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Chuck Hagel wrong pick for secretary of defense?

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    Congressman-elect Tom Cotton weighs in

  • Duration 4:42
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Former US senator Chuck Hagel was thought to be at the top of president Obama's short list to replace Leon Panetta as the secretary of defense on the morning talk shows.

Two senators said the -- would face a tough confirmation battle with nominated and one congressman elect and war veteran has written an op Ed.

Saying that hagel isn't the right man for the job congressman elect -- -- now joins us with more on that why do you think he's the wrong man for the job.

-- -- Conduct -- -- having me on Chuck Hagel served our country admirably in Vietnam.

But I think our troops today deserve someone better to lead them an advocate for them and Washington.

Mr.

hagel voted for on the Iraq war 2000 -- in the ninth 2006.

He was opposed to sending more troops and surge.

You're an op Ed in the Washington Post Thanksgiving weekend the very weekend and I and my fellow soldiers -- 101 return from bears five are part body in Baghdad.

He said that we could not achieve victory and Barack said that the time for troops there past that we -- look for a graceful withdrawal.

I think that kind of breaking -- faith with our soldiers.

Makes him not the right man to lead the Pentagon today he went on a 2007.

Not only to oppose the surge delay war funding and then vote for a mandatory withdrawal from Iraq same time.

Right.

I want to quote directly from.

Senator hagel at that time -- 2007 he said -- there will be no defeat no victory for the United States in Iraq.

And that the time for more troops in Iraq.

Has passed.

And he went on to say that -- I'll just read this here my comments fourteen years ago when 1998 were incensed.

Actually this is this is in regard to -- this different to show us take that -- often we'll get to that in a moment but.

But I -- -- were platoon leader at the time he he so criticized the surge before it even happened.

That's right I was leading off 41 man and after ten and a 101 airborne in Baghdad in 2006.

Those men -- very bravely.

They helped stabilize our sector of the city.

Help flush out -- not defeat al-Qaeda and other foreign terrorists and protect innocent Iraqi civilians.

There are very proud of their accomplishments.

And no one told them at the time that we would not achieve victory in that we needed to withdraw from the country.

Today's fighting troops were still have 68000 troops in Afghanistan deserve a secretary of defense or not only honor their service but protect their accomplishments.

And be an advocate for them in Washington.

He also -- refuse to label the Iranian revolutionary guard as a terrorist organization.

As you -- very strong feelings about that at the time you were in Iraq as well because of the work that the Iranian revolutionary guard was doing in Iraq right.

That's right the revolutionary guard corps as the vanguard of -- rams terrorism operations it's the leading terrorist state in the world.

I specifically -- Iraq in 2006 -- 2007.

They were smuggling and that's particularly lethal kind of roadside bomb common explicitly.

Form project now that was bombs are crate of molten slug it could cut through any piece of armor we have not only -- but even an Abrams tank and to.

Refuse to designate that organization.

As a terrorist group which is exactly when he does.

I think shows shortsighted vision and the strain and again makes -- mr.

-- not the right man to lead our military at time of war and before -- -- one other quick point -- -- pull that graphic back up again and he issued an apology just in recent days for.

What many regard as a gay slur he had called the James Hormel was present.

Clinton's pick for ambassador to Luxembourg.

Quote and openly aggressive game.

The apology he wrote recently was this quote my comments fourteen years ago -- 1998 were insensitive.

They did not reflect my views -- the totality.

Of my public record and I apologize to ambassador hormel.

And any LG BT Americans who may have questions about my commitment to their civil rights is that an acceptable apology in your regard and your opinion.

Well I just get shadow.

-- wide ranging.

Viewpoints that are opposed to mr.

hagel right now I think that Human Rights Campaign the leading gay rights.

Activist group in Washington as opposed -- This morning Chuck Schumer a distinguished senator from New York of the president's own party.

Refused to come out on the record to support mr.

hagel as did Joseph Lieberman added it as today and -- club which are also Democrats -- not just conservative Republicans are opposed to mr.

hagel it's really people from across the political spectrum and the real quickly before going to be ten seconds there he is known to be a contrarian to be an out of the box -- does that explain these controversial comments.

Perhaps it does but America's fighting for it to donate a -- and they need a leader will be their champion at the Department of Defense.

President of -- Tom cotton from Arkansas we'll see you women's recession gets under way in January.

Good luck to you sort of -- mayor -- Christmas you --

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