This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/us/politics/sharp-exchanges-expected-in-hearing-on-hagel-nomination.html
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Hagel Has Rough Outing Before Ex-Colleagues | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of defense, faced sharp and sometimes angry questioning from fellow Republicans — especially his old friend Senator John McCain — at a contentious confirmation hearing on Thursday that focused on his past statements on Iran, the influence of pro-Israel organizations in Washington and the Iraq war. | WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of defense, faced sharp and sometimes angry questioning from fellow Republicans — especially his old friend Senator John McCain — at a contentious confirmation hearing on Thursday that focused on his past statements on Iran, the influence of pro-Israel organizations in Washington and the Iraq war. |
| Mr. Hagel, 66, a former senator from Nebraska and a decorated Vietnam veteran who would be the first former enlisted combat soldier to be secretary of defense, often seemed tentative in his responses. Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee showed him little deference, cross-examining him like prosecutors and often cutting him off. | Mr. Hagel, 66, a former senator from Nebraska and a decorated Vietnam veteran who would be the first former enlisted combat soldier to be secretary of defense, often seemed tentative in his responses. Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee showed him little deference, cross-examining him like prosecutors and often cutting him off. |
| There was dismay from Democrats and derision from Republicans about Mr. Hagel’s sometimes stumbling performance during seven and a half hours of testimony. | There was dismay from Democrats and derision from Republicans about Mr. Hagel’s sometimes stumbling performance during seven and a half hours of testimony. |
| “I’m going to be candid,” Senator Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat and committee member, told MSNBC, “I think that Chuck Hagel is much more comfortable asking questions than answering them.” | |
| She added: “That’s one bad habit I think you get into when you’ve been in the Senate. You can dish it out, but sometimes it’s a little more difficult to take it.” | She added: “That’s one bad habit I think you get into when you’ve been in the Senate. You can dish it out, but sometimes it’s a little more difficult to take it.” |
| One Republican on the committee, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, said bluntly, “Senator Hagel did little to help himself today.” | One Republican on the committee, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, said bluntly, “Senator Hagel did little to help himself today.” |
| The angriest exchange of the hearing occurred with Mr. McCain of Arizona, a fellow Vietnam veteran who was a close friend of Mr. Hagel in the Senate, but split with him because of Mr. Hagel’s skeptical views on the Iraq war. Mr. McCain was a strong supporter of the war, and like many Republicans, he still holds Mr. Hagel’s opposition against him. In 2008, Mr. Hagel did not endorse Mr. McCain for president and traveled with Mr. Obama, then a senator from Illinois, to Iraq and Afghanistan. | The angriest exchange of the hearing occurred with Mr. McCain of Arizona, a fellow Vietnam veteran who was a close friend of Mr. Hagel in the Senate, but split with him because of Mr. Hagel’s skeptical views on the Iraq war. Mr. McCain was a strong supporter of the war, and like many Republicans, he still holds Mr. Hagel’s opposition against him. In 2008, Mr. Hagel did not endorse Mr. McCain for president and traveled with Mr. Obama, then a senator from Illinois, to Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Mr. Hagel dodged a direct answer as Mr. McCain asked him repeatedly if history would judge whether he was right or wrong in opposing the surge in American armed forces in 2007. The escalation, along with other major factors, is credited with helping to quell the violence in Iraq at the time. When Mr. Hagel said he wanted to explain, Mr. McCain bore in. | Mr. Hagel dodged a direct answer as Mr. McCain asked him repeatedly if history would judge whether he was right or wrong in opposing the surge in American armed forces in 2007. The escalation, along with other major factors, is credited with helping to quell the violence in Iraq at the time. When Mr. Hagel said he wanted to explain, Mr. McCain bore in. |
| “I actually would like an answer, yes or no,” Mr. McCain said. | “I actually would like an answer, yes or no,” Mr. McCain said. |
| “Well, I’m not going to give you a yes or no,” Mr. Hagel replied. | “Well, I’m not going to give you a yes or no,” Mr. Hagel replied. |
| Mr. McCain did not let up. | Mr. McCain did not let up. |
| “I think history has already made a judgment about the surge, sir, and you’re on the wrong side of it,” Mr. McCain said. “And your refusal to answer whether you were right or wrong about it is going to have an impact on my judgment as to whether I vote for your confirmation or not.” | “I think history has already made a judgment about the surge, sir, and you’re on the wrong side of it,” Mr. McCain said. “And your refusal to answer whether you were right or wrong about it is going to have an impact on my judgment as to whether I vote for your confirmation or not.” |
| It took the next questioner, Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, to draw Mr. Hagel out on the subject. “I did question a surge,” Mr. Hagel said. “I always ask the question, is this going to be worth the sacrifice?” | It took the next questioner, Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, to draw Mr. Hagel out on the subject. “I did question a surge,” Mr. Hagel said. “I always ask the question, is this going to be worth the sacrifice?” |
| He said that nearly 1,200 American men and women had lost their lives in the surge and that thousands more were wounded. “I’m not that certain that it was required,” Mr. Hagel said. “Now, it doesn’t mean I’m right, doesn’t mean I didn’t make wrong votes.” | He said that nearly 1,200 American men and women had lost their lives in the surge and that thousands more were wounded. “I’m not that certain that it was required,” Mr. Hagel said. “Now, it doesn’t mean I’m right, doesn’t mean I didn’t make wrong votes.” |
