Defense Secretary Ashton Carter testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the U.S. military on Tuesday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
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Fighters from the Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, northern Syria. The U.S. is considering arming Arab and Kurdish fighters who are poised to attack the Islamic State stronghold. Uncredited/AP hide caption
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter (center left) is greeted with a military honor guard as he arrives to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday. Jonathan Ernst/AP hide caption
Vice President Biden swears in Ashton Carter, as the new Secretary of Defense's wife, Stephanie, holds the Bible for a ceremony in the White House Tuesday. Shawn Thew/EPA/Landov hide caption
Ashton Carter answers a reporter's question during a March 2013 news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Lee Jin-man/AP hide caption
Ashton Carter, President Obama's nominee to be the next secretary of defense, talks with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, during a break in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. The panel approved Carter's nomination Tuesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
President Obama announced Friday that Ashton Carter is his nominee to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary. Larry Downing/Reuters /Landov hide caption
Ashton Carter answers a reporter's question during a March 2013 news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Lee Jin-man/AP hide caption