Hagel on congressional hearings: ‘I like these things’

Hagel, who was on the other side of congressional hearing rooms for 12
years as a senator, was roughed up rhetorically during his 8-hour confirmation
hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in January. 

He faced heated
questioning throughout that hearing, and was pummeled by Republicans in the weeks that followed
over several of his answers. 

{mosads}Thursday’s hearing before the House Armed Services panel was a much more toned-down by comparison. Hagel was pressed on a range of topics,
from base closures to furloughs to Afghanistan, but there were none of the
angry exchanges that defined his confirmation appearance.

The new Defense secretary will go back before the Senate
Armed Services Committee for the first time since his confirmation next week.

He said Thursday that he expected things would be more
collegial.

“That was years ago,” Hagel said. “So I think next week will
be just like this hearing.”