Hagel wins key endorsement
2013-01-15 18:53
Washington - US defence secretary-designate Chuck Hagel
cleared a key bar to his Senate confirmation on Tuesday, winning the backing of
a powerful Democrat who had been concerned about his stances on Iran and
Israel.
Senator Chuck Schumer said he met Hagel for 90 minutes on
Monday and had been convinced to endorse the blunt former Republican senator to
run the Pentagon in Obama's second term which begins on Sunday.
"It was a very constructive session. Senator Hagel
could not have been more forthcoming and sincere," said Schumer, an
influential figure in Washington known for hawkish support of Israel over the
threat posed by Iran.
"Based on several key assurances provided by Senator
Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation. I encourage my
Senate colleagues who have shared my previous concerns to also support
him," Schumer said.
In his statement, the New York senator said that Hagel
had cleared up several questions related to past positions and statements, and
vowed to do "whatever it takes" to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons.
Hagel, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who has become a sceptic
of US land wars abroad, had previously expressed reservations about the wisdom
of using military force, leading critics to say Iran would view him as a dove.
"He said his 'top priority' as secretary of defence
would be the planning of military contingencies related to Iran. He added that
he has already received a briefing from the Pentagon on this topic,"
Schumer said.
Critics
Obama is hoping to conclude a deal with the Islamic
Republic to end its nuclear programme but has warned that he is prepared to use
military force if diplomacy fails.
Hagel critics had also hammered him for his failure as a
senator to sign a letter calling on the EU to list Hezbollah as a terror group.
"On Hezbollah, Senator Hagel stressed that -
notwithstanding any letters he refused to sign in the past - he has always
considered the group to be a terrorist organisation," Schumer said.
"On Hamas, I asked Senator Hagel about a letter he
signed in March 2009 urging President [Barack] Obama to open direct talks with that
group's leaders.
"In response, Senator Hagel assured me that he today
believes there should be no negotiations with Hamas, Hezbollah or any other
terrorist group until they renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to
exist."
Schumer said that Hagel had pledged to work towards the
on-time delivery of F-35 joint strike fighters to Israel and concluded that
Hagel's views on the threat facing Israel in the Middle East were "genuine”.
He also said that Hagel now backed Obama's repeal of the
ban on gays serving openly in the military, after past anti-gay comments.
Hagel still faces tough questions in his Senate
confirmation process, with former Republican colleagues gearing up to question
him over his opposition to the Iraq war surge and positions on the use of US
military force.
Cabinet appointees require a simple majority vote in the
Senate but Republicans could in theory use their power of filibuster to stall
his nomination coming up for a vote.
