Senate committee narrowly backs Mike Pompeo to be secretary of state
Democrats object to current CIA director's hawkish record and closeness to Donald Trump
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Your support makes all the difference.A key Senate committee narrowly voted to recommend Mike Pompeo become America’s next secretary of state, averting a rare rejection for Donald Trump’s pick to be the top US diplomat.
While the full Senate was likely to confirm Mr Pompeo - currently the CIA director - regardless of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s action, concerns about his hawkish record and questions about his willingness to challenge Mr Trump had raised the prospect of a vote against his nomination.
It was unclear that Mr Pompeo “would be willing to push back on the president’s worst instincts”, New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez said, arguing that Mr Pompeo’s proclivity to favour confrontation over diplomacy would be amplified by “aggressive foreign policy voices growing around him” like newly elevated national security adviser John Bolton.
But in the end the committee backed Mr Pompeo, aided by anti-interventionist Republican Rand Paul announcing his support shortly before the hearing.
The Kentucky senator said he had decided to vote for Mr Pompeo after being assured that he believed the invasion of Iraq was a mistake and that American forces should exit Afghanistan.
“I want Trump to be Trump”, Mr Paul said - a reference to the president’s aversion to committing American forces abroad - rather than for the president to be swayed by those who “try to persuade him that perpetual war is the answer”.
While the vote was initially a 10-10 tie along party lines, with Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson absent to attend a funeral and thus unable to vote in favour, Delaware Democrat Chris Coons changed his no vote to “present” to allow the recommendation to advance as it would have had Mr Isakson been present.
If he is confirmed by the full Senate, Mr Pompeo would take over a role vacated by former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson.
He would become the face of American foreign policy at a critical time, with the Trump administration moving to lay the groundwork for planned talks between Mr Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.
As part of that process, Mr Pompeo paid a secret visit to North Korea over Easter weekend.
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