The American Spectator

Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearings began today in the Senate Armed Services Committee. In his opening statement, Hagel declared that, though the world is a dangerous place, we must use American power with intelligence and wisdom.

Later he addressed the issue of Iran’s nuclear program:

I am fully committed to the President’s goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and – as I’ve said in the past – all options must be on the table to achieve that goal. My policy is one of prevention, and not one of containment – and the President has made clear that is the policy of our government. As Secretary of Defense, I will make sure the Department is prepared for any contingency. I will ensure our friend and ally Israel maintains its Qualitative Military Edge in the region and will continue to support systems like Iron Dome, which is today saving Israeli lives from terrorist rocket attacks.

The Washington Post has the full text of Hagel’s opening statement and FoxNews.com has a live feed of the hearing. Worth your time? Hagel’s a former senator appearing before current senators, which portends plenty of comradely blowharding and back-patting. But Sen. Jim Inhofe did come out swinging, so a few fireworks may be in order.