UPDATE 2-Biden's defense secretary pick pledges to 'rid our ranks of racists and extremists'
Reuters
1/19/2021
(Adds Austin on overturning ban on transgender troops, concerns on Iran)
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Retired Army General Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he would work to rid "racists and extremists" from the ranks of the U.S. military, mend alliances and focus strategically on China if confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's defense secretary.
Austin would become America's first Black defense secretary and has declared his intention to improve diversity within the U.S. military, which is diverse in the lower ranks but largely white and male at the top.