Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says Chuck Hagel "seems clueless" on U.S. policy toward Iran and he's urging the Obama administration to reconsider its defense secretary nominee.

In a statement Tuesday, the South Carolina lawmaker stopped short of saying he would filibuster the choice if the president pushes forward as expected. No Democrat has come out in opposition to Hagel, two Republican senators back him and several others, including Sen. John McCain, say they wouldn't support a filibuster.

Graham is a member of the Armed Services Committee, which could vote as early as Thursday on the nomination of Hagel, the former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska.

Hagel stumbled last week at his confirmation hearing on whether the U.S. policy toward Iran is containment, then corrected himself.

(Copyright 2013, The Associated Press)