Trump’s Pentagon pick: Russia threatens world order, Israel important

US Secretary of Defense designate James Mattis said Thursday at his Senate confirmation hearing that the world order is "under the biggest attack since World War II…from Russia, from terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea." He contended that "if we did not have NATO today, we would have to create it." In contrast with President-elect Donald Trump, he expressed support for the F-35 joint strike fighter program, saying that many of the country's strategic partners are depending on the F-35 for their future aerial superiority. He also said "Israel is a fellow democracy and I think Israel's security is very important to the US."