ammonnews.net

Ammon News - WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has named a maverick former Republican senator as defence secretary, despite a political backlash over the nomination.

Chuck Hagel would replace Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, but Mr Hagel's fellow Republicans have questioned the Nebraskan's views towards Israel.

Mr Obama has also picked his counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan as director of the CIA.

Both appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.

Mr Obama, who has just returned from a family holiday in Hawaii, said at a White House press conference that Mr Hagel was "the leader our troops deserve".

'Worst possible message'

Mr Obama said that Mr Hagel, 66, has been a "champion of our troops", as he praised the decorated Vietnam War veteran's independence and bipartisan approach.

The president said Mr Hagel knew that American leadership was "indispensable", but added that he would treat military action as a last resort.

In his remarks, Mr Hagel said he would try to "live up to the standards" of his predecessors, and pledged to strengthen America's alliances.

Meanwhile, Mr Brennan said he would work to ensure that the CIA "always reflects the liberties, freedoms and values that we hold so dear".

Along with Senator John Kerry, whom Mr Obama nominated last month to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Mr Hagel and Mr Brennan would help shape the president's second-term national security agenda.

But analysts say the choice of Mr Hagel could prompt a Senate confirmation battle. Opponents say he is hostile to Israel and soft on Iran.

Mr Hagel has criticised discussion of a military strike by either the US or Israel against Iran and has advocated including Iran on future peace talks in Afghanistan.

Although no Republican lawmakers are threatening to block Mr Hagel's nomination, two influential senators have attacked him.

Mr Hagel made critical remarks against the Israel lobby in the US capital, in a 2008 book by former state department official Aaron David Miller.

"The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here," Mr Hagel was quoted as saying. "I'm a United States senator. I'm not an Israeli senator."

Top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CNN on Sunday: "This is an in-your-face nomination of the president to all of us who are supportive of Israel."

US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told NBC there would be "a lot of tough questions" for Mr Hagel.

Homophobic comment

But White House officials say Mr Hagel's positions on these issues have been misrepresented, saying he voted to send billions in military assistance to Israel and has supported the imposition of multilateral sanctions on Tehran.

The Republican Jewish Coalition's executive director, Matt Brooks, said the appointment of Mr Hagel would be "a slap in the face for every American who is concerned about the safety of Israel".

But the pro-Obama National Jewish Democratic Council adopted a softer tone, saying it trusted that Mr Hagel would "follow the president's lead of providing unrivalled support for Israel".

Mr Hagel has also been criticised by some Democrats for saying in 1998 that a nominee for an ambassador post was "openly, aggressively gay". He has since apologised for those comments.

President Obama's decision to nominate John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency is also not without controversy.

Although put forward for the same role in 2008, Mr Brennan withdrew his name amid questions about his connection to interrogation techniques used during the administration of George W Bush.

A CIA veteran, Mr Brennan is currently Mr Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser.

The 57-year-old was heavily involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

He would replace Gen David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer. (BBC)