President-elect Donald Trump formally announced Monday that he will nominate retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly served as commander of US Southern Command for more than three years until his retirement in January. “(Kelly) is the right person to spearhead the urgent mission of stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders, streamlining TSA, and improving coordination between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” Trump said in a statement announcing the appointment. If confirmed, he would serve as the fifth Secretary of Homeland Security, a cabinet position created by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He would be the first retired general to serve in that post. Kelly is also the third former general to be chosen by Trump for a senior position in his administration. Retired Marine Corps Gen. and US Central Command chief James Mattis is Trump’s selection for Secretary of Defense, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is his pick for national security advisor.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…