[h=3]By PETER NICHOLAS And JULIAN E. BARNES[/h]The White House has told allies that former Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is likely to be nominated as secretary of defense next week, after President Barack Obama returns from his Hawaii vacation.
These people said, however, that Mr. Obama hadn't yet given his final sign-off on the decision. The White House also said Friday that Mr. Obama hadn't yet made a final decision on his Pentagon pick, though advisers have indicated Mr. Hagel, a Republican, is a leading candidate.
The Pentagon position is one of several high-profile cabinet and staff posts that Mr. Obama must fill as he prepares for his second term.
He also is expected to name a new Treasury secretary next week to succeed Timothy Geithner, who is expected to depart by month's end. A top candidate for the Treasury post is White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew.
The president has nominated Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) to be secretary of state. If confirmed, Mr. Kerry would succeed Hillary Clinton.
People who oppose Mr. Hagel's possible nomination for the job have challenged his stance on Iran as too accommodating and have questioned his support for Israel. They have specifically pointed to comments in which Mr. Hagel referred to the "Jewish lobby" and a vote he cast against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Supporters of Mr. Hagel have said these critics have distorted the former senator's record. They have said he is neither anti-Israel nor soft on Iran.
The former senator has also been criticized from the left for his opposition to gays serving in the military and for comments he made in 1998 about an openly gay nominee to become ambassador to Luxembourg. Mr. Hagel released an apology for those remarks last month.
While a number of Republican senators have said they would direct pointed questions at Mr. Hagel in confirmation hearings, only Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) has said he would oppose Mr. Hagel's nomination.
Mr. Hagel broke with the Republican Party in 2008, endorsing Mr. Obama over his GOP opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
While that endorsement cost him support among Republicans in the Senate, Mr. Hagel maintains close ties with many in Congress, particularly Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold a confirmation hearing if he is nominated.
These people said, however, that Mr. Obama hadn't yet given his final sign-off on the decision. The White House also said Friday that Mr. Obama hadn't yet made a final decision on his Pentagon pick, though advisers have indicated Mr. Hagel, a Republican, is a leading candidate.
The Pentagon position is one of several high-profile cabinet and staff posts that Mr. Obama must fill as he prepares for his second term.
He also is expected to name a new Treasury secretary next week to succeed Timothy Geithner, who is expected to depart by month's end. A top candidate for the Treasury post is White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew.
The president has nominated Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.) to be secretary of state. If confirmed, Mr. Kerry would succeed Hillary Clinton.
People who oppose Mr. Hagel's possible nomination for the job have challenged his stance on Iran as too accommodating and have questioned his support for Israel. They have specifically pointed to comments in which Mr. Hagel referred to the "Jewish lobby" and a vote he cast against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Supporters of Mr. Hagel have said these critics have distorted the former senator's record. They have said he is neither anti-Israel nor soft on Iran.
The former senator has also been criticized from the left for his opposition to gays serving in the military and for comments he made in 1998 about an openly gay nominee to become ambassador to Luxembourg. Mr. Hagel released an apology for those remarks last month.
While a number of Republican senators have said they would direct pointed questions at Mr. Hagel in confirmation hearings, only Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) has said he would oppose Mr. Hagel's nomination.
Mr. Hagel broke with the Republican Party in 2008, endorsing Mr. Obama over his GOP opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
While that endorsement cost him support among Republicans in the Senate, Mr. Hagel maintains close ties with many in Congress, particularly Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold a confirmation hearing if he is nominated.