{"id":18709,"date":"2013-01-07T19:17:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T18:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rt.com\/usa\/news\/obama-nominates-hagel-brennan-515\/"},"modified":"2013-01-07T19:17:00","modified_gmt":"2013-01-07T18:17:00","slug":"obama-nominates-hagel-for-secretary-of-defense-brennan-for-cia-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/obama-nominates-hagel-for-secretary-of-defense-brennan-for-cia-head\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama nominates Hagel for Secretary of Defense, Brennan for CIA head"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"US<\/p>\n

US President Barack Obama. (AFP Photo \/ Chris Kleponis)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

President Barack Obama nominated two new members to his administration on Monday, endorsing current counterterrorism advisor John Brennan and former Sen. Chuck Hagel to serve as CIA director and secretary of defense, respectively.<\/p>\n

The president, who will be formally sworn in to begin his second term in office in just two weeks, announced his nominations Monday afternoon from the White House in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two leaders have dedicates their lives to protecting our country,\u201d<\/em> said Pres. Obama. \u201cI\u2019m confident they will do an outstanding job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Both Brennan and Hagel have been rumored in recent days to take on new roles within the Obama administration, but only with Monday\u2019s announcement from the president himself did the news become official. A confirmation battle in the Senate is expected to follow the choice for these key posts, although Pres. Obama asked lawmakers to confirm both men \u201cas soon as possible\u201d<\/em> after making his announcement.<\/p>\n

Hagel, a 66-year-old former Republican senator from Nebraska, will replace the current US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, if confirmed by the Senate. He will also be the first veteran of the Vietnam War to hold the post.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo this day, Chuck bears the scars and the shrapnel\u201d<\/em> of service in Vietnam, the president said on Monday.<\/p>\n

Accepting the nomination, Sen. Hagel replied, \u201cI am grateful for this opportunity to serve our men and women in uniform again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Known as an outspoken critic of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as an opponent of the \u201cJewish lobby\u201d in Washington and of the possible strike against Iran, Hagel has faced tough criticism for his remarks. On Monday, however, Pres. Obama saluted Sen. Hagel\u2019s \u201cwillingness to speak his mind\u201d<\/em> in Congress, \u201ceven if it wasn\u2019t popular.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly the spirit I want on my national security team,\u201d<\/em> said the president.<\/p>\n

Obama\u2019s administration officials have already dismissed claims of Hagel\u2019s anti-Israel and pro-Iran stance, saying he is \u201ccompletely in line with the president\u201d<\/em> on these issues.<\/p>\n

White House counterterrorism adviser Brennan was chosen by Obama to replace the former CIA head David Petraeus, who stepped down last November.<\/p>\n

Brennan, 57, who has worked in CIA for 25 years and played a key role in the planning of the 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden, has been behind the controversial US drone program. He advocated the use of drones overseas, calling targeted killing operations \u201clegal, ethical and wise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

During Monday\u2019s announcement, Pres. Obama called Brennan\u201cone of our nation\u2019s most skilled and respected\u201d<\/em> intelligence leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe understands we are a nation of laws. In moments of debate and decision, he asks the tough questions and insists on high and rigorous standards,\u201d<\/em> he said of his nominee.<\/p>\n

Brennan had withdrawn his CIA director nomination back in 2008, as questions about his involvement in enhanced interrogation techniques forced him to assert he is \u201ca strong opponent\u201d<\/em> of the George W. Bush administration policies. Speaking from the White House on Monday, Brennan said, \u201cLeading the agency I served for 15 years would be the greatest privilege of my life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

\"US<\/p>\n

US President Barack Obama. (AFP Photo \/ Chris Kleponis)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

President Barack Obama nominated two new members to his administration on Monday, endorsing current counterterrorism advisor John Brennan and former Sen. Chuck Hagel to serve as CIA director and secretary of defense, respectively.<\/p>\n

The president, who will be formally sworn in to begin his second term in office in just two weeks, announced his nominations Monday afternoon from the White House in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n

“These two leaders have dedicates their lives to protecting our country,”<\/em> said Pres. Obama. “I’m confident they will do an outstanding job.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Both Brennan and Hagel have been rumored in recent days to take on new roles within the Obama administration, but only with Monday’s announcement from the president himself did the news become official. A confirmation battle in the Senate is expected to follow the choice for these key posts, although Pres. Obama asked lawmakers to confirm both men “as soon as possible”<\/em> after making his announcement.<\/p>\n

Hagel, a 66-year-old former Republican senator from Nebraska, will replace the current US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, if confirmed by the Senate. He will also be the first veteran of the Vietnam War to hold the post.<\/p>\n

“To this day, Chuck bears the scars and the shrapnel”<\/em> of service in Vietnam, the president said on Monday.<\/p>\n

Accepting the nomination, Sen. Hagel replied, “I am grateful for this opportunity to serve our men and women in uniform again.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Known as an outspoken critic of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as an opponent of the “Jewish lobby” in Washington and of the possible strike against Iran, Hagel has faced tough criticism for his remarks. On Monday, however, Pres. Obama saluted Sen. Hagel’s “willingness to speak his mind”<\/em> in Congress, “even if it wasn’t popular.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“That’s exactly the spirit I want on my national security team,”<\/em> said the president.<\/p>\n

Obama’s administration officials have already dismissed claims of Hagel’s anti-Israel and pro-Iran stance, saying he is “completely in line with the president”<\/em> on these issues.<\/p>\n

White House counterterrorism adviser Brennan was chosen by Obama to replace the former CIA head David Petraeus, who stepped down last November.<\/p>\n

Brennan, 57, who has worked in CIA for 25 years and played a key role in the planning of the 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden, has been behind the controversial US drone program. He advocated the use of drones overseas, calling targeted killing operations “legal, ethical and wise.”<\/em><\/p>\n

During Monday’s announcement, Pres. Obama called Brennan“one of our nation’s most skilled and respected”<\/em> intelligence leaders.<\/p>\n

“He understands we are a nation of laws. In moments of debate and decision, he asks the tough questions and insists on high and rigorous standards,”<\/em> he said of his nominee.<\/p>\n

Brennan had withdrawn his CIA director nomination back in 2008, as questions about his involvement in enhanced interrogation techniques forced him to assert he is “a strong opponent”<\/em> of the George W. Bush administration policies. Speaking from the White House on Monday, Brennan said, “Leading the agency I served for 15 years would be the greatest privilege of my life.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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