In a further sign of US-Iranian tension,the acting Secretary of Defence,Christopher Miller,announced on Sunday evening (US time),that he had changed his mind about sending the navy aircraft carrier,the USS Nimitz,home from the Middle East and will instead keep the vessel on duty. Just last week,Miller announced he was sending the Nimitz home,a decision that had been opposed by senior military officers.
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In reversing himself,Miller cited “recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other US government officials”. He did not elaborate,and the Pentagon did not respond to questions.
The opinion article in thePost was signed by Dick Cheney,William Perry,Donald Rumsfeld,William Cohen,Robert Gates,Leon Panetta,Chuck Hagel,Ash Carter,James Mattis and Mark Esper. Mattis was Trump's first defence secretary;he resigned in 2018 and was succeeded by Esper,who was fired just days after the November 3 election.
ThePost reported that the idea for writing the opinion piece began with a conversation between Cheney and Eric Edelman,a retired ambassador and former senior Pentagon official,about how Trump might seek to use the military in coming days.