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Republicans delay Chuck Hagel's defence secretary vote Republicans delay Chuck Hagel's defence secretary vote
(about 1 hour later)
Republican senators have delayed a vote to confirm President Obama's nominee for US secretary of defense.Republican senators have delayed a vote to confirm President Obama's nominee for US secretary of defense.
They say questions remain about Senator Chuck Hagel but have agreed to an up-or-down vote on 26 February.They say questions remain about Senator Chuck Hagel but have agreed to an up-or-down vote on 26 February.
Mr Hagel's backers say the US military needs a leader in place while troops remain in Afghanistan and North Korea has just tested a nuclear device.Mr Hagel's backers say the US military needs a leader in place while troops remain in Afghanistan and North Korea has just tested a nuclear device.
Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is to remain in his post until Mr Hagel is confirmed.Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is to remain in his post until Mr Hagel is confirmed.
He was approved by the Senate armed services committee in a 14-11 vote along party lines on Tuesday. 'Not without consequence'
'Never, ever' White House press secretary Jay Carney denounced the delay, saying Senate Republicans had put political posturing ahead of America's national security.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans had made an "unfortunate choice to ratchet up the level of obstruction" by delaying the vote on Mr Hagel's confirmation. "A clear majority in the US Senate supports Senator Hagel's confirmation, so today's action runs against both the majority will of the Senate and our nation's interest," he said in a statement.
"There are times like this when it's nice to have a secretary of defense," he said, citing Iran's nuclear programme, the ongoing war in Afghanistan, an upcoming Nato summit, the conflict in Syria, and other security matters. "This waste of time is not without consequence. For the sake of national security, it's time to stop playing politics with our Department of Defense and to move beyond the distractions and delay."
Calling the former Nebraska Republican senator a "man of quality" and courage, Sen Reid said nothing would happen in the coming days to change Mr Hagel's qualifications for the job and added he would telephone the nominee to apologise for the turn of events. But Republicans, who have agreed to a vote following an upcoming 10-day recess, have said they need more time to weigh outstanding questions about Mr Hagel.
Earlier, Arizona Senator John McCain and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham argued that more time was needed to answer outstanding questions about Mr Hagel. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham also said he would continue to use the confirmation vote as leverage in his effort to wring more information from the White House about the response to the 11 September attack on a US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Mr Hagel was a private citizen at the time of the attack.
They said they would be prepared to vote on the nomination when the Senate returned from a 10-day recess. "There seems to not be much interest to hold this president accountable for a national security breakdown that led to the first ambassador being killed in the line of duty in over 30 years," Sen Graham said.
The Republicans have forced the delay with a parliamentary manoeuvre blocking the Senate majority leader's motion to end debate on Mr Hagel's nomination and proceed to an up-or-down vote on confirmation. "No, the debate on Chuck Hagel is not over. It has not been serious. We don't have the information we need. And I'm going to fight the idea of jamming somebody through until we get answers about what the president did personally when it came to the Benghazi debacle."
Even though the Democrats hold a majority of 55 votes, Senate rules in this case require them to come up with 60 to end debate and hold the final confirmation vote. One vote short
'Renegade' On Thursday, Republicans forced the delay with a parliamentary manoeuvre blocking the Senate Democratic leader's motion to end debate on Mr Hagel's nomination and proceed to an up-or-down vote on confirmation.
One of Mr Hagel's leading critics in the Senate, Sen Graham, had vowed to block Mr Hagel's confirmation until he received more information from the White House about the 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Even though the Democrats hold a majority of 55 votes, Senate rules in this case require them to come up with 60 to end debate. They fell one short.
The White House says it has responded to Republican requests, and now Sen Graham and other critics say they need more time to consider Mr Hagel.
Mr Hagel, a decorated and twice-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, served in the Senate for 12 years.Mr Hagel, a decorated and twice-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, served in the Senate for 12 years.
But correspondents say he is seen by some of his former colleagues as a renegade for breaking with Republican ranks on issues such as the Iraq War.But correspondents say he is seen by some of his former colleagues as a renegade for breaking with Republican ranks on issues such as the Iraq War.
He has also been criticised during the confirmation process for comments he made years ago claiming "the Jewish lobby" had too much influence over American policy.He has also been criticised during the confirmation process for comments he made years ago claiming "the Jewish lobby" had too much influence over American policy.
His remarks in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassadorial post was "openly, aggressively gay" have also raised eyebrows. Mr Hagel has since apologised for that comment.His remarks in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassadorial post was "openly, aggressively gay" have also raised eyebrows. Mr Hagel has since apologised for that comment.