indian_foxhound
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WASHINGTON: Former Republican
senator Chuck Hagel was today
sworn-in as the new US defence
secretary, in the midst of a
controversy over his remarks
that India "financed problems" for Pakistan in Afghanistan. Sixty-six-year-old Hagel, a
Vietnam war veteran, was
confirmed by the Senate
yesterday after a bruising
confirmation hearing. Senators voted 58-41 to approve Hagel, ending a long and acrimonious nomination
process and clearing President Barack Obama's
choice for the top post held by Leon Panetta. Sworn in by the Director of Administration and
Management Michael L Rhodes, Hagel took the
oath of office in a private ceremony attended by
family members and his immediate office staff. Hagel's confirmation comes as a great relief for
the Obama Administration as his nomination was
held up for weeks and the Democrats and the
White House had to do a tough convincing act to
get him approved by the Senate. Several Republican Senators are said to have
voted in favour of Hagel despite their
reservations over his past statements and votes.
They argued that he was too critical of Israel and
too compromising with Iran. Republicans have also been irked by Hagel's
views on Nato as he had in a speech questioned
the utility and relevance of the US-led force. Hagel will replace incumbent Panetta at a time
when the department is faced with multiple
challenges including defence budget cuts, rapidly
changing developments in the Middle East,
increasing threat from North Korea besides the
scheduled withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2014. Welcoming the confirmation, President Obama
said Hagel is the kind of Defence Secretary
America needs. "With the bipartisan confirmation of Chuck Hagel
as our next Secretary of Defence, we will have
the defense secretary our nation needs and the
leader our troops deserve," he said. In a statement, Obama said he will be counting
on Hagel's judgment and counsel as the US ends
the war in Afghanistan, bring troops home, stay
ready to meet the threats of the time and keep
the military the finest fighting force in the world. Hagel's confirmation comes a day after a video
containing his remarks surfaced in which he
claimed, "India for some time has always used
Afghanistan as a second front, and India has over
the years financed problems for Pakistan on that
side of the border". Reacting to this, the Indian Embassy here said,
"Such comments attributed to Senator Hagel, who
has been a long- standing friend of India and a
prominent votary of close India-US relations are
contrary to the reality of India's unbounded
dedication to the welfare of Afghan people".
http://www.timesofindia.com/world/u...s-anti-India-remarks/articleshow/18716096.cms
senator Chuck Hagel was today
sworn-in as the new US defence
secretary, in the midst of a
controversy over his remarks
that India "financed problems" for Pakistan in Afghanistan. Sixty-six-year-old Hagel, a
Vietnam war veteran, was
confirmed by the Senate
yesterday after a bruising
confirmation hearing. Senators voted 58-41 to approve Hagel, ending a long and acrimonious nomination
process and clearing President Barack Obama's
choice for the top post held by Leon Panetta. Sworn in by the Director of Administration and
Management Michael L Rhodes, Hagel took the
oath of office in a private ceremony attended by
family members and his immediate office staff. Hagel's confirmation comes as a great relief for
the Obama Administration as his nomination was
held up for weeks and the Democrats and the
White House had to do a tough convincing act to
get him approved by the Senate. Several Republican Senators are said to have
voted in favour of Hagel despite their
reservations over his past statements and votes.
They argued that he was too critical of Israel and
too compromising with Iran. Republicans have also been irked by Hagel's
views on Nato as he had in a speech questioned
the utility and relevance of the US-led force. Hagel will replace incumbent Panetta at a time
when the department is faced with multiple
challenges including defence budget cuts, rapidly
changing developments in the Middle East,
increasing threat from North Korea besides the
scheduled withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2014. Welcoming the confirmation, President Obama
said Hagel is the kind of Defence Secretary
America needs. "With the bipartisan confirmation of Chuck Hagel
as our next Secretary of Defence, we will have
the defense secretary our nation needs and the
leader our troops deserve," he said. In a statement, Obama said he will be counting
on Hagel's judgment and counsel as the US ends
the war in Afghanistan, bring troops home, stay
ready to meet the threats of the time and keep
the military the finest fighting force in the world. Hagel's confirmation comes a day after a video
containing his remarks surfaced in which he
claimed, "India for some time has always used
Afghanistan as a second front, and India has over
the years financed problems for Pakistan on that
side of the border". Reacting to this, the Indian Embassy here said,
"Such comments attributed to Senator Hagel, who
has been a long- standing friend of India and a
prominent votary of close India-US relations are
contrary to the reality of India's unbounded
dedication to the welfare of Afghan people".
http://www.timesofindia.com/world/u...s-anti-India-remarks/articleshow/18716096.cms
