Sunday, February 3, 2013

Secretary Of Defense - Pentagon Chief Says Political Knives Are Out For Hagel Reuters

WASHINGTON Sun Feb 3, 2013 9:03am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary regarding Defense Leon Panetta said around remarks shown on Sunday that will Senate oppositions connected with Chuck Hagel wielded "political knives" to assault your gentleman picked for being their heir in the course of past week's confirmation hearing, producing frustration in which concerns essential to that Pentagon's potential were ignored.

Republicans hammered Hagel while he came out ahead of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, by using a few of the fiercest wondering coming from lawmakers who experienced functioned alongside your pet in the course of his a couple of terms as a Republican senator from Nebraska.

"It's pretty apparent which the political cutlery were being out regarding Chuck Hagel," Panetta shared with the particular NBC application "Meet the Press."

"What unhappy myself is the fact . they talked plenty with regards to beyond quotes, nevertheless how about what a new assistant associated with security is definitely facing today?" Panetta, preparing to help action affordable seeing that U.S. defense chief, added.

"What within the conflict . around Afghanistan? What related to the war on terrorism? What in regards to the budget sequestering (looming automatic budget cuts) - what impact it will have on readiness? What about Middle East turmoil? What in relation to cyber-attacks?" the Pentagon chief said.

"All associated with that concerns that confront a secretary associated with defense, to be truthful . most of us just simply managed possibly not see the required time used on speaking all those issues," Panetta added.

Critics claimed Hagel didn't perform nicely at times during the evidence hearing, conversing hesitantly, appearing worn out and often unprepared for a lot of from the sharpest queries about his recent controversial claims upon Israel, Iran and also U.S. nuclear strategy.

But the White House is standing by Hagel. None from the Senate's Democrats have openly abandoned him, this means minority Republicans would have to place to procedural techniques to help make an effort to block their confirmation.

Hagel's nomination through President Barack Obama is found in all likelihood that will clear it is first challenge - approval through the Senate Armed Services Committee - about a direct party-line vote. The original of which vote could occur is Thursday, February 7.

Hagel can be a adorned Vietnam War seasoned whom is the initial former enlisted man in order to guide the Defense Department.

(Reporting simply by Will Dunham; Editing by simply Sandra Maler)

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