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| Obama to nominate Hagel as defence secretary and Brennan as CIA chief | Obama to nominate Hagel as defence secretary and Brennan as CIA chief |
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| President Barack Obama is to nominate Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the CIA, two potentially controversial picks for his second-term national security team. | President Barack Obama is to nominate Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the CIA, two potentially controversial picks for his second-term national security team. |
| Hagel, even before being nominated, has faced tough criticism from congressional Republicans who say the former Republican senator is anti-Israel and soft on Iran, while Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew from consideration for the spy agency's top job in 2008 amid questions about his connection to enhanced interrogation techniques during the George W Bush administration. | Hagel, even before being nominated, has faced tough criticism from congressional Republicans who say the former Republican senator is anti-Israel and soft on Iran, while Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew from consideration for the spy agency's top job in 2008 amid questions about his connection to enhanced interrogation techniques during the George W Bush administration. |
| Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event on Monday afternoon. Along with secretary of state nominee John Kerry, Hagel and Brennan would play key roles implementing and shaping Obama's national security priorities in a second term. All three men must be confirmed by the Senate. | Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event on Monday afternoon. Along with secretary of state nominee John Kerry, Hagel and Brennan would play key roles implementing and shaping Obama's national security priorities in a second term. All three men must be confirmed by the Senate. |
| In nominating Hagel, Obama signalled he was willing to take on a tough confirmation fight. Once Hagel emerged as Obama's likely nominee, Republican lawmakers began sharply questioning his commitment to Israel and his willingness to take a hard line on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme. | In nominating Hagel, Obama signalled he was willing to take on a tough confirmation fight. Once Hagel emerged as Obama's likely nominee, Republican lawmakers began sharply questioning his commitment to Israel and his willingness to take a hard line on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme. |
| Hagel, a 66-year-old moderate Nebraska Republican, has criticised discussion of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran. He also irritated some Israel backers with his reference to the "Jewish lobby" in the US. And he has backed efforts to bring Iran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan. | Hagel, a 66-year-old moderate Nebraska Republican, has criticised discussion of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran. He also irritated some Israel backers with his reference to the "Jewish lobby" in the US. And he has backed efforts to bring Iran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan. |
| White House officials say Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran have been misrepresented. They cite his Senate votes for billions in military assistance to Israel and his support for multilateral sanctions on Tehran. | White House officials say Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran have been misrepresented. They cite his Senate votes for billions in military assistance to Israel and his support for multilateral sanctions on Tehran. |
| Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said Hagel would be "completely in line with the president" on both issues. | Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said Hagel would be "completely in line with the president" on both issues. |
| "The president has a record of unprecedented security co-operation with Israel and that's going to continue no matter who the defence secretary is," Rhodes said. | "The president has a record of unprecedented security co-operation with Israel and that's going to continue no matter who the defence secretary is," Rhodes said. |
| Hagel has also been criticised by Democrats for saying in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassador post was "openly, aggressively gay". He has since apologised for those comments. | Hagel has also been criticised by Democrats for saying in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassador post was "openly, aggressively gay". He has since apologised for those comments. |
| Hagel is the second straight Obama favourite for a top national security post to face criticism from Capitol Hill even before being nominated. The ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, withdrew her name from consideration for secretary of state amid charges from Republican senators that she misled the public in her initial accounting of the attacks on Americans at a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. | Hagel is the second straight Obama favourite for a top national security post to face criticism from Capitol Hill even before being nominated. The ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, withdrew her name from consideration for secretary of state amid charges from Republican senators that she misled the public in her initial accounting of the attacks on Americans at a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. |
| Obama returned to the White House on Sunday after a truncated family holiday in Hawaii. His week will include a visit from the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. And he faces a bruising fight with Congress over spending and the federal deficit, just days after Obama and Congress averted the fiscal cliff with a last-minute deal over the New Year holiday. | Obama returned to the White House on Sunday after a truncated family holiday in Hawaii. His week will include a visit from the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. And he faces a bruising fight with Congress over spending and the federal deficit, just days after Obama and Congress averted the fiscal cliff with a last-minute deal over the New Year holiday. |
| Both Hagel and Brennan have close relationships with Obama, who values loyalty in his inner circle. Brennan, as the president's top counter-terrorism adviser, was deeply involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. And he has led administration efforts to quell the growth of terrorist organisations in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. | Both Hagel and Brennan have close relationships with Obama, who values loyalty in his inner circle. Brennan, as the president's top counter-terrorism adviser, was deeply involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. And he has led administration efforts to quell the growth of terrorist organisations in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. |
