[h=3]Associated Press[/h]WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama on Monday will nominate Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, two potentially controversial picks for his second-term national security team.
Getty ImagesChuck Hagel is set to succeed Leon Panetta as U.S. Defense Secretary.
Mr. Hagel, even before being nominated, has faced tough criticism from congressional Republicans who say the former GOP senator is anti-Israel and soft on Iran. And Mr. Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew from consideration for the spy agency's top job in 2008 amid questions about his connection to enhanced interrogation techniques during the George W. Bush administration.
Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Mr. Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event Monday afternoon. Along with secretary of state nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Messrs. Hagel and Brennan would play key roles implementing and shaping Mr. Obama's national security priorities in a second term. All three men must be confirmed by the Senate.
In nominating Mr. Hagel, Mr. Obama signaled he is willing to take on a tough confirmation fight. Once Mr. Hagel emerged as a likely nominee, GOP lawmakers began sharply questioning his commitment to Israel and his willingness to take a hard line with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Mr. Hagel, a 66-year-old moderate Nebraska Republican, has criticized discussion of a military strike by either the U.S. or Israel against Iran. He also irritated some Israel backers with his reference to the "Jewish lobby" in the United States. And he has backed efforts to bring Iran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan.
White House officials say Mr. Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran have been misrepresented. They cite his Senate votes for billions in military assistance to Israel and his support for multilateral sanctions on Tehran.
Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said Mr. Hagel will be "completely in line with the president" on both issues.
"The president has a record of unprecedented security cooperation with Israel and that's going to continue no matter who the defense secretary is," Mr. Rhodes said.
Mr. Obama returned to the White House on Sunday after a truncated family holiday in Hawaii. His week will also include a visit from Afghan President Hamid Karzai. And there is a bruising fight with Congress over spending and the federal deficit on the horizon, just days after Obama and Congress averted the fiscal cliff with a last-minute deal over the New Year's holiday. But rounding out his national security team in his first project.
Mr. Brennan, 57, spent a quarter-century at the CIA. He served as station chief in Saudi Arabia and in a variety of posts, including deputy executive director, during the Bush administration.
His tenure at the agency during Bush's presidency drew criticism from liberals when Mr. Obama considered naming him CIA director after the 2008 election. Mr. Brennan denied being involved in the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques, but still withdrew his name from consideration.
However, Mr. Brennan's nomination will likely put a spotlight on the administration's controversial drone program. Mr. Brennan was the first Obama administration official to publicly acknowledge the highly secretive targeted killing operations.
Mr. Brennan has defended the legality of the overseas drone operations and has said they protect American lives and prevent potential terror attacks.
If confirmed, Mr. Brennan will succeed David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer.
Deputy CIA director Michael Morell has been serving as the agency's acting director since Mr. Petraeus resigned and was considered by Mr. Obama for the top job. Mr. Rhodes said Morell will attend Monday's White House event and is expected to stay at the CIA.
Getty ImagesChuck Hagel is set to succeed Leon Panetta as U.S. Defense Secretary.
Mr. Hagel, even before being nominated, has faced tough criticism from congressional Republicans who say the former GOP senator is anti-Israel and soft on Iran. And Mr. Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew from consideration for the spy agency's top job in 2008 amid questions about his connection to enhanced interrogation techniques during the George W. Bush administration.
Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Mr. Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event Monday afternoon. Along with secretary of state nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Messrs. Hagel and Brennan would play key roles implementing and shaping Mr. Obama's national security priorities in a second term. All three men must be confirmed by the Senate.
In nominating Mr. Hagel, Mr. Obama signaled he is willing to take on a tough confirmation fight. Once Mr. Hagel emerged as a likely nominee, GOP lawmakers began sharply questioning his commitment to Israel and his willingness to take a hard line with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Mr. Hagel, a 66-year-old moderate Nebraska Republican, has criticized discussion of a military strike by either the U.S. or Israel against Iran. He also irritated some Israel backers with his reference to the "Jewish lobby" in the United States. And he has backed efforts to bring Iran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan.
White House officials say Mr. Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran have been misrepresented. They cite his Senate votes for billions in military assistance to Israel and his support for multilateral sanctions on Tehran.
Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said Mr. Hagel will be "completely in line with the president" on both issues.
"The president has a record of unprecedented security cooperation with Israel and that's going to continue no matter who the defense secretary is," Mr. Rhodes said.
Mr. Obama returned to the White House on Sunday after a truncated family holiday in Hawaii. His week will also include a visit from Afghan President Hamid Karzai. And there is a bruising fight with Congress over spending and the federal deficit on the horizon, just days after Obama and Congress averted the fiscal cliff with a last-minute deal over the New Year's holiday. But rounding out his national security team in his first project.
Mr. Brennan, 57, spent a quarter-century at the CIA. He served as station chief in Saudi Arabia and in a variety of posts, including deputy executive director, during the Bush administration.
His tenure at the agency during Bush's presidency drew criticism from liberals when Mr. Obama considered naming him CIA director after the 2008 election. Mr. Brennan denied being involved in the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques, but still withdrew his name from consideration.
However, Mr. Brennan's nomination will likely put a spotlight on the administration's controversial drone program. Mr. Brennan was the first Obama administration official to publicly acknowledge the highly secretive targeted killing operations.
Mr. Brennan has defended the legality of the overseas drone operations and has said they protect American lives and prevent potential terror attacks.
If confirmed, Mr. Brennan will succeed David Petraeus, who resigned in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer.
Deputy CIA director Michael Morell has been serving as the agency's acting director since Mr. Petraeus resigned and was considered by Mr. Obama for the top job. Mr. Rhodes said Morell will attend Monday's White House event and is expected to stay at the CIA.