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Chuck Hagel confirmed as US defence secretary by Senate | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US Senate has confirmed former Senator Chuck Hagel as the new Pentagon chief, after a bloc of Republicans dropped their opposition to him. | |
The former Republican Nebraska senator was confirmed by 58-41 in a simple majority vote. | |
Mr Hagel will replace outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta. | |
The Senate move comes 12 days after Republicans delayed a vote, questioning his past positions on Israel and Iran and his qualifications for the post. | |
But critics dropped the manoeuvre, the first for a defence secretary confirmation, after a week-long recess. | |
Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber, and Mr Hagel ultimately only needed 51 votes to be confirmed. | |
Earlier on Tuesday, he passed a crucial procedural vote that needed the support of 60 senators. | |
Among the 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 the 66-year-old Mr Hagel would be too lax on Iran. | |
Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative first-term 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. | 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. |
He also apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote. | He also apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
And Senate Democrats blasted their colleagues for the delay. | |
"Politically motivated delays send a terrible signal to our allies and to the world," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. | |
But some Republicans said they needed more time to weigh Mr Hagel's nomination. | |
Others said outright they would not vote for the former Senator, including several senior Republicans on the armed services committee. |