Remembering Ash Carter: Defense chief who warned Obama govt of Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat

Former US Defense Secretary Ash Carter passed away on Tuesday at his home in Boston. The veteran military civilian, 68, who suffered a fatal heart attack, will be remembered for his mighty contributions to the country, especially making way for women in military combat roles and eliminating obstacles for transgender troops.

However, in today's geopolitical context, Ash Carter's most notable effort was to warn the Obama administration about the Vladimir Putin threat.

In his memoir, Inside the Five-Sided Box, Ash Carter wrote that he was the only voice inside the White House during former POTUS Barack Obama's presidency to raise growing concerns about Vladimir Putin.


Ash Carter noted three bitter beliefs of Vladimir Putin in his 2019 book:

• The end of the Cold War resulted in the humiliation of the Russians
• The United States destabilized countries and unhorsed leaders and would do the same to Russia
• Thwarting the United States across the globe is a must for Russia's foreign policy
• Ash Carter also predicted that the continuous friction between the US and Russia could lead to a military conflict.

However, he claimed that officials in the Obama administration were reluctant to accept Vladimir Putin as a severe threat to western democracies. He also criticized the White House for its Russia strategy, which stated that Vladimir Putin was not an existential threat to the United States.

FAQs

Who is Ash Carter?
Carter was the US Secretary of Defense between 2015-2017.

When did Ash Carter die?
Carter passed away on Tuesday, October 25, at his home in Boston, due to a heart attack.