Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's pick to
serve as the next secretary of defence, defended his record before a
Senate committee Thursday as he sought to allay concerns of the
US senators who must confirm his nomination.
Hagel, a Republican and former senator from Nebraska, has drawn
stiff opposition from some members of the Senate who have said he is
not tough enough on Iran and has not spoken strongly enough for
Israel.
"I'm on the record on many issues, but no one individual vote, no
one individual quote, no one individual statement defines me, my
beliefs, or my record," Hagel told the Senate Armed Service Committee
as the top Republican on the committee voiced strong opposition to
his nomination.
Hagel stressed his agreement with Obama that "all options" were on
the table to deal with Iran's nuclear programme and that he would be
a steadfast ally to Israel. He also said he was committed to
maintaining the US nuclear arsenal, amid questions about past remarks
on denuclearization.
Senator Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the committee, said he
was strongly opposed to Hagel serving as secretary of defence.
"His record demonstrates what I view as a lack of steadfast
opposition to policies that diminish US power and influence
throughout the world, as well as a recent trend of policy reversals
that seem based on political expediency rather than on core beliefs,"
he said.
If confirmed by the Senate, Hagel would replace Defence Secretary
Leon Panetta.
Among the Republicans who have questioned Hagel's nomination are
US Senator John McCain, who said he had serious concerns about
positions Hagel has taken on a range of national security issues.
Other conservatives questioned Hagel's commitment to Israel, citing
his reference to advocates of Israel in the US as the "Jewish lobby."
Some Democrats have also raised concerns, but none have said they
will oppose Hagel's confirmation. Just one Republican has so far
expressed his support.
Hagel described the greatest challenge for the incoming defence
secretary as winding down the war in Afghanistan and defining the US
role there after the scheduled 2014 withdrawal of combat troops.
Hagel cited his own service in the Vietnam War as one of his
qualifications.
