We’re Chucked

BREAKING: Senate confirms Hagel as SecDef 58-41
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The Senate voted along party lines on a stormy Tuesday evening to confirm the embattled former Republican Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel as the nation’s next secretary of defense, capping a turbulent months-long battle over the nominee’s controversial past.

Indian Embassy Takes Aim at Hagel

Spokesman for Indian embassy blasts 2011 Hagel comments as ‘contrary to the reality’
Flickr

The Embassy of India chided secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel late Monday for suggesting in a previously unreleased 2011 speech that India has “for many years” sponsored terrorist activities against Pakistan in Afghanistan.

Graham Asks Hagel If He Said Israel Risks Becoming Apartheid State

Letter to Hagel: 'Have you said anything similar? Does this contemporaneous email reflect your views?'
Sen. Lindsey Graham / AP

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) sent a letter to secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel Wednesday asking whether he made disparaging comments about Israel during a speech at Rutgers law school on April 9, 2010.

Tales of the Tape

Video of 2011 speech at Cameron University available if Hagel signs off
Chuck Hagel / AP

The release of a videotaped speech delivered by embattled secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel at Cameron University in 2011 is contingent upon the former Nebraska senator’s written consent, according to university officials.

Chuck Hagel Has
an Armenian Problem

Nominee for Defense Secretary criticized for sweeping Armenian genocide under the rug
Hagel meets with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in 2008 / AP

Armenian-American leaders and human rights advocates have expressed deep reservations about the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the defense department.

Nuke Plan Hurting Hagel

Senators with home-state strategic bases voice concerns on Hagel’s Global Zero anti-nuclear views
AP

A new front is opening in the Senate confirmation fight over former Sen. Chuck Hagel as senators from states with nuclear bases are questioning the defense secretary nominee’s role in the Global Zero commission that advocates eliminating all nuclear weapons and making unilateral strategic arms cuts.

Deutsche Bank Made Huge Profit on Libor Bets

Bank, on whose advisory board sits Chuck Hagel, is also being investigated for Iran sanctions violations
Deutsche Bank logo

Deutsche Bank, whose board holds President Barack Obama’s secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel, made major profits in 2008 on bets related to the London interbank offer rate (Libor).

Hagel, the USO,
and the War over Haifa

U.S.-based sources confirm Hagel tried to shoot down popular USO port
AP

Multiple U.S.-based sources involved in the battle to save a popular USO port in the Israeli city of Haifa in the late 1980s corroborated accusations that secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel fought to close the hub.

Lobbyists for Hagel

Powerful Democratic Firm Helping Potential Defense Nominee
Tony, John, and Heather Podesta / AP, americanprogress.org, opensecrets.org

Foreign Policy reports that the Podesta Group “is channeling as much as $35,000″ to sponsor Mike Allen’s Playbook as it lobbies for the nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense.