President Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, for secretary of defense sets up a potentially rancorous battle with Congress at the start of his second term. Here are a few excerpts of statements released by senators and other key players in Mr. Hagel's nomination:
Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada
Senator Hagel has a deep understanding of the national security establishment, which grew out of his experiences as a decorated war veteran, a former member of the Senate's Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, and a member of the president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Few nominees have such a combination of strategic and personal knowledge of our national defense needs.
Senator Carl Lavin, Democrat of Michigan
Senator Hagel is well qualified to serve as secretary of defense with his broad experience in national security affairs. He was a decorated soldier and an effective member of the Senate, and he is a strong advocate for the men and women of our military. The Armed Services Committee will give prompt and careful consideration to Senator Hagel's nomination for this critical position.
Former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
I congratulate Senator Hagel on his nomination to be secretary of defense. I am grateful for his willingness to take on this responsibility at a time of great challenges for the Defense Department. While there are issues on which I have disagreed with him, such as the 2007 surge in Iraq, he is a man of complete integrity and deep patriotism. He is also the president's choice. The country and our men and women in uniform would be well-served by his swift confirmation.
Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah
The United States continues to face significant national security challenges, and it is critical to have strong leadership at the Pentagon that can respond to our evolving and emerging threats. The nomination of Senator Hagel presents an opportunity to discuss not only his qualifications for the position and his approach to defending the United States and her allies, but also the specific ways in which he would seek to strengthen, modernize and reform our national defense. I look forward to hearing Senator Hagel's answers to questions involving these important issues.
Allyson Robinson, executive director of OutServe-SLDN
Senator Hagel is an exceptionally qualified nominee for secretary of defense and we believe, if confirmed, he will be an effective leader for the Pentagon. Significant challenges remain for L.G.B.T. ser vice members and their families, however, and it's long overdue that our secretary address those challenges. Our message to the next secretary of defense would be the same, no matter who was nominated and confirmed. A commitment to support L.G.B.T. service members and their families must be a commitment to action.
Colin Powell, former secretary of state, national security adviser and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chuck Hagel has been a friend and colleague of mine for over twenty years. He is a fellow infantryman who demonstrated his courage in Vietnam. He served his country as a dedicated official in the Department of Veteran Affairs and as a respected legislator. He was also a successful businessman.
Chuck displays his courage in many ways. You can always count on him to analyze a difficult situation and take a position that reflects his best judgment. I believe that more than ever we need that kind of ind ependent and bold leader who thinks in and out of the box. He is the kind of leader needed by the Department of Defense to deal with the strategic and resource challenges it will be facing over the next several years.
Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii
President Obama is to be commended for nominating a Republican senator to serve in one of the top positions in his Cabinet. Senator Hagel is a decorated combat veteran and has a long history of standing up for the men and women who serve our country. He served bravely in the Vietnam War and was awarded two Purple Hearts. Senator Hagel would be the first enlisted soldier and first Vietnam veteran to serve as secretary of defense. During his service in the U.S. Senate, Senator Hagel displayed courageous and invaluable judgment in becoming an early critic of the Iraq war. The senator was instrumental in passing the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, a measure that has allowed thousand s of Hawaii residents to attend college and enroll in job training. He is a widely respected voice on national security issues.
Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland
The responsibility of advice and consent is an important Constitutional duty, and I look forward to the confirmation process with my former Senate colleague Chuck Hagel. I will be requesting an opportunity to meet with him one-on-one to discuss many of the issues he will face as a key member of the president's national security team. I have concerns based on positions he has taken and statements he has made on a variety of topics. Despite my reservations, I will not prejudge his nomination but will give him ample opportunity to explain himself and current thinking on the future state and scope of our military, relationships with our allies, including Israel, and how he believes we should address challenges to our national security like Iran. I also want to be reassured that if confirmed, a Secretary Hagel would aggressively defend the forward progress made by the Department of Defense in removing discrimination based on sexual orientation from regulations and daily life among our troops.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona
Chuck Hagel served our nation with honor in Vietnam and I congratulate him on this nomination. I have serious concerns about positions Senator Hagel has taken on a range of critical national security issues in recent years, which we will fully consider in the course of his confirmation process before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio
I am surprised and disappointed President Obama has chosen to move forward with Senator Hagel's nomination given the significant concerns that both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have expressed about Senator Hagel 's positions and past votes on issues regarding some of our closest allies and most pressing national security threats. I believe Senator Hagel should get a fair look and an opportunity to defend his record, his past comments and his current beliefs, but I don't understand why the administration is looking to pick yet another political fight instead of working with Congress to solve some of the very real problems we face as a country.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, Democrat of West Virginia
Chuck Hagel has a long and distinguished career dealing with intelligence and military issues. As a war hero and Vietnam veteran, he understands firsthand the needs of our troops on the ground. During his time in the Senate, I worked with him very closely on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. I deeply respect the integrity, thoughtfulness and independence that he brought to intelligence oversight. He always held the intelligence c ommunity to the highest standards and never shirked the duty to take on tough issues.
Representative Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia
Senator Hagel's incendiary views on Israel are only the tip of the iceberg. On Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and defense spending, Hagel's reported views call into question his judgment about the most important matters facing our national security. Taken together, Hagel's views represent a call for a broad retreat from the pre-eminent role America has played, and must continue to play, in the world during a period of profound tumult and instability.
Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma
I have worked with Secretary Panetta for many years, and during his tenure as secretary of defense, he has done an excellent job outlining the devastating impact defense budget cuts will have on our nation's military. In the months and years ahead, the Defense Department will be confronted with significant challenges from budget issues to Afghanistan policy. I worked with Senator Chuck Hagel in the Senate, and his nomination deserves to be fully vetted. The Armed Services Committee has a time-tested process to consider nominations, and I am committed to upholding that process. I am aware of the serious concerns about some of his policy positions, his record and some of his comments that have been publicly reported. I will be seeking clarification from him about these concerns as his nomination proceeds.
Gen. Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser
Senator Hagel is one of the most well-respected and thoughtful voices on both foreign and domestic policy. At an uncertain time in America - with a significant debt burden, a polarized Congress and a host of challenges facing the international community - we are confident Senator Hagel will be able to pro vide a vibrant, no-nonsense voice of logic and leadership to the United States.
Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island
Chuck Hagel will make an outstanding secretary of defense. He is highly qualified and his record of service to this country as a decorated combat veteran, successful C.E.O., senator and statesman is extraordinary. Chuck is a man of uncommon independence and integrity. Chuck Hagel's candor, judgment and expertise will serve him well as our next secretary of defense. I fully support his confirmation.
Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York
Chuck Hagel, as a former colleague and a patriot with a decorated service record, has earned the right to nothing less than a full and fair process in the Senate. I look forward to fully studying his record and exploring his views.
Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I look forward to considering President Obama's nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel to be the next secretary of defense. Hagel is a decorated war hero with a strong record of bipartisanship on foreign policy and defense issues. I will do all I can to ensure the confirmation hearing addresses important questions regarding the future of our military, the current budgetary challenges facing the country and other important security issues such as U.S. policy towards Iran.
