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Saturday, February 2, 2013

Authorities mum about talks with alleged abductor

This photograph released by the Alabama Department of Public Safety shows Jimmy Lee Dykes, a 65-year-old retired truck driver officials identify as the suspect in a fatal shooting and hostage standoff in Midland City, Ala. (AP Photo/Alabama Department of Public Safety)

In this undated photo released by the Dale County Board of Education, bus driver Charles Albert Poland, Jr., is shown. A standoff in rural Alabama went into a second full day Thursday as police surrounded an underground bunker where a retired truck driver was holding a 5-year-old hostage he grabbed off a school bus after shooting Poland, the driver dead. Poland Jr., 66, was hailed by locals as a hero who gave his life to protect the 21 students aboard the bus. (AP Photo/ Dale County Board of Education)

Law officers stand beside the Alabama State trooper mobile command post at the Dale County hostage scene in Midland City, Ala. on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. A gunman holed up in a bunker with a 6-year-old hostage has kept law officers at bay since the standoff began when he killed a school bus driver and dragged the boy away, authorities said. (AP Photo/Montgomery Advertiser, Mickey Welsh)

The Dale County Sheriffs Department helicopter lands at the scene of an ongoing hostage crisis in Midland City, Ala., Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. More than three days after authorities said a gunman shot a school bus driver dead, grabbed a kindergartner and slipped into an underground bunker, the man showed no signs Friday of turning himself over to police. (AP Photo/The Dothan Eagle, Jay Hare)

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) ? As a police standoff with an Alabama man accused of holding a 5-year-old boy hostage in an underground bunker entered its fifth day, authorities were saying little except that their talks with the 65-year-old loner were continuing through a ventilation pipe.

Negotiators were still trying late Friday to persuade Jimmy Lee Dykes to surrender. Police have said they believe the Vietnam-era veteran fatally shot a school bus driver on Tuesday, and then abducted the boy from the bus and disappeared into the home-made bunker.

While police were mostly staying mum about the delicate negotiations, it fell to neighbors to fill in the blanks about Dykes, described by some as a menacing figure who held anti-government views.

One of Dykes' next-door neighbors said the suspect spent two or three months constructing the bunker, digging several feet into the ground and then building a structure of lumber and plywood, which he covered with sand and dirt.

Neighbor Michael Creel said Dykes put the plastic pipe underground from the bunker to the end of his driveway so he could hear if anyone drove up to his gate. When Dykes finished the shelter a year or so ago, he invited Creel to see it ? and he did.

"He was bragging about it. He said, 'Come check it out," Creel said.

He said he believes Dykes' goal with the standoff is to publicize his political beliefs.

"I believe he wants to rant and rave about politics and government," Creel said. "He's very concerned about his property. He doesn't want his stuff messed with."

Police have used a ventilation pipe to the bunker to talk to the man and deliver the boy medication for his emotional disorders, but they have not revealed how often they are in touch or what the conversations have been about. Authorities waited until Friday to confirm the suspect's identity.

While much of what is going on inside the bunker remains a mystery, local officials who have spoken to police or the boy's family have described a small room with food, electricity and a TV. And while the boy has his medication, an official also said he has been crying for his parents.

Meanwhile, Midland City residents held out hope that the standoff would end safely and mourned for the slain bus driver and his family. Candlelight vigils have been held nightly at a gazebo in front of City Hall. Residents prayed, sang songs such as "Amazing Grace" and nailed homemade wooden crosses on the gazebo's railings alongside signs that read: "We are praying for you."

"We're doing any little thing that helps show support for him," said 15-year-old Taylor Edwards said.

Former hostage negotiators said authorities must be cautious and patient as long as they are confident that the boy is unharmed. Ex-FBI hostage negotiator Clint Van Zandt advised against any drastic measures such as cutting the electricity or putting sleeping gas inside the bunker because it could agitate Dykes.

The negotiator should try to ease Dykes' anxieties over what will happen when the standoff ends, and refer to both the boy and Dykes by their first names, he said.

"I want to give him a reason to come out," Van Zandt said,

Police seemed to be following that pattern. At a brief news conference to release a photo of Dykes, they brushed off any questions about possible charges.

