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Chuck Hagel set for US defence secretary vote US Senate clears way for Hagel defence secretary vote
(about 4 hours later)
The US Senate is set to proceed with votes to confirm former Senator Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. The US Senate has cleared the way for the confirmation of former Senator Chuck Hagel as defence secretary.
The move on Tuesday comes 12 days after Republicans delayed a vote, questioning his past positions on Israel and Iran and his qualifications. In a critical test vote, the chamber agreed to hold a final vote on Mr Hagel's bid later on Tuesday, when he is expected to win confirmation easily.
But some critics have since agreed to allow the confirmation to proceed, while pledging to vote against him. The Senate move comes 12 days after Republicans delayed a vote, questioning his past positions on Israel and Iran and his qualifications.
Outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta is to remain in his post until Mr Hagel is confirmed. But critics dropped their delaying manoeuvre after a week-long recess.
On Tuesday, the US Senate will hold a procedural vote to end debate on the confirmation of Mr Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the Pentagon. Just after noon on Tuesday in Washington DC, the US Senate held a procedural vote to end debate on the confirmation of Mr Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the Pentagon.
Sixty votes are needed on that question; a vote earlier this month garnered only 59. The motion passed 71-27, easily overcoming the 60-vote threshold. A final majority vote on the nomination is expected at 16:30 local time (21:30 GMT). Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber.
If, as expected, the chamber ends debate, it will move to a simple majority vote for confirmation. Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge.
Among other sticking points in Mr Hagel's nomination process was a remark he made in a 2008 book that the "Jewish lobby" intimidated decision-makers on Capitol Hill.Among other sticking points in Mr Hagel's nomination process was a remark he made in a 2008 book that the "Jewish lobby" intimidated decision-makers on Capitol Hill.
Republican senators also said they feared Mr Hagel would be too lax on Iran, and an outspoken conservative freshman senator from Texas suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea. Republican senators also said they feared Mr Hagel would be too lax on Iran, and Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative freshman senator from Texas, suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea.
During a confirmation hearing this year, Mr Hagel sought to reassure the Senate armed services committee that he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote.During a confirmation hearing this year, Mr Hagel sought to reassure the Senate armed services committee that he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote.
The White House has warned of great risks in leaving the Pentagon without a leader at a time of budget challenges and while the US has troops in Afghanistan. Mr Hagel's Democratic Party supporters produced other remarks and evidence they said showed he would stick to existing US policy on Israel and Iran.
The White House warned of great risks in leaving the Pentagon without a leader at a time of budget challenges and while the US has troops in Afghanistan.