Pentagon's Head Nominee Vows to Abandon 'Stupid Decisions'

U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to head the military told Congress on Thursday that he would not be "intimidated into making stupid decisions," saying he would always give his best advice, regardless of pressure.

The remarks by Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley came amid critics in Congress with regard to Trump’s policies and fears that he might make impulsive decisions on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and beyond. The Congress is also criticizing Trump of politicizing the military, including his deployment of U.S. troops to the Mexico border.

According to Reuters, Milley never referred directly to Trump nor suggested that he expected to face any such pressure when he said he would "absolutely not" allow himself to be intimidated.

"I'll give my best military advice. It will be candid. It will be honest ... every single time," Milley told the Senate Armed Service Committee during his hearing to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he would take on Oct. 1.

Senators who attended the hearing session were talking about why the top U.S. military officer must feel empowered to correct a president or explain something that ran counter to the president's desired course of action.

Milley replied by saying he and other Pentagon leaders, including Marine General Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, had seen a lot of combat and knew the costs of war.

"We've buried these soldiers. Arlington (National Cemetery) is full of our comrades," he said at the hearing.

"We know what this is about and we are not going to be intimidated into making stupid decisions. We will give our best military advice regardless of consequences to (ourselves)."

According to Reuters, Milley is widely respected among Democrats and Republicans in Congress and is seen easily winning Senate confirmation. U.S. officials also say he has a good rapport with Trump, who first announced his plans to nominate Milley last year, months earlier than expected.

Last year, Milley launched the Army's Futures Command, to usher in a new generation of advanced weaponry to preserve the United States' narrowing edge against potential adversaries like China and Russia. He also created special brigades to help advise local forces in counterinsurgency wars, including the nearly 18-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.