Ashton Carter, President Barack Obamas choice to be defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee as the panel considers his nomination to replace Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Carter, who previously served as the No. 2 Pentagon official, is expected to easily win Senate confirmation but will face tough questions about Iraq and other issues. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
