ALL OR NOTHING

Hagel Grilling Expected

Iraq-surge vote and more to be examined.

This sounds like a reality-show version of Capitol Hill. Chuck Hagel’s critics are expected to grill him Thursday about his policies regarding the Middle East—and especially that vote against the Iraq War surge—at his confirmation hearing to become the next secretary of defense. Senators will be asking about, among other things, Hagel’s comments about the “Jewish lobby,” his 2011 statement that the Pentagon budget is “too bloated,” his remark that a diplomatic colleague was “aggressively gay,” and his vote against funding for the Iraq surge. A Republican, Hagel has already garnered the support of about a dozen Democrats—although seven Republicans say they will vote against him.