By Reuters Reporter PUBLISHED: 12:27 EST, 31 January 2013 | UPDATED: 16:49 EST, 31 January 2013 Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for Defense Secretary, has hit back at critics of his national security record during a heated Senate hearing this morning. Senior Republicans - who are members of his own party and were once his colleagues when he served as a Nebraska senator - accused him of seeking to appease America's enemies. His critics have sought to portray Hagel, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, as a soft on Iran and anti-Israel, pointing to past comments that Hagel's supporters say were taken out of context or distorted.
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Critics say Hagel is anti-Israel, weak on Iran and wants to cut the military
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Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, appeared before a Senate committee today
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Only one Republican senator, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, has pledged to support Hagel
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Hagel called Iranian government 'elected, legitimate'
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Despite opposition, he is expected to be confirmed
In the entire Senate, which would vote on @placeholder if he is cleared by the committee, only one of the 45 Republicans - Mississippi's Thad Cochran - has said he backs Hagel.