"It's way too early for that," said Kevin Cook, a spokesman for the Alabama state troopers.

Police have described the bunker as about 4 feet underground, with about 6-by-8 feet of floor space and the PVC pipe that negotiators were speaking through.

State Rep. Steve Clouse, who represents the Midland City area, said he visited the boy's mother and she is "hanging on by a thread." Clouse said the mother told him that the boy has Asperger's syndrome as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Dr. Nadine Kaslow, a family therapist and psychiatry professor at Emory University in Atlanta, said the boy's emotional troubles might make things even more difficult for him.

"They have less way to make sense of things," she said of children with Asperger's and ADHD.

The normally quiet red-clay road leading to the bunker was busy Friday with more than a dozen police cars and trucks, a fire truck, a helicopter, officers from multiple agencies and news media near Midland City. The town, population 2,300, is about 100 miles southeast of Montgomery.

Police vehicles have come and gone for hours from the command post, a small church nearby.

Neighbors said Dykes was easily angered and once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.

He was in the Navy from 1964 to 1969, serving some time in Japan, according to military records.

Authorities said Dykes boarded a stopped school bus filled with 21 children on Tuesday afternoon and demanded two boys between 6 and 8 years old. When the driver tried to block his way, the gunman shot him several times and took the 5-year-old boy.

The bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, was hailed by local residents as a hero who gave his life to protect the pupils on his bus.

Dykes had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to answer charges he shot at his neighbors in a dispute last month over a speed bump. Neighbor Claudia Davis said he yelled and fired shots at her and her family over damage Dykes claimed their pickup truck did to a makeshift speed bump in the dirt road. No one was hurt.

Creel said his father and Dykes are friends. Creel said that after Dykes' arrest, Dykes wrote a 2- to 3-page letter that at least in part addressed the menacing case.

Michael Creel said he hasn't seen the letter but that his father, Greg Creel, has. Dykes reportedly told the elder Creel he had sent the letter to the local media, politicians and Alabama's governor.

Police on Friday took a copy of the letter from the Creels' home, according to Michael Creel. Reached for comment, Greg Creel confirmed the existence of the letter but declined further comment and said he was cooperating with police.

A neighbor directly across the street, Brock Parrish, said Dykes usually wore overalls and glasses and his posture was hunched-over. He said Dykes usually drove a run-down "creeper" van with some of the windows covered in aluminum foil.

Parrish often saw him digging in his yard, as if he were preparing to lay down a driveway or building foundation. He lived in a small camping trailer and patrolled his lawn at night, walking from corner to corner with a flashlight and a long gun. Authorities have not disclosed what firearms Dykes might have in his possession.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington; Phillip Rawls in Midland City; Bob Johnson in Montgomery, Ala., and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-02-School%20Bus%20Driver%20Shot/id-3415e5abee4f49f88a8a0d547ade4217

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Friday, February 1, 2013

Republicans hammer defense nominee Chuck Hagel

Republican Chuck Hagel, President Obama's choice for defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate Armed Services Committee members, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the committee's ranking Republican, left, accompanied by fellow committee member, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asks a question of former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, during the committee's hearing on his nomination. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, asks a question of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, center, President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member of the committee, listens at left. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican senators hammered former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday on issues ranging from Israel and Iran to his support for a group that advocates the elimination of nuclear weapons. But with most Democrats in his corner, an unflustered Hagel seems headed for approval as defense secretary.

Hagel, a former two-term senator from Nebraska, described his views as mainstream and closely aligned with those of President Barack Obama, the Democrat who nominated him. But several GOP members of the Armed Services Committee sought to portray him as radical and unsteady. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., called his ideas "extreme" and "far to the left" of Obama.

Hagel said he believes America "must engage ? not retreat ? in the world," and insisted that his record is consistent on that point.

He pointed to Iran and its nuclear ambitions as an example of an urgent national security threat that should be addressed first by attempting to establish dialogue with Iranian rulers, although he said he would not rule out using military force.

"I think we're always on higher ground in every way ? international law, domestic law, people of the world, people of the region to be with us on this ? if we have ... gone through every possibility to resolve this in a responsible, peaceful way, rather than going to war," he said.

He pushed back on the notion ? first raised by one of his harshest Republican critics, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma ? that he favors a policy of appeasement.

