21 January 2013
GOVERNMENT: President Obama nominated Senator Chuck Hagel to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense and John Brennan as the CIA’s new director.
By John Burke, Staff Writer
Chuck Hagel is a former GOP senator from Nebraska. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and a receiver of two Purple Hearts. He took his first job in politics in 1971 as Chief of Staff to Congressman John McCollister. He has represented Nebraska in the Senate since his induction in 1997.
Hagel was a critic of the troop surge into Iraq that was implemented by the Bush Administration, and previously teamed up with current Vice President Joe Biden in an unsuccessful attempt to instate a more democratic approach to the problem. This, along with his support of President Barack Obama in his 2008 campaign, has won him much disapproval from the Republican Party, of which he is a member. Critics also question his dedication to supporting Israel, even though Hagel said to his hometown paper that he has “unequivocal, total support for Israel.” Others criticize him for not being supportive of sanctions against nuclear programs in Iran.
But his actions have yet to persuade many Democrats to his side either. It may be a struggle to get Hagel’s nomination passed in the senate, but the President seems ready to support him, promoting Hagel’s “invaluable perspective on global affairs.” Obama also said that “I came to admire his courage and his judgment, his willingness to speak his mind even if it wasn’t popular, even if it defied the conventional wisdom. That’s exactly the spirit I want on my national security team – a recognition that when it comes to the defense of our country, we are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans.”
Secretary of Defense was not the only position to receive a nominee; Obama also nominated John Brennan, the White House’s chief counterterrorism advisor, for the position of CIA Director.
“John knows what our national security demands: intelligence that provides policymakers with the facts, strong, analytic insights and a keen understanding of a dynamic world,” said the President. He also praised Brennan as someone who is already closely connected to the agency and ready to fight on its behalf. Obama lauded Brennan’s strong work ethic and praised him as being “one of the hardest working public servants.” In addition to these other accolades, Brennan was closely involved with the run-up to the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.
However, Brennan has also been taking fire from critics. Some have alleged that he is responsible for authorizing torture during the Bush regime. He recieved so much criticism about this that he had to withdraw from a possible nomination to CIA Director in 2008. His nomination now is raising old questions about the interrogation methods he may have been involved in. Many also disapprove of his support for drone usage. General Stanley McChrystal has testified that the “hated drones” and other unmanned strikes are disliked around the world, and continuing to use them could jeopardize Washington’s broader objectives.
Getting both of these men passed in the Senate may be a hard-fought battle for the president. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he hoped the Senate would give both Hagel and Brennan “a fair and constructive confirmation process.”