Obama's Defense pick tries to convince Congressional skeptics
时间：2013-02-01 05:29:39
搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。
（单词翻译）
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.
分享到：