"I think engagement is clearly in our interest," Hagel told Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who denounced the idea of negotiating with a "terrorist state."

"That's not negotiation," Hagel said. "Engagement is not appeasement. Engagement is not surrender."

After the daylong hearing, committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said the panel could vote as early as next Thursday if Hagel quickly provides additional material requested by some members.

The nominee's fiercest exchange came with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a fellow Vietnam veteran, onetime close friend and a vote that could carry considerable sway. Politics and Hagel's evolving opposition to the Iraq war caused a split between the two men that was on full display.

McCain suggested that Hagel and his critics were not quibbling over small matters.

"They are not reasonable people disagreeing; they are fundamental disagreements. Our concerns pertain to the quality of your professional judgment and your world-view on critical areas of national security," he said.

McCain pressed Hagel on whether he was right or wrong about his opposition to President George W. Bush's decision to send an extra 30,000 troops to Iraq in 2007 at a point when the war seemed in danger of being lost. Hagel, who voted to authorize military force in Iraq, later opposed the conflict, comparing it to Vietnam and arguing that it shifted the focus from Afghanistan.

"Were you right? Were you correct in your assessment?" McCain asked.

"I would defer to the judgment of history to sort that out," Hagel said as the two men talked over each other.

"The committee deserves your judgment as to whether you were right or wrong about the surge," McCain insisted.

Unable to elicit a simple response, McCain said the record should show that Hagel refused to answer. And he made it clear that he would have the final word ? with his vote, which he said would be influenced by Hagel's refusal to answer yes or no.

"I think history has already made a judgment about the surge, Sir, and you're on the wrong side of it," he said.

Responding to criticism from outside GOP-leaning groups, Hagel repeated his regrets about using the term "Jewish lobby" to refer to pro-Israel groups. He said he should have used another term and should not have said those groups have intimidated members of the Senate into favoring actions contrary to U.S. interests.

"I'm sorry and I regret it," Hagel said. "On the use of 'intimidation,' I should have used 'influence,' I think would have been more appropriate."

At one point, Hagel mistakenly said the Obama policy toward Iran is "containment" even though the former senator has said all options, including military force, should be on the table. He was handed a note and corrected himself.

Hagel was the lone witness in a jam-packed hearing room at a session that could be crucial in determining whether he will win Senate confirmation and join Obama's second-term national security team. He spoke out forcefully for a strong military while trying to explain 12 years of Senate votes and numerous statements.

"No one individual vote, no one individual quote or no one individual statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record," Hagel said in his opening statement. "My overall worldview has never changed: that America has and must maintain the strongest military in the world, that we must lead the international community to confront threats and challenges together, and that we must use all tools of American power to protect our citizens and our interests."

Hagel, 66, would be the lone Republican in Obama's Cabinet, the first Vietnam veteran to be defense secretary and the first enlisted man to take the post. That last point was highlighted by Levin.

"It would be a positive message for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in harm's way around the world to know that one of their own holds the highest office in the Department of Defense and that he has their backs," Levin said.

Two former committee chairmen ? Democrat Sam Nunn and Republican John Warner ? introduced the nominee.

"War for Chuck Hagel is not an abstraction," Nunn said.

Hagel has the announced backing of about a dozen Democrats and the tacit support of dozens more who are unlikely to embarrass the president by defeating his Cabinet pick. One Republican ? Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi ? has said he will vote for his former colleague.

Eight Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services panel, have said they will oppose Hagel's nomination. Dan Coats of Indiana, who served with Hagel in the Senate, and Marco Rubio of Florida announced their opposition on Thursday.

Democrats hold a 55-45 advantage in the Senate and a 14-12 edge on the committee.

Republicans repeatedly questioned Hagel about a May 2012 study that he co-authored by the advocacy group Global Zero that called for an 80 percent reduction of U.S. nuclear weapons and the eventual elimination of all the world's nuclear arms.

The group argued that with the Cold War over, the United States can reduce its total nuclear arsenal to 900 without sacrificing security. Currently, the U.S. and Russia have about 5,000 each, either deployed or in reserve. Both countries are on track to reduce their deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 by 2018, the number set in the New START treaty that the Senate ratified in December 2010.

