancian senior adviser center strategic international study say expect bipartisan support mattis would help overcome limit opposition thing go may restraint trump extreme impulses cancian say mattis 66 try persuade trump privately use waterboarding simulate drown interrogation tactic top u.s. officials many lawmakers human right group denounce waterboarding torture trump pick cia director take similar line confirmation hear thursday say would stand firm necessary trump issue so-called enhance interrogation techniques mattis fiercely critical iran caution tehran malign influence region grow iran big destabilize force middle east policies contrary interest mattis say write responses committee still mattis echo trump campaign threat rip nuclear deal iran world power tehran agree curb nuclear program return relief economic sanction mattis say deal imperfect unite state uphold america give word live mattis say trump 's pentagon choice say u.s. need ready confront russia