Trump top nominees Pompeo and Mattis warn of Russia threat

President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for defence secretary and spy chief have been taking aim at Russia during their Senate confirmation hearings.

General James Mattis, defence secretary nominee, warned Nato was under its biggest attack since World War Two.
Mike Pompeo, Mr Trump's pick to lead the CIA, said Moscow posed a threat in Europe and was "asserting itself aggressively" in Ukraine.
The tough talk follows Mr Trump's call for warmer relations with Moscow.
"I think right now the most important thing is that we recognise the reality of what we deal with with Mr Putin," he told the Armed Services Committee.
"And we recognise that he is trying to break the North Atlantic alliance and that we take the steps... to defend ourselves where we must.
"I think it's under the biggest attack since World War II, sir, and that's from Russia, from terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea."
The former four-star Marine general has described Nato as the most successful military alliance in modern history, clashing with Mr Trump's comments undercutting the almost 70-year-old organisation.
General Mattis also gave his support to the intelligence community, saying he had a "very, very high degree of confidence" in them despite the president-elect's recent doubts over their assessments.