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Hagel facing critics at confirmation hearing

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    Will former senator be approved as Defense secretary?

  • Duration 4:33
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Crucial hearing is under way in Washington it could determine whether former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel will be confirmed as Defense Secretary.

The Republican taking questions from his former colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Many in his own party criticizing him ever since his nomination was announced saying he is not sufficiently pro Israel.

And he needs to be tougher on -- wrong.

The Vietnam veteran also criticized for his comments on quote the Jewish lobby and his views on gay rights.

-- giving opening remarks a short time ago saying no matter what he has said in the past his world view has stayed the same.

My overall world view has never changed.

That America has and must maintain the strongest military in the world.

That we must lead in the international community.

To confront threats and challenges together.

And take advantage of opportunities.

Together.

That we must use coal are tools of American power to protect our citizens and our troops.

Let's talk about the -- with Chris Wallace the anchor of FOX News Sunday who joins us now.

We've heard substantial opposition to the -- nomination primarily from the Republican side it is there really a possibility that he would not be confirmed.

Well yeah there's a possibility and -- he steps and had in this hearing and says some things that that would.

Raise those concerns again I suppose it's possible but very unlikely -- that the senator has been on something -- -- charm offensive John.

He has not with more than fifty -- -- hundred members of the -- one on one.

To deal with somebody is concerned some of his critics say he's been involved -- -- confirmation.

Conversion he has in the past expressed concerns and even sometimes opposition to sanctions against Iran is now for them.

As you mentioned he talked about that the Jewish lobby and its undue influence on Capitol Hill.

So it is a US senator not an Israeli senator now he's very much in favor is opening statement he's set up giving a qualitative military edge.

Two Israeli also at various times has supported the idea of -- zero option of the elimination of all nuclear weapon is today he talked about maintaining a a smaller.

But I modernized and effective nuclear arsenal so -- -- -- -- some of his views to some degree.

And that seems to be it's a lot of concern -- -- I would say that unless something on on this.

Untoward happened something surprising happens in these hearings that the air -- gone out of the opposition.

And it is often the case that these hearings are more about generating sound bytes for the questioner -- really getting answers from the question needs right.

Yeah except I do think that there are enough fish is out there that they're gonna -- to get him the clinics are gonna wanna get him on the record.

Position him on a variety of this is both in terms of his past.

Statements and record and also in terms of issues that are a big concern one of the issues of -- -- had to deal without today in the past he has talked about.

The Pentagon budget being bloated and said that it should be pared down well obviously that's a not a lot of concern now -- these automatic spending cuts sequestration.

And a hundred billion dollars in cuts to pentagon and domestic spending.

That is supposed to -- in on on March 1 Leon -- -- the current secretary of defense was a staunch supporter.

Of the Pentagon budget and set up all these automatic cuts went through it would be very damaging.

To national security.

Interestingly enough today that would seem to be another conversion on the part of -- he talked about working to make sure that the US military even if -- a budget cuts.

Remains the strongest military in the world.

Well we've also got you know severe problems elsewhere in the world you've got an unstable Egypt you've got Iran and Syria threatening war on Israel you've got a military force that's.

Frankly tired out after two wars over the last ten years one of which continues whoever takes this job and you know presumably it is going to be Chuck Hagel is gonna have their hands very full.

Oh absolutely about one of the points that hagel makes is that as the president -- -- ultimate policy and that he said he is completely support of about policy.

But -- and there's no question they'll try to put him on the record on a variety of these issues I'm not sure makes a difference in the long run.

If the president decides it is something different than what hagel testifies to today.

They can't stop it but having said that.

You know that that -- Jose series from more than just sound -- they're gonna try to position -- interns what -- -- in the past and in terms of challenges he may have to deal with.

In the future.

It is going to be -- -- continue to watch Chris Wallace thanks for spending some time with us this morning.

My pleasure --

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