Obama's Defense pick tries to convince Congressional skeptics

 　　WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee¹ for U.S. secretary of defense², faced his Congressional critics on Thursday at the Senate confirmation³ 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 appease⁴ 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 containment⁵, and the president has made clear that is the policy of our government," said Hagel. He also vowed⁶ to ensure Israel's qualitative⁷ 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 nomination⁸. 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 mainstream⁹ 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.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

4 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

5 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 qualitative   

adj.性质上的，质的，定性的

参考例句：

• There are qualitative differences in the way children and adults think.孩子和成年人的思维方式有质的不同。
• Arms races have a quantitative and a qualitative aspects.军备竞赛具有数量和质量两个方面。

8 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

9 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。