Early signs point to rocky road for Hagel confirmation as defense secretary

President Obama will announce former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., today as his pick to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Democratic sources in the defense community and in Congress tell CBS News - and lawmakers and policy groups on both sides of the aisle are already priming for a confirmation fight.

"I think there will be a lot of tough questions for Sen. Hagel," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," "but he will be treated fairly by Republicans in the Senate. I think he'll be subjected to the same kind of oversight hearings that any nominee for such an important position would expect."

McConnell said he's waiting out the hearing process and wouldn't commit to voting for or against a Hagel nomination, but said his "views with regard to Israel, for example, and Iran and all the other positions that he's taken over the years will be very much a matter of discussion in the confirmation process."

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Indeed, Hagel's record on the Middle East and Israel in particular has attracted strong opposition, mostly from Republicans and the pro-Israel lobby. The Vietnam War veteran branded himself a maverick conservative during his two Senate terms, loudly criticizing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling for U.S. negotiations with the Palestinian organization Hamas, and voting against some Iran sanctions. After co-chairing Arizona Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful bid for the 2000 GOP presidential nomination, he turned around in 2008 and endorsed Mr. Obama.

Hagel has served as co-chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board since 2009, and is also a member of the Secretary of Defense's Policy Board.

"Chuck Hagel, if confirmed to be the secretary of defense, would be the most antagonistic secretary of defense toward the state of Israel in our nation's history," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "Not only has he said you should directly negotiate with Iran, sanctions won't work, that Israel should directly negotiate with the Hamas organization - a terrorist group that lobs thousands of rockets into Israel - he also was one of 12 senators who refused to sign a letter to the European Union that Hezbollah should be designated as a terrorist organization."

Graham said he will support Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. - the president's nominee to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state - arguing he is "in the mainstream of thought." Hagel, meanwhile, "is an in-your-face nomination by the president, and it looks like the second term of Barack Obama is going to be an in-your-face term," he said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, had similarly disparaging words for Hagel. In a statement out Sunday, Cornyn said he will not support the nomination, as Hagel's "record and past statements, particularly with respect to rogue nations like Iran, are extremely concerning to me. ...As Iran becomes increasingly hostile and gains influence in the region, the worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East is Chuck Hagel."

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[boatdocster]

Ironic - two senators that have done no real front line time (reserves only) would be as bold to judge another senator that was front line solider, decorated for bravery and the winner of two Purple Heart medals.

Hagel has been there and done that. He may not say what you want to hear, but take it from someone that has been shot up - War is hell, and the idea of starting wars (and paying for them) without a overriding national interests serves no one EXCEPT politicians and defense contractors.

Personally, I think Hagel is just what we need. If we want to address the debt, we MUST start with spending cuts, and defense spending MUST be on that list. We simply can't afford (or need) 650 BILLION DOLLARS of defense spending.

[RollotheNorman]

Actually that's incorrect if you are talking about McCain. He, if you will remember, was shot down over Hanoi in his A-4 and subsequently spent 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton. He retired from the Navy at the rank of Captain after 20.

If you are referring to Cornyn, he's pretty much like out other Senator, Cruz, and all-around loser. His bio mentions nothing about any military service, so I assume he dodged the draft during Vietnam.

[roth5101]

Graham and McCain again! These two are totally against anything our president does. These two need to get over this and get on with helping this country.

[RollotheNorman]

What I posted elsewhere:

"About time, an enlisted grunt that was actually in a combat zone for Defense Secretary. Weirdly out of sync with the party of chickenhawks. Maybe that's why Lindsey "Chickenhawk" Graham is green with envy over Hagel's service record. Here from Graham's own website is a description of his heroic military service: "Prior to his service in the House, Graham compiled a distinguished record in the United States Air Force as he logged six-and-a-half years of service on active duty as an Air Force lawyer From 1984-1988, he was assigned overseas and served at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany. ."

An Air Force Lawyer, never saw a combat zone, never fired upon, whata warrior!"

And of course he might have some additional problems because his parents gave him a girls first name.

[GunsInTheSky]

TiredPatriot replies: linkicon reporticon emailicon Go snuggle up with Yemen and all the countries that just adore Sharia law. Obviously you are a bit short on international history


=====

Relax. How about just not parterning with either side??? They have no strategic importance in the real world to the US and should be treated accordingly.

[roth5101]

Graham and McCain again! These two are totally against anything our president does. These two need to get over this and get on with helping this country.

[modeloman]

George Patton could come back to life and get nominated and guys(?) like tiredpatriot would call him a commie because Obama nominated him. Isnt it great we have folks in this country like him that are stuck in concrete?
Funny thing is he slams Sharia law when he is about as fundamentalist as they are.

[KPeters_from_UK]

This is what I really find funny: Mitch McConnell gave a lavish OTT farewell speech to Senator Hagel when he left the Senate. He even mentioned how Hagel had saved the life of McConnell's brother back in Vietnam. Seriously. And now, he treats Hagel with contempt. This McConnel guy is creepy. He hates Obama so much that it has made him mentally insane.

[superdem1]

We need to be antagonistic to Israel, since they are completely ignoring American interests, are actively suppressing the Palestinian people, and are pushing for war with Iran. They have absolutely no interest in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, so we need to drag them to the table and force the solution down their throats. If they don't like it, too bad. They cannot buy their way to domination, we don't need another puppet doing whatever AIPAC wants. We most certainly don't need war with Iran. What a mess that would be, and Israel pushes for it every day.

[GunsInTheSky]

Who cares about what Israel thinks! They cause more problems for the US than they help with.

[RollotheNorman]

Question? Why does CBS take one story and make four or five out of it on a regular basis? There was already a separate piece on the rumor that Hagel was going to be nominated. Why not actually report on things when the really happen, not rumors, speculations, liver-quivers, hot flashes, little angels or demons dancing on pins, the word from equine mouths, and/or what the left/right wing talking head of the moment thinks? Must be waaaayyyy too many "reporters" on the payroll.

[RollotheNorman]

Ummm, it was a general question, not topic specific. Of course I guess all the other media make stories out of suppositions, hunches, and talking head extrapolations too.

[confused2byu]

So the republicans don't like another republican because he is a negotiator rather than your normal bomb now and ask questions later republican. Yeah that makes sense.