New US Defense Secretary Confirmed

 　　CAPITOL HILL — The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s pick for defense 1 secretary, Chuck Hagel, after a bruising 2 nomination 3 battle that saw widespread Republican opposition 4 to the former Republican senator by a vote of 58 to 41. Hagel will lead the Pentagon as America’s war in Afghanistan is winding 5 down, and at a time of U.S. fiscal 6 austerity.

　　The Senate confirmed Hagel Tuesday, just days before the start of automatic spending cuts, half of which will affect national security.  Senate Majority Leader Harry 7 Reid:
　　“In three days, across-the-board cuts to defense spending are scheduled to take effect," said Reid. "The Pentagon needs a seasoned leader to implement 8 these cuts.”
　　Two weeks ago, Republicans blocked a final vote on Hagel, saying they needed more time to consider the nomination.  On Tuesday, more than a dozen Republicans joined with Democrats 9 to end debate.  But bipartisanship virtually disappeared four hours later, when all but four Republicans voted against confirmation 11 in the Democrat-controlled chamber 12.
　　Senator John Cornyn was among those who cast a ‘no’ vote, citing Hagel’s statements at his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
　　“Senator Hagel described the murderous, terrorist-sponsoring Iranian theocracy 13 as an ‘elected legitimate 14 government’.  That comment is a slap in the face to all the courageous 15 Iranian democracy activists 16 who have risked their lives, and in many cases given their lives, to oppose the dictatorship and promote freedom.  There is no way to sugarcoat it: Senator Hagel’s performance before the Senate Armed Services Committee was remarkably 17 inept 18.  And we should not be installing a defense secretary who is obviously not qualified 19 for the job," said Cornyn.
　　Cornyn and other Republicans also criticized Hagel’s comments on Iran’s nuclear program and Israel’s perceived clout 20 in U.S. politics.
　　Democrats said many of Hagel’s comments have been mischaracterized or taken out of context.  Senator Carl Levin noted 21 Hagel’s unique military background.
　　“Senator Hagel would be the first former enlisted 22 man and the first veteran of the Vietnam War to serve as secretary of defense," said Levin. "This background gives Senator Hagel an invaluable 23 perspective.”
　　Democratic Senator Tom Carper cautioned his Republican colleagues against setting a damaging precedent 24 of partisan 10 obstruction 25 to presidential Cabinet picks.
　　“Some day we will have a Republican president again," said Carper. "Someday we will have a Republican majority here.  Just be careful - I say this with respect - be careful of the bed that we make.  Because someday our friends on the other side [Republicans] will get to lie in it.”
　　Republicans countered that President Obama should have put forth 26 a less-divisive nominee 27 who would have attracted bipartisan support.
　　Senator Roger Wicker:
　　“If a Republican president in the future brings a nomination for defense secretary to this Senate who cannot get as many as 60 votes, I will ask that Republican president to withdraw that nomination, and wish this president [Obama] would do the same," said Wicker.