Obama Nominates Hagel, Brennan For Defense Team
Comments (0)
Republican Chuck Hagel, nominated for defense secretary. (Creative Commons)
According to Reuters, Hagel is expected to face some push-back over his record on Israel and Iran, while CIA veteran Brennan has taken some heat in the past for his stance on "enhanced interrogation techniques."
From Reuters:
...in recent weeks a number of prominent Republicans have said they would oppose Hagel, who has often been at odds with his own party on foreign policy and fiscal matters.
Republican lawmakers made clear on Sunday he would face a difficult nomination process.
"This is an in-your-face nomination by the president to all of us who are supportive of Israel," South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CNN's "State of the Union." "I think it's an incredibly controversial choice."
Not all are so upset over the nomination, though.
Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, speaking on NBC's "Today" program on Monday, defended Obama's choice of Hagel, who has been on the president's intelligence advisory board.
"If President Obama trusts him, I think Senator Hagel has the experience. He's certainly got the qualities as a person," said McChrystal, a former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan who resigned in 2010.
John Brennan, slated to become the next CIA director. (Creative Commons)
Again, from Reuters:
"John Brennan's career of service and extraordinary record has prepared him to be an outstanding director of the CIA. ... Brennan has the full trust and confidence of the president," the senior administration official said. "For four years, he has seen the president every day, and been by his side for some of his toughest decisions."
Read the full story here, and more of Neon Tommy's nomination coverage here.
Reach Executive Producer Catherine Green here. Follow her here.
