New Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, Vietnam Veteran

Senate confirms Hagel for defense secretary
By Michael O'Brien
Political Reporter
NBC News

The Senate voted to confirm former Sen. Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama's next secretary of defense following weeks of dogged opposition by Republican senators to their erstwhile colleague. The Senate voted 58 to 41 to formally confirm Hagel, on the heels of a procedural vote earlier in the day that cleared the way for Tuesday afternoon's final vote.
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UPDATE
With a "friend" like John McCain comes a political enemy.

“I do not believe that Chuck Hagel, who is a friend of mine, is qualified to be secretary of defense,” fellow Vietnam vet and Arizona Senator John McCain of Arizona said on CNN on Sunday. McCain voted Tuesday with a 71-senator majority to end the filibuster, but later voted against confirmation.

This is what he had to say about Chuck Hagel, a former buddy of his, also a Republican and even once considered by McCain and the best person for Secretary of Defense when he had his eyes on the office of Commander-in-Chief.

But that was way back in 2000 before McCain wanted the war in Iraq.