Chuck Hagel moved one step closer to appointment as the next US Defence Secretary Tuesday, after a narrow majority of votes at a crucial Senate Armed Service Committee session passed the process on to full consideration by the Senate executive session Thursday to be followed by a full vote by the floor.
The tense victory by a 14-11 margin went with largely according to party political lines following a period of debate and considerate by committee members, with Republican critics taking the candidate to task over his disputed positions on Israel and Iran.
Democrat committee chairman and Senator for Michigan Carl Levin meanwhile contended that “our vote on Sneator Hagel’s nomination will not change these policies”, as he insisted strong and immediate leadership of the Pentagon was of more paramount concern.
Responding to the achievement by President Barack Obama’s controversial choice for the key cabinet position Wednesday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US administration was “pleased” with the outcome of the vote, adding that “w e hope and expect the full Senate to take action expeditiously to confirm Senator Hagel as the next Secretary of Defense and to fill this vital post in our national security apparatus” which could be secured as early as Friday subject to the outcome of Thursday’s proceedings.
“We know with 100 percent confidence that there is majority support for Senator Hagel’s nomination -- majority and then some. So we ask Congress, the Senate to move quickly to confirm him as Secretary of Defense,” he concluded at an official press briefing Wednesday.
Hagel’s nomination is unlikely to be held up by the full Senate floor, as he is thought to command a majority amongst the 55 Democrat members, who are likely to support their President’s chosen candidate.
He also counts support from two known Republican advocates, in the form of Nebraskan Senator Mike Johanns and Mississippi representative Thad Cochran, which would almost certainly place him over the winning threshold.
Should his nomination be confirmed, he could well make his first visit to Brussels in his new role as early as next week for the NATO Defence Ministers’ conference.