President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary said Thursday he would not hesitate to use the “full force of the U.S. military” as he plunged into a Senate confirmation fight with critics from his own Republican Party, who worry that his past statements about Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons are signs of weakness.

Chuck Hagel's appearance at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing could be crucial in determining whether he will win Senate confirmation to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Obama's second-term national security team. He is likely to be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate, despite Thursday's sharp questioning.

The hearing was the first time the former senator has publicly addressed the barrage of criticism that he is not sufficiently pro-Israel or tough enough on Iran. His past comments about the influence of a “Jewish lobby” and his description of a diplomatic nominee as “openly, aggressively gay” have been scrutinized. Hagel also has questioned the efficacy of unilateral sanctions on Iran, arguing that penalties in conjunction with international partners made more sense.

Hagel's record “is deeply troubling and out of mainstream views,” Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the committee, said shortly after the hearing began. Republican Sen. John McCain had even sharper words for Hagel during a spirited exchange over the war in Iraq.

Hagel has been meeting one-on-one with senators, winning support from influential Jewish Sen. Charles Schumer, and he has taken a harder line on Iran. Hagel also has insisted that he will implement the military's policy allowing gays to serve openly and move ahead on opening combat roles to women.

Hagel would be the lone Republican in Obama's Cabinet if the Senate confirms him, but the prospect has failed to placate Republican senators in a post-election atmosphere that remains politically divisive.

Once the hearing was under way, the Republican National Committee put out a news release titled “Chuck Hagel is the Wrong Choice for Secretary of Defense,” contending that he would weaken the nation's military.

Responding specifically to attacks from outside Republican-leaning groups, Hagel repeated his regrets about using the term “Jewish lobby” to refer to pro-Israel groups.

“I should have used another term and I'm sorry and I regret it,” Hagel said. “On the use of intimidation, I should have used `influence,' I think would have been more appropriate.”

Hagel also said he was committed to Obama's goal of ensuring that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, and he insisted that all options, including 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,” Hagel said, adding that he always supported multilateral sanctions against Iran.

He also expressed support for maintaining a strong, modern nuclear arsenal, a position that has been challenged because of his support for the Global Zero organization's recommendation of nuclear cuts.

“We are not going to unilaterally disarm,” Hagel said.

If confirmed, Hagel, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, would be the first enlisted man and first Vietnam veteran to serve as defense secretary.

Six Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services panel, have said they will oppose Hagel's nomination.

Crucial for Hagel was Thursday's feisty questioning by McCain. Hagel and McCain are fellow Vietnam veterans who once had a close relationship during their years in the Senate, but Hagel's evolving opposition to the Iraq war caused a split between the two men that was on full display.

McCain pressed Hagel on whether he was right or wrong about his opposition to the influx of 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq in 2007. Hagel, who voted to authorize military force in Iraq, later opposed the conflict, comparing it to Vietnam and arguing that it shifted the focus from Afghanistan.

“Were you right? Were you correct in your assessment?” McCain asked.

“I would defer to the judgment of history to sort that out,” Hagel said as the two men talked over each other.

McCain has praised Hagel's military service but said he had serious concerns about positions the nominee has taken on various issues. He said he is reserving judgment until after the hearing.

The criticism of Hagel has surprised some of Hagel's strongest backers.

“This idea that's being propagated that he might be soft on adversaries. Chuck Hagel's not soft on anybody, particularly himself,” said Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, a member of the Armed Services Committee, in a conference call with Hagel allies.

Republicans also questioned Hagel about a May 2012 study that he co-authored by the advocacy group Global Zero that called for an 80 percent reduction of U.S. nuclear weapons and elimination of all nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The group argued that with the Cold War over, the United States needs no more than 900 nuclear weapons. Currently, the U.S. and Russia have about 5,000 each, either deployed or in reserve. Both countries are on track to reduce the deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 by 2018.

Hagel insisted that the report was illustrative and said it wasn't realistic to consider unilateral reductions. (AP)


<관련 한글 기사>
헤이글 "北도발 저지 위해 동맹협력 강화"

척 헤이글 미국 차기 국방장관 지명자는 31일(현지시간) "북한 등의 도발을 저지하고 방어하기 위해 한국, 일본, 호주 등과의 동맹을 심화할 것"이라고 말했다.

헤이글 지명자는 이날 상원 군사위원회 인준 청문회에서 모두발언을 통해 "미국 은 미래 위협에 대응해 해외에 대한 관심을 확대하고 있고, 아시아태평양 지역에 대 한 재균형 정책을 추진하고 있다"면서 이같이 강조했다.

그는 또 "아태지역에서 테러리즘, 해적 퇴치, 확산 방지, 재해 대비 등을 위해 동맹국들과 보안협력 네트워크를 구축하고 있다"고 설명했다.

이어 헤이글 지명자는 이란 핵문제에 대해 "핵무기를 획득하지 못하도록 모든 옵션을 테이블 위에 올려놔야 한다"면서 제재와 함께 외교적 노력도 병행하겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다.

그는 유대계 진영의 반대 여론을 의식한 듯 이스라엘을 `친구(friend)'와 `동맹 (ally)'으로 표현하면서 영공방어 시스템인 `아이언 돔(Iron Dome)' 등을 통해 역내 에서 영향력을 유지해야 한다고 주장했다.

이날 청문회를 주재한 칼 레빈 외교위원장은 헤이글 지명자가 해결해야 할 전세 계 안보위협 요인을 언급하면서 이란 핵무기 개발, 시리아 사태 등과 함께 "북한 핵 무장 정권의 지속적인 예측 불가능한 행동"을 지목했다.

레빈 위원장은 또 "헤이글 지명자의 인준이 확정되면 그는 베트남전 참전용사 출신의 첫번째 국방장관이 된다"고 소개했다. (연합 뉴스)