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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Chuck Hagel grilled in Senate confirmation hearing | Chuck Hagel grilled in Senate confirmation hearing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Defence Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has talked tough on Iran while pledging to support a strong Israeli military, at a testy confirmation hearing. | Defence Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has talked tough on Iran while pledging to support a strong Israeli military, at a testy confirmation hearing. |
| Members of the Senate armed services committee are questioning Mr Hagel, who has been accused of remarks hostile to Israel and soft on Iran. | Members of the Senate armed services committee are questioning Mr Hagel, who has been accused of remarks hostile to Israel and soft on Iran. |
| The Republican former Nebraska senator told the panel he could not be defined by any individual quote. | The Republican former Nebraska senator told the panel he could not be defined by any individual quote. |
| The hearing will lead to a final Senate vote on Mr Hagel's appointment. | The hearing will lead to a final Senate vote on Mr Hagel's appointment. |
| At Thursday's public hearing, Mr Hagel said: "No one individual vote, quote or statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record." | At Thursday's public hearing, Mr Hagel said: "No one individual vote, quote or statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record." |
| He said he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, with "all options" on the table. | He said he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, with "all options" on the table. |
| "I will ensure our friend and ally Israel maintains its qualitative military edge in the region," he added. | "I will ensure our friend and ally Israel maintains its qualitative military edge in the region," he added. |
| Heated exchange | Heated exchange |
| The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says that in nominating a Republican as his next defence secretary, President Barack Obama reached out across party lines. | The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says that in nominating a Republican as his next defence secretary, President Barack Obama reached out across party lines. |
| But it is from his own former colleagues on the right that Chuck Hagel faces skepticism, our correspondent says. | But it is from his own former colleagues on the right that Chuck Hagel faces skepticism, our correspondent says. |
| Senator Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the committee, said shortly after the hearing began: "Senator Hagel's record is deeply troubling and out of the mainstream." | Senator Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the committee, said shortly after the hearing began: "Senator Hagel's record is deeply troubling and out of the mainstream." |
| A heated exchange followed as Senator John McCain asked the Pentagon nominee about a remark he once made that bolstering troop levels during the Iraq war was "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam". | A heated exchange followed as Senator John McCain asked the Pentagon nominee about a remark he once made that bolstering troop levels during the Iraq war was "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam". |
| As Mr Hagel began to explain the comments, Sen McCain interrupted to say: "Do you think you were correct or incorrect, that's a direct question." | As Mr Hagel began to explain the comments, Sen McCain interrupted to say: "Do you think you were correct or incorrect, that's a direct question." |
| Mr Hagel replied that he would "let history decide". | Mr Hagel replied that he would "let history decide". |
| Sen McCain answered: "I think history has already made a judgment on the surge, and you are on the wrong side of it." | |
| In the past, Mr Hagel has criticised the idea of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran. He has also advocated including Iran on future peace talks in Afghanistan. | In the past, Mr Hagel has criticised the idea of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran. He has also advocated including Iran on future peace talks in Afghanistan. |
| He has been criticised, too, for his remarks in a 2008 book against the Israel lobby in the US capital. | He has been criticised, too, for his remarks in a 2008 book against the Israel lobby in the US capital. |
| "The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here," Mr Hagel was quoted as saying. "I'm a United States senator. I'm not an Israeli senator." | "The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here," Mr Hagel was quoted as saying. "I'm a United States senator. I'm not an Israeli senator." |
| His remarks in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassadorial post was "openly, aggressively gay" also raised eyebrows. He has since apologised for that comment. | His remarks in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassadorial post was "openly, aggressively gay" also raised eyebrows. He has since apologised for that comment. |
| If confirmed, he would be the first enlisted man to run the Pentagon, and the first Vietnam veteran to lead US forces. | If confirmed, he would be the first enlisted man to run the Pentagon, and the first Vietnam veteran to lead US forces. |