By Tara Copp, Associated Press
Washington (AP)-The choice of President Donald Trump to be the next president of the heads of joint staff, the Lieutenant-General of the Air Force, Dan “Razin” Caine, will face the questions of the senators during his confirmation audience on Tuesday on his qualifications to become the first American military officer.
Caine is a decorated F-16 combat driver that has held management positions in several special operations orders and in some of the most classified programs in the Pentagon. However, he does not meet the prerequisites for the spouse of the chiefs, although they can be lifted by the president.
Caine was appointed by Trump in February, a day after the president dismissed the former president, General CQ Brown Jr., in a purge of general officers as he and the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, considered to approve the diversity, equity and inclusion in the ranks.
Caine met Trump when the president visited troops in Iraq in 2018 during his first mandate. Trump told political supporters that the meeting had left him an impression on him – and that Caine put a red hat “Make America again” at the time, something that the inner circle of Caine said is not true.
Caine has been described by former military colleagues as a deeply serious career officer who has spent the past few weeks meeting democratic and republican legislators, said that a former American official who helped Caine prepare for the confirmation process and spoke of the state of anonymity to provide details on the appointment of Caine. Hegseth notably refused to meet many democrats when he followed the confirmation process.
Because he retired in December, Caine should be sworn in active service. This would take place after being confirmed, then he would be promoted to general four stars, said the official.
The appointment of Caine following the eviction of Brown is likely to raise questions of certain Democrats of the Senate Committee of Armed Services to find out if he will remain independent of Trump.
During Trump’s first mandate, his relationship with General de l’Évé, General Mark Milley, embittered while Cany has pushed up and took measures to try to prevent what he saw as an attempt to politicize the office, for example by reminding members of the military service that they take the oath to the Constitution, and not to a president.
The relationship was embittered insofar as in the hours after Trump’s juror in January, the portrait of Millery as president of the joint chiefs was removed from the Pentagon. Trump and Hegseth then stripped Millery from his security authorization and his security details.
Caine does not meet the prerequisites in a 1986 law, such as being a combat commander or a department head. The law, however, allows presidents to give up these requirements to meet the position with someone with whom it is most comfortable.
While Caine would be the best army uniform officer, his chief duty would be the president’s best military advisor.
But Caine spent time inside the Pentagon, leading its special central Office access programs, which oversees classified information on weapons programs shared with foreign governments.
He was also commander of the joint working group of special operations in Iraq in 2008 and as an assistant general commander of the joint command of special operations in Fort Bragg. From 2018 to 2019, he was the deputy general commander of the joint working group of special operations for the operation resolved inherent, thwarting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
He was also associate director of military affairs at the CIA from 2021 until his retirement in December.
Caine was transferred to the National Guard in 2009 and started working in the private sector, especially as an advisor in an investment company led by Jared Kushner’s brother, Trump’s son -in -law.
It has more than 2,800 hours of flight in the F-16 and won the flying cross and distinguished bronze medal with a bunch of bronze oak leaves, among other prices.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
