Ashton Carter was confirmed February 12 as U.S. secretary of defense . The new U.S. secretary of defense , Ashton Carter , arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday morning and plans to meet with U.S. troops and Afghan leaders . The former Republican senator from Georgia is a favorite among the hawkish wing in Congress and has been seen by some analysts as an alternative to President Barack Obama on foreign policy.
Ashton Carter was confirmed February 12 as U.S. secretary of defense . The former Republican senator from Georgia is a favorite among the hawkish wing in Congress and has been seen by some analysts as an alternative to President Barack Obama on foreign policy.