(WALLSTREET JOURNAL) WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama
on Monday will nominate Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary and
counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence
Agency, two potentially controversial picks for his second-term national
security team.
Mr. Hagel, even before being nominated, has faced tough criticism
from congressional Republicans who say the former GOP senator is
anti-Israel and soft on Iran. And Mr. Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran,
withdrew from consideration for the spy agency's top job in 2008 amid
questions about his connection to enhanced interrogation techniques
during the George W. Bush administration.
Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Mr.
Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event Monday
afternoon. Along with secretary of state nominee Sen. John Kerry,
D-Mass., Messrs. Hagel and Brennan would play key roles implementing and
shaping Mr. Obama's national security priorities in a second term. All
three men must be confirmed by the Senate.
In nominating Mr. Hagel, Mr. Obama signaled he is willing to take on a
tough confirmation fight. Once Mr. Hagel emerged as a likely nominee,
GOP lawmakers began sharply questioning his commitment to Israel and his
willingness to take a hard line with Iran over its disputed nuclear
program.
Mr. Hagel, a 66-year-old moderate Nebraska Republican, has criticized
discussion of a military strike by either the U.S. or Israel against
Iran. He also irritated some Israel backers with his reference to the
"Jewish lobby" in the United States. And he has backed efforts to bring
Iran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan.
White House officials say Mr. Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran
have been misrepresented. They cite his Senate votes for billions in
military assistance to Israel and his support for multilateral sanctions
on Tehran.
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