WASHINGTON, - Navy Vice Adm. James "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. told a
Senate committee today that if confirmed to head U.S. Northern Command and
the North American Aerospace Defense Command, he will work to build and
maintain the command's relationships he called critical to the mission.
"I've observed that there are no other combatant commands where support for
their partners [is] more important than these two," Winnefeld told the Senate
Armed Services Committee. "My assignments have prepared me for this task."
Winnefeld, President Barack Obama's nominee to head the commands, is a Navy
fighter pilot and former commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, USS Cleveland and
USS Enterprise. He led the Enterprise through combat operations supporting
operations in Afghanistan immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks on the United States. Currently, he serves as a senior member of the
U.S. delegation to the U.N. Military Staff Committee and as the director of
strategic plans and policy on the Joint Staff.
The admiral said he would work to maintain the commands' strong working
relationships with other U.S. federal agencies, Canada and Mexico. He also
singled out the U.S. reserve components.
"Our nation's Guard and reserve have never been better, and I look forward to
a strong personal relationship with them," he said. The deputy commander of
Northcom and NORAD, Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, is the former chief of the
National Guard Bureau.
Winnefeld said Northcom's continued support along the U.S.-Mexico border
would be one of his first priorities if the Senate confirms him for the post.
"I've been watching very closely, and, if confirmed, I will really burrow
into it," he said to Arizona Sen. John McCain, who had asked him about
support for Mexico in battling drug cartels. "I would welcome accompanying
you down there. I very much want to get down there myself and see what's
going on."
Winnefeld said he is concerned that the cartels, which are accused of 6,500
murders in Mexico last year and 2,000 so far this year, are threatening the
Mexican government and U.S. national security, and that he agrees with U.S.
support to Mexican President Felipe Calderon's government, which he said has
exhibited "extremely good leadership and courage."
"It's a tremendous sign of our partnership with Mexico," he added, "and I'm
honored to have the ability to work with them."
Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the committee, asked Winnefeld whether
Obama's revamped missile defense plan in Europe would make the United States
safer from a potential long-range missile strike from Iran.
"It would provide a much earlier warning of an attack from Iran, and more
time for the United States to counter a threat," the admiral said. "That's
the most important part."