| With 25 years' service at the CIA, Brennan, 57, was station chief in Saudi Arabia and held a variety of posts, including deputy executive director, during the Bush administration. | With 25 years' service at the CIA, Brennan, 57, was station chief in Saudi Arabia and held a variety of posts, including deputy executive director, during the Bush administration. |
| His tenure at the agency during Bush's presidency drew criticism from liberals when Obama considered naming him CIA director after the 2008 election. Brennan denied being involved in the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques, but still withdrew his name from consideration. | His tenure at the agency during Bush's presidency drew criticism from liberals when Obama considered naming him CIA director after the 2008 election. Brennan denied being involved in the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques, but still withdrew his name from consideration. |
| In a letter to Obama at the time, Brennan said he was "a strong opponent of many of the policies of the Bush administration, such as the pre-emptive war in Iraq and coercive interrogation tactics, to include waterboarding". | In a letter to Obama at the time, Brennan said he was "a strong opponent of many of the policies of the Bush administration, such as the pre-emptive war in Iraq and coercive interrogation tactics, to include waterboarding". |
| White House officials say they don't expect Brennan to face similar trouble this time around given his four years of service in the Obama administration. | White House officials say they don't expect Brennan to face similar trouble this time around given his four years of service in the Obama administration. |
| "The issue has been removed from the debate because the president and John Brennan, as his top counter-terrorism adviser, brought those techniques to an end," Rhodes said. | "The issue has been removed from the debate because the president and John Brennan, as his top counter-terrorism adviser, brought those techniques to an end," Rhodes said. |
| However, Brennan's nomination will likely shine a spotlight on the administration's controversial drone programme. Brennan was the first Obama administration official to publicly acknowledge the highly secretive targeted killing operations. Brennan has defended the legality of drone operations and has said they protect American lives and prevent potential terror attacks. | However, Brennan's nomination will likely shine a spotlight on the administration's controversial drone programme. Brennan was the first Obama administration official to publicly acknowledge the highly secretive targeted killing operations. Brennan has defended the legality of drone operations and has said they protect American lives and prevent potential terror attacks. |
| If confirmed, Brennan will succeed David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer. | If confirmed, Brennan will succeed David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer. |
| The deputy CIA director, Michael Morell, has been serving as the agency's acting director since Petraeus resigned and was considered by Obama for the top job. Rhodes said Morell will attend Monday's White House event and is expected to stay at the CIA. | The deputy CIA director, Michael Morell, has been serving as the agency's acting director since Petraeus resigned and was considered by Obama for the top job. Rhodes said Morell will attend Monday's White House event and is expected to stay at the CIA. |
| Hagel would replace retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta at a time when the defence department is facing potentially deep budget cuts. Hagel would also be tasked with overseeing the military drawdown in Afghanistan, where the US-led campaign is scheduled to end in two years' time. Hagel is likely to support a more rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan than some military generals. | Hagel would replace retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta at a time when the defence department is facing potentially deep budget cuts. Hagel would also be tasked with overseeing the military drawdown in Afghanistan, where the US-led campaign is scheduled to end in two years' time. Hagel is likely to support a more rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan than some military generals. |
| Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican, said on Sunday he was reserving judgment on whether to support Hagel but predicted the former senator would face serious questions. | Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican, said on Sunday he was reserving judgment on whether to support Hagel but predicted the former senator would face serious questions. |
| Any nominee must have "a full understanding of our close relationship with our Israeli allies, the Iranian threat and the importance of having a robust military", McConnell said on ABC's This Week. | Any nominee must have "a full understanding of our close relationship with our Israeli allies, the Iranian threat and the importance of having a robust military", McConnell said on ABC's This Week. |
| The second-ranking Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said in a statement that making Hagel defence secretary would be "the worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East". | The second-ranking Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said in a statement that making Hagel defence secretary would be "the worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East". |
| Despite the criticism, no Republican lawmakers have threatened to try to block Hagel's nomination. | Despite the criticism, no Republican lawmakers have threatened to try to block Hagel's nomination. |
| Monday's nominations leave Obama without a woman in line for a top administration post, a fact that has irked some Democratic women. The president will soon name a new treasury secretary, but current White House chief of staff Jack Lew is the frontrunner for the post. | Monday's nominations leave Obama without a woman in line for a top administration post, a fact that has irked some Democratic women. The president will soon name a new treasury secretary, but current White House chief of staff Jack Lew is the frontrunner for the post. |
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