Fischer, the Nebraska Republican, quoted from the Global Zero report and expressed strong misgivings.

"Many of my colleagues are concerned you've changed your views. My concerns are that you haven't changed your views. You continue to hold extreme views, far to the left even of this administration," said Fischer.

In last year's Senate race, Hagel endorsed Fischer's Democratic rival, former Sen. Bob Kerrey, who also is a Vietnam combat veteran.

Hagel insisted that the report was merely illustrative and said it wasn't realistic to consider unilateral nuclear weapons reductions.

___

Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-31-Hagel/id-98598158f32a4049989e415bbf54fc84

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Eden: Sci-Fi/light fantasy Project.

First Words: I've been planning on doing a science fiction roleplay for a while now. Having been through quite a few revisions the current status of readiness is not full. This being said there are still aspects open to creativity and interpretation.

Premise:
Humanity is just starting to reach out to the stars. (Current year left to speculation atm) Exploring Mar's more and setting up a small science facility the mars expedition finds the gate. (Alternatively found on Earth.) The gate left by unknown origin's is activated and leading to a new planet. Eden it is named (name up for debate along with rp title) for it's perfect atmosphere and land region. A whole continent resembling Earth's atmosphere and life. The continent unclaimed and perfect for humanity it becomes the start of a new city/country. As the planet becomes more known it is found to be approximately eight times (give or take as world is more fleshed out) the size of earth. The planet also spins on a infinity shaped loop between two perfectly placed suns. (If looked at a 2d image summer would be when the planet is between both suns and winter being when it is on the edge of it's loop with one of the suns.) Days are close to normal during summer as two parts of Eden would experience day from the multiple suns. Winters being rather long nights.

The colony/country grows and becomes independent of needs from Earth though still in much contact. (Or none depending on state of earth to be decided. Earth will also have little impact on the roleplay. The majority of it would be to take place inside the main city of Eden.) Exploring the new planet of Eden Humanity finds they are not alone; other continents scatter the world. Some continents are inhabited by other sentient races coming to Eden much the same as they have. (And a number of continents left unfilled.) Along with this discovery is that of the relics left on the planet. The relics are similar to that of the 'stargates' that brought each race here. (Such as a forge that can create incredible steel. Steel that can be used for armor that easily blocked bullets. The forge was the first thought I had one a relic, it adds a unique twist to the modern combat in a sci fi world.) There are other mysteries left undiscovered, things left behind by those who came before along with much more.

So what is this roleplay to be about?:
Well I would like to think at it's core it's almost a sandbox style roleplay. However I have some overarching plots in mind relating to the mysteries of the world, a potential crime syndicate, and a type of rise to power and certain characters trying to become the leader/s of Eden.

Would I be able to make my own plots?:
I personally LOVE it when people create their own stories in a world that I've made. As I'm taking a more GM type role if this roleplay is created instead of a more player one all I ask of you to create your own lore or plots is to simply mention it to myself just to keep everything coherent in the world.

Your Tag Says Co-GM. Do you need one?:
I would not say that I need one, though I need one. I personally do not have the most experience with roleplaygateway and let alone a roleplay of this scale that I want to do. I'd love to have someone to bounce ideas and plots off of, someone to help with roleplaying the characters for a plot, and practically everything a normal GM does.

Size Of The Roleplay:
I have no limitation in mind for the roleplay. I think the only limitation I could ever think of is to get beyond the point where I can't handle the roleplay. (See Co-GM for help on this part) So no I don't have a limitation on how big the roleplay can get player or world wise.
On this same note while I don't see it so much on RPG I've come from a career of roleplay where everyone ends up roleplaying multiple characters. I don't expect anyone to contribute like this but if someone wants to they would be more than free to do so. I don't really see this as needed as much as my previous roleplays with a dedicated GM to play multiple characters for the sake of keeping a plot going.

Text Vs. Chat based roleplay:
I know there are pros and cons of both of these systems. Personally I enjoy a chat based roleplay though I'm not sure if that would be best for RPG. In conclusion I think it will end up coming down to a preference of what people will want out of this roleplay. (Now I don't see anything wrong with using a combination in some way. Specifically chat for planned conversations between characters.)

