| BBC News | - |
The
US Senate has confirmed former Senator Chuck Hagel as the new Pentagon
chief, after four Republicans joined Democrats to approve his
nomination.
26 February 2013
Last updated at 20:28 ET
Former Senator Chuck Hagel was criticised
by members of his own party as "too far outside the mainstream" to be
defence secretary
Mr Hagel will replace outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.
Two weeks ago, Republicans delayed a vote, questioning Mr Hagel's past positions on Israel and Iran, and his qualifications for the post.
But they dropped the filibuster stalling tactic, the first time it has ever been used to delay confirmation of a defence secretary, after a week-long recess.
North Korea allegation Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber, and Mr Hagel ultimately only needed 51 votes to be confirmed.
Republican Senators Thad Cochran, Rand Paul, Richard Shelby and Mike Johanns voted in favour of Mr Hagel's appointment.
After the acrimonious nomination fight, Democratic President Barack Obama said he was pleased there had been at least some bipartisan support for Mr Hagel.
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.
During his time as a senator, Mr Hagel also angered Republican party leaders when he pilloried former President George W Bush's handling of the Iraq war.
Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative first-term senator from Texas, recently suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea.
During a confirmation hearing in January, 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.
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 had 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.
Senate Democrats had meanwhile blasted their colleagues for the blocking tactics.
But some Republicans had 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.
end quote from:Chuck Hagel confirmed as US defence secretary by Senate
Former Senator Chuck Hagel was criticised
by members of his own party as "too far outside the mainstream" to be
defence secretary
The
US Senate has confirmed former Senator Chuck Hagel as the new Pentagon
chief, after four Republicans joined Democrats to approve his
nomination.
The former Republican Nebraska senator was confirmed by 58-41 in a simple majority vote.Mr Hagel will replace outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.
Two weeks ago, Republicans delayed a vote, questioning Mr Hagel's past positions on Israel and Iran, and his qualifications for the post.
But they dropped the filibuster stalling tactic, the first time it has ever been used to delay confirmation of a defence secretary, after a week-long recess.
North Korea allegation Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber, and Mr Hagel ultimately only needed 51 votes to be confirmed.
Republican Senators Thad Cochran, Rand Paul, Richard Shelby and Mike Johanns voted in favour of Mr Hagel's appointment.
After the acrimonious nomination fight, Democratic President Barack Obama said he was pleased there had been at least some bipartisan support for Mr Hagel.
Continue reading the main story
Presidential nominees
- There have been some 500 presidential cabinet nominations since 1789
- In only nine cases have such nominees been rejected
- In a further 21 cases, the nomination was withdrawn or the Senate took no action
- The last time it happened was in 1989 when another Pentagon nominee, John Tower, was rejected by 53-47 in a Senate vote, amid allegations of private misconduct
- The last time a nomination was withdrawn was in 2009 - President Obama's pick for health secretary, Tom Daschle, over questions about his tax payments
"I am grateful to Chuck for
reminding us that when it comes to our national defence, we are not
Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans, and our greatest
responsibility is the security of the American people," said Mr Obama.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Hagel, a decorated Vietnam veteran,
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.
During his time as a senator, Mr Hagel also angered Republican party leaders when he pilloried former President George W Bush's handling of the Iraq war.
Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative first-term senator from Texas, recently suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea.
During a confirmation hearing in January, 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.
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 had 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.
Senate Democrats had meanwhile blasted their colleagues for the blocking tactics.
But some Republicans had 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.
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