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| At Confirmation Hearing, Hagel Offers Forceful Endorsement of U.S. Military Power | At Confirmation Hearing, Hagel Offers Forceful Endorsement of U.S. Military Power |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of defense, on Thursday morning said that the United States must lead other nations in confronting threats, use all tools of American power in protecting its people and “maintain the strongest military in the world.” | WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of defense, on Thursday morning said that the United States must lead other nations in confronting threats, use all tools of American power in protecting its people and “maintain the strongest military in the world.” |
| In an opening statement at his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Hagel presented a broad, forceful endorsement of American military power aimed at answering critics who say he would weaken the United States. He offered strong support for Israel, said he was fully committed to the president’s goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and said he would keep up pressure — through Special Operations forces and drones — on terrorist groups in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa. | In an opening statement at his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Hagel presented a broad, forceful endorsement of American military power aimed at answering critics who say he would weaken the United States. He offered strong support for Israel, said he was fully committed to the president’s goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and said he would keep up pressure — through Special Operations forces and drones — on terrorist groups in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa. |
| “I believe, and always have, that America must engage — not retreat — in the world,” Mr. Hagel told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. | “I believe, and always have, that America must engage — not retreat — in the world,” Mr. Hagel told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. |
| On Afghanistan, which Mr. Hagel called “the longest war, as we all know, in America’s history,” Mr. Hagel, a Republican and former senator from Nebraska, said he agreed with the president that there would only be two functions for the small number of American forces in Afghanistan after 2014: hunting down Al Qaeda and its affiliates and training and advising Afghan security forces. | |
| Mr. Hagel’s opening statement frequently echoed the policies of the departing defense secretary, Leon E. Panetta, and at several points used identical phrasing. Like Mr. Panetta, Mr. Hagel said that the United States “always will be a Pacific power” and that the Defense Department was “rebalancing its resources toward the Asia-Pacific region.” | Mr. Hagel’s opening statement frequently echoed the policies of the departing defense secretary, Leon E. Panetta, and at several points used identical phrasing. Like Mr. Panetta, Mr. Hagel said that the United States “always will be a Pacific power” and that the Defense Department was “rebalancing its resources toward the Asia-Pacific region.” |
| But although he said he shared Mr. Panetta’s “serious concern” about impending defense budget cuts, called sequestration, he did not sound the same cataclysmic alarm that Mr. Panetta has at times in the past. | But although he said he shared Mr. Panetta’s “serious concern” about impending defense budget cuts, called sequestration, he did not sound the same cataclysmic alarm that Mr. Panetta has at times in the past. |
| Mr. Hagel also said he would do “everything possible under current law” to provide equal benefits to gay service members and would work with the service chiefs to open combat positions to women, a decision he said he strongly supported. | |
| Before he even made his opening statement, Mr. Hagel faced a blast of objections from the ranking Republican on the committee, Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, who told Mr. Hagel that he would not vote for him because of his position of “appeasing” America’s adversaries. | Before he even made his opening statement, Mr. Hagel faced a blast of objections from the ranking Republican on the committee, Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, who told Mr. Hagel that he would not vote for him because of his position of “appeasing” America’s adversaries. |
| “His record demonstrates what I view as a steadfast opposition to policies that diminish U.S. 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,” Mr. Inhofe said. | “His record demonstrates what I view as a steadfast opposition to policies that diminish U.S. 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,” Mr. Inhofe said. |
| But even a reliable yes vote, Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who serves as the committee’s chairman, said in his opening statement that Mr. Hagel had made “troubling” statements about Israel and had expressed a willingness to negotiated on Iran on issues that Mr. Levin viewed as nonnegotiable. Mr. Levin said he expected Mr. Hagel to address those issues during the hearing. | But even a reliable yes vote, Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who serves as the committee’s chairman, said in his opening statement that Mr. Hagel had made “troubling” statements about Israel and had expressed a willingness to negotiated on Iran on issues that Mr. Levin viewed as nonnegotiable. Mr. Levin said he expected Mr. Hagel to address those issues during the hearing. |
| The hearing occurred in a packed room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where a protester shouted that Mr. Hagel had to provide equal military benefits to gay couples while the men of America’s defense establishment, including former Senator Sam Nunn and James Jones, a former national security adviser, turned up to lend support. Mr. Nunn, who has been considered over the years for defense secretary, introduced Mr. Hagel to the committee. | The hearing occurred in a packed room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where a protester shouted that Mr. Hagel had to provide equal military benefits to gay couples while the men of America’s defense establishment, including former Senator Sam Nunn and James Jones, a former national security adviser, turned up to lend support. Mr. Nunn, who has been considered over the years for defense secretary, introduced Mr. Hagel to the committee. |
| Mr. Hagel, who has gone through three “murder boards,” or mock hearings, in preparation for the real one, has met with nearly 60 members of the Senate. He has spent the past three weeks working out of a modest transition office down the hall from the office of Mr. Panetta, in the Pentagon E-ring, the corridor with sweeping views of the Potomac River and Washington. | Mr. Hagel, who has gone through three “murder boards,” or mock hearings, in preparation for the real one, has met with nearly 60 members of the Senate. He has spent the past three weeks working out of a modest transition office down the hall from the office of Mr. Panetta, in the Pentagon E-ring, the corridor with sweeping views of the Potomac River and Washington. |