| One of the most hostile questioners was Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who told Mr. Hagel to “name one dumb thing we’ve been goaded into doing because of the pressure from the Israeli or Jewish lobby.” Mr. Hagel, who in 2006 said that the “Jewish lobby” intimidates Congress, could not. | One of the most hostile questioners was Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who told Mr. Hagel to “name one dumb thing we’ve been goaded into doing because of the pressure from the Israeli or Jewish lobby.” Mr. Hagel, who in 2006 said that the “Jewish lobby” intimidates Congress, could not. |
| Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, surprised the hearing when he put excerpts from an interview Mr. Hagel gave to Al Jazeera in 2009 on a giant video screen. Although it was difficult to hear the short clips he provided, Mr. Cruz asserted that they showed Mr. Hagel agreeing with a caller who suggested that Israel had committed war crimes. | Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, surprised the hearing when he put excerpts from an interview Mr. Hagel gave to Al Jazeera in 2009 on a giant video screen. Although it was difficult to hear the short clips he provided, Mr. Cruz asserted that they showed Mr. Hagel agreeing with a caller who suggested that Israel had committed war crimes. |
| “Do you think the nation of Israel has committed war crimes?” Mr. Cruz demanded. | “Do you think the nation of Israel has committed war crimes?” Mr. Cruz demanded. |
| “No, I do not, Senator,” Mr. Hagel replied. | “No, I do not, Senator,” Mr. Hagel replied. |
| By late afternoon, Senator Joe Manchin III, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia who is as much a maverick in his party as Mr. Hagel is in his, apologized to Mr. Hagel for the sharp tone of the panel. In the morning Mr. Manchin had sounded a sympathetic and wistful note, saying Mr. Hagel’s unorthodox Republican views brought a “breath of fresh air” to the process. | By late afternoon, Senator Joe Manchin III, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia who is as much a maverick in his party as Mr. Hagel is in his, apologized to Mr. Hagel for the sharp tone of the panel. In the morning Mr. Manchin had sounded a sympathetic and wistful note, saying Mr. Hagel’s unorthodox Republican views brought a “breath of fresh air” to the process. |
| “I can’t tell you how much I wish I had served with you,” Mr. Manchin said. | “I can’t tell you how much I wish I had served with you,” Mr. Manchin said. |
| Mr. Hagel went through three “murder boards,” or mock hearings, in preparation for the real one, but White House officials privately made no argument that he had performed well. Still, they expressed optimism that he would be approved by the committee, where Democrats hold a 14-to-12 majority, and the full Senate as well. | Mr. Hagel went through three “murder boards,” or mock hearings, in preparation for the real one, but White House officials privately made no argument that he had performed well. Still, they expressed optimism that he would be approved by the committee, where Democrats hold a 14-to-12 majority, and the full Senate as well. |
| “There is nothing that happened today that changed what everyone believes the final outcome will be,” said one official, who declined to be identified describing White House strategy. | “There is nothing that happened today that changed what everyone believes the final outcome will be,” said one official, who declined to be identified describing White House strategy. |
| Officials tried to turn the focus on Mr. Hagel’s Republican inquisitors, saying they were out of touch by focusing so much on the concluded military operation in Iraq. | Officials tried to turn the focus on Mr. Hagel’s Republican inquisitors, saying they were out of touch by focusing so much on the concluded military operation in Iraq. |
| Under gentle but persistent questioning from Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the panel, Mr. Hagel said that he had voted against some unilateral American sanctions against Iran in 2001 and 2002 because “I thought that there might be other ways to employ our vast ability to harness power and allies” and “we were at a different place with Iran at that time.” | Under gentle but persistent questioning from Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the panel, Mr. Hagel said that he had voted against some unilateral American sanctions against Iran in 2001 and 2002 because “I thought that there might be other ways to employ our vast ability to harness power and allies” and “we were at a different place with Iran at that time.” |
| Mr. Hagel faltered at one point, saying shortly before noon that he strongly supported the president’s policy of “containment” of Iran. He was quickly handed a note, which he read and then corrected himself, “Obviously, we don’t have a position on containment.” | Mr. Hagel faltered at one point, saying shortly before noon that he strongly supported the president’s policy of “containment” of Iran. He was quickly handed a note, which he read and then corrected himself, “Obviously, we don’t have a position on containment.” |
| At that point Mr. Levin interjected, “We do have a position on containment, which is we do not favor containment.” The Obama administration’s policy on Iran obtaining nuclear weapons remains prevention. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. | At that point Mr. Levin interjected, “We do have a position on containment, which is we do not favor containment.” The Obama administration’s policy on Iran obtaining nuclear weapons remains prevention. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. |
| In his opening statement, 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, and said he would keep up pressure — through Special Operations forces and drones — on terrorist groups in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa. | In his opening statement, 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, 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 said. | “I believe, and always have, that America must engage — not retreat — in the world,” Mr. Hagel said. |
| On Afghanistan, which Mr. Hagel called “the longest war, as we all know, in America’s history,” he said he agreed with the president that there would be only two functions for the small number of American forces left there after 2014: hunting down Al Qaeda and its affiliates, and training and advising Afghan security forces. He said he would do “everything possible under current law” to provide equal benefits to gay service members and would work to open combat positions to women, a decision he said he strongly supported. | |
Reporting | Peter Baker, Mark Landler and Jennifer Steinhauer contributed reporting. |