US Defence Secretary hopeful Chuck Hagel will be hoping his Senate nomination proves as much of a formality as that of incoming Secretary of State John Kerry, whose appointment by President Barack Obama was confirmed by the House this week, as he appears before the Senate’s Armed Services Committee Thursday.
Hagel, whose controversial Senatorial record on Israel and Iran is likely to divide opinion among his peers, appears before the open hearing in his quest to succeed outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, introduced by bi-partisan support in the shape of former committee chairmen Democrat Sam Nunn and Republican John Warner, hoping to become the first Vietnam War veteran to hold the post.
However, ratification of his appointment is by no means a certainty, despite his charm offensive amongst former colleagues within the Senate, with six members of his own Republican party already likely to oppose to the nomination citing ideological objections, and 2008 Republican presidential contender John McCain amongst those fellow veterans set to question Hagel on his policies. McCain has already stated that whilst he approves of his military standing, he has serious concerns about his policy positions on certain issues.
Hagel has been roundly criticised for his apparent preference for diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear threat in all eventualities, in apparent contrast to Obama’s repeated insistence that “all options are on the table” including military action, should currently stalled international diplomatic efforts fail to prevent Iran’s nuclear development goals.
Hagel will publicly address allegations of being anti-Israel and insufficiently tough on Iran for the first time at Thursday’s hearing, after electing to focus on his military record in response to the committee’s 112=page questionnaire in advance of the meeting, reiterating that “that experience will help me as secretary of defense to ensure we maintain the best fighting force in the world, protect our men and women in uniform and ensure that we are cautious and certain when contemplating the use of force”.
In an interview with his local Nebraska newspaper the Lincoln Journal Star, however, the Defecce Secretary-elect said that peace must remain the primary concern and objective of Israelis and Palestinians alike. Speaking of the Jewish State’s increasingly fractured relationship with the international community, in light of a series of widely-condemned settlement expansion announcements which provoked both US and EU ire: "Israel is in a very, very difficult position. No border that touches Israel is always secure. We need to work to help protect Israel, so it doesn't get isolated.
"Furthering the peace process in the Middle East is in Israel's interest."
Hagel had apparently succeeded in securing high-profile support earlier this month, in the form of leading Jewish Democrat Charles E. Schumer, who previously confirmed that “based on several key assurances provided by Senator Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation”.
As the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) member and stridently pro-Israel Senator announced plans to lobby sceptics to similarly support Hagel’s candidacy, he added: “I know some will question whether Senator Hagel’s assurances are merely attempts to quiet critics as he seeks confirmation to this critical post, but I don’t think so. Senator Hagel realises the situation in the Middle East has changed, with Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago.”