Hagel, McCain tangle over Iraq war and troop increase

Republican Sen. John McCain is tangling with Chuck Hagel over his past statements about the Iraq war.

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Jan. 31, 2013

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be Defense Secretary. During Hagel’s confirmation hearing as defense secretary, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) asked Hagel if he felt he was correct when he voiced opposition against the 2007 troop surge in Iraq.

Larry Downing / Reuters

Jan. 31, 2013

Former two-term Sen. Chuck Hagel testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill. Also seen are two former committee chairmen, former senators John Warner (R-Va.), left, and Sam Nunn (D-Ga.).

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jan. 31, 2013

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) questions former Chuck Hagel during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Hagel's nomination to be defense secretary. McCain, a strong backer of the 2007 troop surge in Iraq, pressed Hagel whether he was right or wrong in his opposition to the influx of 30,000 troops. Hagel, who once called the surge the “most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam,” resisted McCain’s repeated attempts to solicit a “yes” or “no” answer.

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Jan. 31, 2013

Senate Armed Services Committee member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), center, delivers opening remarks during former Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Jan. 31, 2013

Former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) introduced Chuck Hagel at the confirmation hearing for President Obama’s nominee to be defense secretary. Warner, a former chairman of the committee, voiced support for Hagel before telling the former Nebraska senator: “You’re on your own. Good luck.”

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Jan. 31, 2013

Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel waves as he arrives on Capitol Hill for his confirmation hearing.

Susan Walsh / AP

Jan. 31, 2013

Chuck Hagel, left, greets former Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), center, after arriving.

Susan Walsh / AP

Jan. 31, 2013

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel arrives to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jan. 31, 2013

Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), left, talks with committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) as they and former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) arrive for Hagel's confirmation hearing.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Jan. 31, 2013

Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel talks with his wife Lilibet, left, as he waits to enter a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

LARRY DOWNING / Reuters

Jan. 31, 2013

A protestor holds a sign as former Sen. Chuck Hagel arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination.

Susan Walsh / AP

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