What about his 2-years-hard-fought-military-combat-service-record-background, He worked his way up to Seargent and got alot of high-honors-military-combat-related-medals ! And who do you suppose will be the better Def Sec that Obama will give us if Hagel isn't confirmed, when they will be serving under Obama's policies, orders anyway ! Obama has his reasons for wanting Hagel, That doesn't mean that he's not his own man, he might very well show his best side at times while in this job, when he can get away with it. Obama would get credit if Hagel does something commendandable but so would Republicans !