Ashton Carter confirmed by Senate as US defense secretary

Carter will succeed Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief and will be charged with managing US operations in the Middle East and around the worldAshton Carter was confirmed as secretary of defense on Thursday after the Senate delivered more than 90 votes to approve him, putting the Pentagon veteran in charge of the US military at a time of violent crises in eastern Europe and the Middle East.Carter, a former deputy secretary of defense who is well-liked by many in congressional circles, was perfunctoril