What do you mean by light Fantasy?
By light fantasy I don't specifically mean there are to be dragons and wizards with pointy hats. By fantasy I find the ancient alien race type of deal to be somewhat less core sci-fi and something with a bit of mystery you'd often find in a fantasy world. I also have plans to add in some form of supernatural power element on a small scale but to be there nonetheless which also brings to the more magical side of fantasy.

Qeustions/Contacting Me:
If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to post bellow. Please comment if this roleplay interests you so I know if I should even make this roleplay. If you want to contact me more directly I try to be in the ooc chat or you can simply private message me.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/gzEjiPqu1BA/viewtopic.php

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5 Ways to Keep Friendships from Becoming Affairs | Bellevue ...

References ?NOT ?Just Friends?? by Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D with Jean Coppock Staeheli

One misstep is all it takes to set you off in the wrong direction. ?Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all How to avoid affairs your ways.Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.? (Proverbs 4:26-27 NIV) As this verse reminds us, Christians must be mindful of how their interactions with others pave the way for inappropriate relationships. There?s nothing wrong with having friends. But give some thought to the following suggestions to keep your friends from becoming competitors for your spouse.

1. Don?t discuss relationship problems with anyone you could see as an alternative to your spouse (22)

There are a lot of reasons not to do this? your spouse probably does not appreciate you airing your marriage?s dirty laundry, it provides an opportunity for increased bashing of your spouse and your relationship, and it can send the signal that you are interested in replacing your spouse. Few things bring people together like hating something. A marriage problems-venting session creates ideal conditions for you to bond with someone you might have no business bonding with. (INSERT THE FENCES QUOTE ART NEAR THESE TWO SUGGESTIONS)

2. Alternately, be cautious of involving yourself in the marriage problems of your friends (23)

The best way to avoid an affair is to be wary of becoming too intimate with members of the opposite sex. Isn?t that how you ended up married? You got to talking with your spouse, formed an emotional bond, acknowledge physical attraction, and then got married. The majority of affairs follow the same path. Be wary of inserting yourself in the personal business of members of the opposite sex who are not your spouse. If you think they need help, bring your spouse.
Good fences

3. When you do talk to someone about your marriage problems, make sure that person supports your marriage (22-23)

Everyone complains about their marriage every now and again. That does not mean you do not love your spouse or want to stay married to them. But, it can seem like it at the time. When you let off steam about your marriage problems, make sure it is with someone who supports the relationship. Only vent with people who want to help you strengthen the weaknesses in your marriage, not exploit them to their own benefit.

4. Avoid opportunities for temptation

This is much more general than the previous tips, but just as important. I am not saying shut yourself off from every member of the opposite sex. Rather, be cautious in your interactions. Being alone with your spouse so you could get to know one another and bond was how you ended up falling in love with one another. Be wary of allowing the same thing to happen between yourself and someone who is not your spouse.

?Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.? (1 Peter 5:8) Many situations can seem innocent, but as this verse tells us, they can be corrupted. Avoid being alone with, touching, or spending long periods of time with members of the opposite sex you are not married to. If you would not like your spouse being this friendly with someone else, maybe you shouldn?t be either.

5. If it feels wrong, or you have to hide it from your spouse, don?t

?They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.? (Romans 2:15 NIV) As this passage tells us, God has imbued all humans with a conscience. If that small, noisy voice in your heart acts up when you interact with someone, get some advice about the situation. If the thought of telling someone else about this relationship feels like something you would rather not do, consider that an additional sign the relationship is probably inappropriate.

Christian counseling for avoiding adultery

If you are concerned a friendship with someone other than your spouse poses a threat to your marriage, consider getting in touch with a professional Christian marriage counselor. They can help you assess the dynamics of the relationship and how you should proceed. A professional Christian counselor will use Biblical principles and therapeutic techniques to help you understand your motivations regarding the relationship and whether they are in line with God?s design for marriage.

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How-to-reconcile-with-your-spouse?FreeDigitalPhotos.net user photostock

Licensed Counselor

Phone:?(425)-736-1676

Source: http://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/2013/01/31/5-ways-to-keep-friendships-from-becoming-affairs/

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Microsoft CEO talks about Office, won't comment on Office for iPad

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked with Businessweek about the recent Office 2013 launch. Most of the interview focused on the desktop version of the productivity suite, but Ballmer dodged a question right at the end about the development of the iPad version of Office.