| With the help of a transition staff led by Marcel J. Lettre, Mr. Panetta’s deputy chief of staff, Mr. Hagel has received voluminous Pentagon briefings, met with Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and spoken with the deputy defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, who will remain in the job. | With the help of a transition staff led by Marcel J. Lettre, Mr. Panetta’s deputy chief of staff, Mr. Hagel has received voluminous Pentagon briefings, met with Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and spoken with the deputy defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, who will remain in the job. |
| Mr. Hagel, 66, a decorated Vietnam veteran and a senator from Nebraska, has also worked closely with Mr. Obama’s aides on what has become a major White House offensive to counter criticism from Jewish and conservative groups and some Democrats that Mr. Hagel is too hard on Israel and too soft on Iran. | Mr. Hagel, 66, a decorated Vietnam veteran and a senator from Nebraska, has also worked closely with Mr. Obama’s aides on what has become a major White House offensive to counter criticism from Jewish and conservative groups and some Democrats that Mr. Hagel is too hard on Israel and too soft on Iran. |
| As part of an aggressive effort to support Mr. Hagel, the White House arranged for him to meet this month with major Jewish groups as well as Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, who objected to a statement Mr. Hagel made in 2006: “The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here.” | As part of an aggressive effort to support Mr. Hagel, the White House arranged for him to meet this month with major Jewish groups as well as Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, who objected to a statement Mr. Hagel made in 2006: “The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here.” |
| He was referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, which advocates for Israel. Critics took issue with the implication that members of Congress are bullied and with his use of the word “Jewish” rather than “Israel,” which some said suggested that all advocates for Israel are Jewish. | He was referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, which advocates for Israel. Critics took issue with the implication that members of Congress are bullied and with his use of the word “Jewish” rather than “Israel,” which some said suggested that all advocates for Israel are Jewish. |
| Mr. Hagel’s past opposition to unilateral American sanctions against Iran, which he viewed as ineffective, has also become an issue. His view was out of step with current Obama administration policy, which has imposed on Iran tough unilateral sanctions as well as sanctions worked out with a coalition of other countries. | Mr. Hagel’s past opposition to unilateral American sanctions against Iran, which he viewed as ineffective, has also become an issue. His view was out of step with current Obama administration policy, which has imposed on Iran tough unilateral sanctions as well as sanctions worked out with a coalition of other countries. |
| Mr. Schumer, the most influential Jewish member of the Senate, endorsed Mr. Hagel after the meeting with him, paving the way for other Democrats to do the same. The White House subsequently arranged another meeting between Mr. Hagel and representatives of major Jewish groups, including Aipac, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. stopped by. Although the Jewish groups did not endorse Mr. Hagel afterward, they have remained publicly silent and have not moved against him. | Mr. Schumer, the most influential Jewish member of the Senate, endorsed Mr. Hagel after the meeting with him, paving the way for other Democrats to do the same. The White House subsequently arranged another meeting between Mr. Hagel and representatives of major Jewish groups, including Aipac, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. stopped by. Although the Jewish groups did not endorse Mr. Hagel afterward, they have remained publicly silent and have not moved against him. |
| But some new political groups financed by anonymous donors continue to wage a media campaign against Mr. Hagel. One calling itself Americans for a Strong Defense is urging Democratic senators in five states to vote against him, saying he would make the United States “a weaker country.” Another, Use Your Mandate, which presents itself as a liberal gay rights group but buys its television time through a prominent Republican firm, is attacking Mr. Hagel in ads and mailers as “antigay,” “anti-woman” and “anti-Israel.” | But some new political groups financed by anonymous donors continue to wage a media campaign against Mr. Hagel. One calling itself Americans for a Strong Defense is urging Democratic senators in five states to vote against him, saying he would make the United States “a weaker country.” Another, Use Your Mandate, which presents itself as a liberal gay rights group but buys its television time through a prominent Republican firm, is attacking Mr. Hagel in ads and mailers as “antigay,” “anti-woman” and “anti-Israel.” |
| The antigay charge stems from disparaging comments he made in 1997 objecting to an “openly, aggressively gay” nominee for a top diplomatic post. Mr. Hagel has since apologized for the remarks. | The antigay charge stems from disparaging comments he made in 1997 objecting to an “openly, aggressively gay” nominee for a top diplomatic post. Mr. Hagel has since apologized for the remarks. |
| White House officials said they expected support from some of the 12 Republicans on the 26-member Armed Services Committee, including potentially from Senator John McCain of Arizona, who was once a close friend of Mr. Hagel’s but broke with him on the Iraq war. Both men initially supported the American invasion in 2003, but Mr. Hagel became an early critic of the George W. Bush administration’s handling of the war. | White House officials said they expected support from some of the 12 Republicans on the 26-member Armed Services Committee, including potentially from Senator John McCain of Arizona, who was once a close friend of Mr. Hagel’s but broke with him on the Iraq war. Both men initially supported the American invasion in 2003, but Mr. Hagel became an early critic of the George W. Bush administration’s handling of the war. |
| Mr. Hagel, who would be the first former enlisted soldier to become secretary of defense, has, like Mr. Obama, been wary of American military involvement overseas. Last year, recalling his service in Vietnam, where he and his brother Tom were serving in the same infantry squad when both were severely wounded, he said: “I’m not a pacifist — I believe in using force, but only after following a very careful decision-making process. The night Tom and I were medevaced out of that village in April 1968, I told myself: If I ever get out of this and I’m ever in a position to influence policy, I will do everything I can to avoid needless, senseless war.” | Mr. Hagel, who would be the first former enlisted soldier to become secretary of defense, has, like Mr. Obama, been wary of American military involvement overseas. Last year, recalling his service in Vietnam, where he and his brother Tom were serving in the same infantry squad when both were severely wounded, he said: “I’m not a pacifist — I believe in using force, but only after following a very careful decision-making process. The night Tom and I were medevaced out of that village in April 1968, I told myself: If I ever get out of this and I’m ever in a position to influence policy, I will do everything I can to avoid needless, senseless war.” |