Senate Armed Services Committee approves Hagel Pentagon nomination

Embattled Hagel clears key Senate hurdle
By Alan Silverleib
CNN Congressional Producer
updated 6:25 PM EST, Tue February 12, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Senate Armed Services Committee approves Hagel Pentagon nomination
Controversial Hagel nomination passes on party line vote, proceeds to full Senate
Hagel has been criticized for a range of controversial foreign policy stances

Washington (CNN) -- Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday narrowly approved the choice of Chuck Hagel to serve as President Barack Obama's next defense secretary, sending the controversial nomination to the full Senate.

Hagel's nomination cleared the committee in a straight party line 14 to 11 vote. No Republicans backed the former Nebraska GOP senator, a decorated Vietnam veteran who has come under fire on a range of issues relating to American foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, declared that he could not "in good conscience support this nomination because ... it is sending the worst possible signal to our friends and our enemies alike."

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, argued that Hagel has shown "again and again that he is willing to sacrifice and that he has courage. ... I give him credit for that."
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