When asked how the iPad version was coming along, Ballmer declined to comment and said the following:

I have nothing to say on that topic. We're very glad with the product, very happy with the product that we're putting in market. It makes sense on the devices like the Mac and the PC. We have a product that we think makes a lot of sense. We do have a way for people always to get to Office through the browser, which is very important. And we'll see what we see in the future.

This response doesn't kill off the idea of Office for the iPad, but it does suggest the product is not a high priority for the Microsoft CEO.

Office for iPad has been rumored since T3 claimed Microsoft may be working on an iPad version of Office and The Daily broke the story open with screenshots of the app in 2012. A Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge late last year that "Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS and Android."

Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2013/01/30/microsoft-ceo-talks-about-office-wont-comment-on-office-for-ip/

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Hagel defends his record on Iran, Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary on Thursday defended his views of the military and global threats, pushing back against criticism that has focused on his past statements on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons. Chuck Hagel told senators that America "must engage ? not retreat ? in the world," and insisted that his record is consistent on that point.

At his confirmation hearing, the former Republican two-term senator from Nebraska sought to diffuse the barrage of criticism about his past remarks that GOP critics say showed a lack of support for a Middle East ally. Hagel sought to build support for his nomination to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

"No one individual vote, quote or statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record," Hagel was to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee in prepared testimony. "My overall worldview has never changed: that America has and must maintain the strongest military in the world; that we must lead the international community to confront threats and challenges together; and that we must use all tools of American power to protect our citizens and our interests."

Hagel, 66, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, would be the first enlisted man to become defense secretary, a point that Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., highlighted.

Hagel was the lone witness in a jam-packed hearing room at a session that could be crucial in determining whether he will win Senate confirmation and join Obama's second-term national security team. Two former committee chairmen ? Democrat Sam Nunn and Republican John Warner ? introduced the nominee.

Six Republicans, including four members of the Armed Services panel, have said they will oppose Hagel's nomination. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top GOP lawmaker on the committee and an opponent of Hagel, almost immediately complained that Hagel had not provided to the committee all of his speeches over the last five years, as requested.

Inhofe said Hagel's record "is deeply troubling and out of mainstream views."

Crucial for Hagel will be the questioning by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Hagel and McCain are fellow Vietnam veterans who once had a close relationship during their years in the Senate, but politics and Hagel's opposition to increased troop numbers in Iraq divided the two men.

McCain has praised Hagel's military service but said he had serious concerns about positions the nominee has taken on various issues. He said he is reserving judgment until after the hearing. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., earlier this month described Obama's selection as an "in-your-face" pick but was a bit less critical this week.

"Who are we getting ? the guy today or the guy who said things before?" Graham said Tuesday after a 20-minute meeting with Hagel. Graham said he doesn't doubt Hagel's "personal integrity, but I do have real concerns about his policy positions."

The hearing will be the first time Hagel publicly addresses the criticism that he is not sufficiently pro-Israel or tough enough on Iran. In the past, Hagel has questioned the efficacy of unilateral sanctions on Iran, arguing that penalties in conjunction with international partners made more sense. He has also been criticized for his comments about the influence of a "Jewish lobby" and his past view of gay rights.

He addressed several of the issues in a 112-page questionnaire to the committee in which he said his wartime experience would shape his decisions about using military force.

"I understand what it is like to be a soldier in war," wrote Hagel. "I also understand what happens when there is poor morale and discipline among the troops and a lack of clear objectives, intelligence and command and control from Washington. I believe that experience will help me as secretary of defense to ensure we maintain the best fighting force in the world, protect our men and women in uniform and ensure that we are cautious and certain when contemplating the use of force."

In his responses, Hagel adopted a hard line on Iran and its possible pursuit of a nuclear weapon. He echoed Obama's view that all options are feasible to stop Tehran, praised the rounds of penalties and warned of "severe and growing consequences" if Iran balks at international demands.

Questioned about all options, Hagel said, "If confirmed, I will focus intently on ensuring that the U.S. military is in fact prepared for any contingency."

