Obama's Defense pick tries to convince Congressional skeptics

　　Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for U.S. secretary of defense, faced his Congressional critics on Thursday at the Senate confirmation hearing, trying to gain their support。

　　"We will not hesitate to use the full force of the United States military in defense of our security," the former Republican senator said in an opening statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee。

　　"We must also be smart, and more importantly wise, in how we employ all of our nation's great power," he added。

　　Hagel, responding to criticism that he will appease Iran and be inhospitable to Israel's security concerns once he takes over the Pentagon, said that he backed the U.S. policy of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that all options including the use of military force are on the table。

　　"My policy is one of prevention, and not one of containment, and the president has made clear that is the policy of our government," said Hagel. He also vowed to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge if he is confirmed as the next Pentagon chief。

　　Hagel is facing a tough crowd at the hearing. Some Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services Committee, have said that they oppose the nomination. Jim Inhofe, the GOP's ranking member in the committee, complained in his opening remarks at the hearing that Hagel had not provided the committee with all of his speeches over the past five years as requested。

　　Inhofe also described Hagel's record as "deeply troubling and out of mainstream views."

　　Hagel defended his record in his opening statement, saying that "no one individual vote, quote or statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record."

　　"My overall world view has never changed: that America has and must maintain the strongest military in the world; that we must lead the international community to confront threats and challenges together; and that we must use all tools of American power to protect our citizens and our interests," he stressed。

　　Hagel, a 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran, could be an important member in Obama's new national security team if confirmed to succeed Leon Panetta, the current Pentagon chief. He is believed to share many of Obama's views on the military and American power, and tend to support Obama's push to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan at a faster pace。

　　由美国总统奥巴马提名出任国防部长的前参议员查克·哈格尔31日在国会参议院军事委员会参加听证会，接受议员质询。听证会上，哈格尔说，如果提名获得通过，他在使用军事力量保护美国安全时不会犹豫，但也不会莽撞。他对奥巴马政府的安全重心向亚太地区转移表示支持。

　　哈格尔当天在听证会上作出这番表示，他说，自己认为美国必须继续保持世界最强的军事力量，“带领”国际社会应对各种挑战和威胁，动用所有力量保护美国民众与美国利益。

　　在具体安全政策上，哈格尔说，他支持美国阻止伊朗获得核武器的政策，而不仅仅是对德黑兰实施遏制。他说，为实现这一目标，可以动用包括军事手段在内的所有办法。他同时表示，自己如果入主五角大楼，将继续支持确保以色列国防能力在该地区拥有压倒性技术优势。

　　除此之外，哈格尔对美国安全战略东移表示支持。他说，美军加快亚太驻军现代化和加深与该地区盟友协作可应对各种威胁，有助地区稳定。他说，自己支持继续加深与亚太地区盟友开展安全合作。

　　身为共和党人的哈格尔1946年生于内布拉斯加州，曾在陆军服役，参加过越南战争，担任过两届内布拉斯加州联邦参议员，奥巴马于本月7日提名他出任国防部长，取代即将退休的帕内塔。但这一提名遭到不少共和党人的反对，他们声称，哈格尔对伊朗等反美国家过于软弱，对以色列的安全漠不关心，在国防安全等问题上的立场过于温和。美国媒体则分析认为，奥巴马提名有反战意识的哈格尔，是为了加速从阿富汗撤军的进程。