7 January 2013 Last updated at 10:28 ET
Fellow Republicans have criticised Chuck Hagel for being hostile to Israel and soft on Iran
John Brennan's past role in prisoner interrogation techniques has been questioned
Obama to pick Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief
Fellow Republicans have criticised Chuck Hagel for being hostile to Israel and soft on IranUS President Barack Obama is poised to pick a maverick former Republican senator as defence secretary, amid a political backlash over the nomination.
Chuck Hagel would replace Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, but Mr Hagel's fellow Republicans have questioned the Nebraskan's views towards Israel.
White House officials also say Mr Obama will pick his counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan as director of the CIA.
Both appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.
Mr Obama, who has just returned from a family holiday in Hawaii, is expected to formally announce the nominations at the White House on Monday at 13:05 (18:05 GMT).
'Worst possible message'Along with Senator John Kerry, whom Mr Obama nominated last month to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Mr Hagel and Mr Brennan would help shape the president's second-term national security agenda.
But analysts say the choice of Mr Hagel, a 66-year-old decorated Vietnam veteran, could prompt a Senate confirmation battle. Opponents say he is hostile to Israel and soft on Iran.
Mr Hagel has criticised discussion of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran and has advocated including Iran on future peace talks in Afghanistan.
Although no Republican lawmakers are threatening to block Mr Hagel's nomination, two influential senators have attacked him.
Mr Hagel made critical remarks against the Israel lobby in the US capital, in a 2008 book by former state department official Aaron David Miller.
"The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here," Mr Hagel was quoted as saying. "I'm a United States senator. I'm not an Israeli senator."
Top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CNN on Sunday: "This is an in-your-face nomination of the president to all of us who are supportive of Israel."
US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told NBC there would be "a lot of tough questions" for Mr Hagel.
Homophobic commentBut White House officials say Mr Hagel's positions on these issues have been misrepresented, saying he voted to send billions in military assistance to Israel and has supported the imposition of multilateral sanctions on Tehran.
John Brennan's past role in prisoner interrogation techniques has been questionedThe Republican Jewish Coalition's executive director, Matt Brooks, said the appointment of Mr Hagel would be "a slap in the face for every American who is concerned about the safety of Israel".
But the pro-Obama National Jewish Democratic Council adopted a softer tone, saying it trusted that Mr Hagel would "follow the president's lead of providing unrivalled support for Israel".
Mr Hagel has also been criticised by some Democrats for saying in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassador post was "openly, aggressively gay". He has since apologised for those comments.
President Obama's decision to nominate John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency is also not without controversy.
Although put forward for the same role in 2008, Mr Brennan withdrew his name amid questions about his connection to interrogation techniques used during the administration of George W Bush.
A CIA veteran, Mr Brennan is currently Mr Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser.
The 57-year-old was heavily involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.
He would replace Gen David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.