February 26, 2013
Chuck Hagel becomes secretary of defence
By Reuters
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 Former U.S. senator Chuck Hagel testifies on Jan. 31, 2013 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be defence secretary. (REUTERS) |
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted to confirm Chuck Hagel on Tuesday as President Barack Obama's new secretary of defence.
Senators backed the nomination by a 57-41 vote, as voting continued, with only about four Republicans joining Democrats in support of Hagel, a Republican former U.S. senator from Nebraska.
Hagel needed only 51 votes to be confirmed as the new civilian leader at the Pentagon.
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