He said that he would continue to put in place the "smart, unprecedented and effective sanctions against the Iranian regime" that Congress and the Obama administration have adopted in recent years.

The criticism of Hagel has surprised some of Hagel's strongest backers.

"This idea that's being propagated is that he might be soft on adversaries. Chuck Hagel's not soft on anybody, particularly himself," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the Armed Services Committee, in a conference call with Hagel allies. "He drives hard. He's someone who searches for the right approach and the right policy."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/defense-nominee-hagel-defends-record-senate-143219140--politics.html

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U.S. Senate panel grills Obama's choice for defense chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chuck Hagel will face tough questions on Pentagon spending cuts and U.S. relations with Israel and Iran on Thursday as he faces a deeply skeptical Senate panel considering his nomination to be President Barack Obama's next secretary of defense.

Another member of Obama's second-term national security team, Senator John Kerry, sailed through his confirmation before being receiving the Senate's overwhelming support on Tuesday.

But Hagel, a former Republican senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran who broke with his party over the Iraq War, can expect a much more confrontational hearing when he is grilled on a range of issues by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Although most observers expect Hagel will eventually be confirmed - barring unexpected fireworks at the hearing - Thursday's testimony will be contentious.

At least three Republican panel members, including James Inhofe, the party's leader on the committee, have said they did not support Hagel's nomination.

"We are simply too philosophically opposed on the issues for me to support his nomination," Inhofe said in a January 15 statement. Such comments have angered Hagel supporters, who say two-term senator, who would be the first former enlisted soldier to lead the Pentagon, deserves at least a hearing.

Hagel's confirmation hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT) on Thursday.

In the entire Senate, which would vote on Hagel if he is cleared by the committee, only one of the 45 Republicans - Mississippi's Thad Cochran - has come out in Hagel's favor.

He is expected to face tough questioning on Israel and Iran, his view of the Pentagon budget - Hagel is known as an advocate for tighter spending controls - and relations with China.

The Middle East, which has been the most intense focus of the anti-Hagel campaign, is likely to be the toughest issue.

"There's a lot of misleading information out there about the senator's views on Middle East policy. Senators are going to want to hear from Chuck Hagel directly on what his view is and what is the administration's view," said Mark Jacobson, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund and a former staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

CHARM OFFENSIVE

Hagel, backed by the White House and Pentagon, has been on a charm offensive to win over recalcitrant senators since Obama nominated him this month to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Facing a public campaign against his appointment by critics seeking to portray him as soft on Iran, anti-Israel and uncommitted to equal rights for women and gays, Hagel has been pounding the halls of the Capitol to hold one-on-one meetings with 53 senators before his hearing.

Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, said on Tuesday she had spoken with Hagel for 90 minutes and been satisfied on several issues, but stopped short of endorsing him.

"We had a good discussion, but it's obvious that we have very different views on some fundamental issues," she said.

Hagel also detailed his views in 112 pages of written responses to wide-ranging questions submitted by lawmakers.

In them, he said that if confirmed as the next defense secretary, he would ensure that the military is prepared to strike Iran if necessary but stressed the need to be "cautious and certain" when contemplating the use of force.

Hagel also voiced support for a steady U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan, pledged to ensure equal treatment for women and homosexuals in the military and assured the committee that the United States would maintain an "unshakeable" commitment to Israel's security.

Most observers expect Hagel will be confirmed by the committee, even if he is approved only 14-12, along party lines.

"I do think he'll be voted out of committee tomorrow and then it will be interesting to see where things go on the Senate floor," said Maren Leed, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In the face of intense lobbying by both Hagel supporters and opponents, many Republicans have said they will withhold judgment until after the hearing.

Democrats control 55 seats in the Senate and can approve Hagel with no Republican support, but they will need some backing from Hagel's party to overcome procedural hurdles that could stop the nomination.

One has already emerged. Senator Lindsey Graham, a committee member, has threatened to keep the nomination from going to the Senate floor if Panetta does not testify about a September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Democratic Senator Carl Levin, the committee's chairman, said Panetta is already due to testify, and that would take place before the full Senate voted on Hagel.

(Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hagel-face-grilling-senate-panel-mideast-budget-080308553.html

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