Photo: AP

After one of the lengthiest and most bitter confirmation fights in recent history, the US Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama’s next Secretary of Defense. Chuck Hagel, 67 years old, was nominated on January 8. Two weeks later Republicans launched a filibuster to block Hagel's nomination, the first time the tactic had been used to delay consideration of a nominee for Secretary of Defense. One of the reasons why Republican Senators strongly object to their ex- peer is his “tolerant” attitude toward Iran and criticisms of Israel. They also consider Hagel a betrayer of Republican values because in 2007 Hagel voted against George W.Bush’s surge in Iraq. The same day, the US Senate Finance Committee approved Jack Lew as Obama’s new Treasury Secretary.