Confirm Mike Pompeo to fill the void at State

America has been without a secretary of State for three weeks, and without one who had the trust of the White House for months before that. President Trump's unceremonious dismissal of Rex Tillerson left a void at State at a moment when talks with North Korea, rising tensions with Russia and a crisis in Syria hang in the balance.

To fill the vacancy for America's top diplomat, Trump has nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who faces a Senate committee vote Monday. Although Pompeo's hawkish views are reason for concern, they are not sufficient reason to block his confirmation.

Unless a nominee has clear ethical or competency failings, presidents should be accorded wide latitude to select top aides whom they trust and agree with. Pompeo passes that test and merits approval.

Democrats and one Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who are threatening to block Pompeo's nomination might win a Pyrrhic, short-term victory. Pompeo — who served ably as CIA director, including on his recent secret mission to North Korea — would be branded the only secretary of State ever rejected by the committee. Regardless of what the committee does, however, his fate will almost certainly reach the Senate floor for approval.

To be sure, we've had differences with the former Kansas congressman and Tea Party darling. Pompeo denounced the Iran nuclear deal and called for U.S.-backed regime change in Tehran. He agreed with Trump's ill-considered decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord. And, in an apparent sop to his boss last year, Pompeo asserted that Russian interference in the 2016 election had no bearing on the outcome, something he had no way of knowing.