Barack Obama urge the Senate to quickly confirm his choix

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama on Monday named his counterterrorism adviser John Brennan at the head of the CIA and Republican Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense, two choices that are likely to generate the controverse.

At a ceremony at the White House, the U.S. president has long praised both promoted and urged the upper house of Congress to endorse these quickly choix.

"I hope the Senate will act quickly for () confirm. When it comes to national security, we do not like the transition drags on. Should therefore move quickly on the matter," he dit.

The choice of

Chuck Hagel, a conservative atypical to replace the current incumbent minister of defense, Leon Panetta, the risk of being difficult to Capitole.

Critics of the former Republican senator from Nebraska reminder that not only opposed to sanctions against Iran and Libya, but also a day criticized the influence of what he called the "Jewish lobby "to Washington.

The President stressed that the choice of Chuck Hagel was consistent with a bipartisan tradition more important than ever, according to him, Washington.

The choice of John Brennan to succeed General David Petraeus, who resigned from the main U.S. spy agency in November after the revelation of an extramarital affair, could also provoke controverse.

opposition could come from associations for the defense of human rights. John Brennan, who has worked for 25 years at the CIA, had not been used for the management of the intelligence agency in 2008 in light of the questions raised by the methods of "enhanced interrogation" used on people suspected terrorism under the administration Bush.

With the arrival of Chuck Hagel and John Brennan, who complete the appointment of Senator John Kerry at the head of the State Department team of national security issues President Barack Obama is now the complet.

It is expected a large number of files. She will be responsible for managing the official end of the war in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear deal and adapt to lower spending militaires.

"CHOICE INCREDIBLY CONTROVERSIAL"

before the Senate, Chuck Hagel will not only meet its commitment to Israel's security but also explain some of his remarks. In 1998, it was estimated that "a candidate for ambassador was not qualified because he was" openly gay aggressively. "He has since apologized for these propos.

Confirmation of the appointment of Chuck Hagel suggests that the president did not want to appear weak position seeming to make his opponents and be forced to choose someone other than his favorite position for a prominent .

Already Barack Obama had to abandon entrust the management of American diplomacy Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, because of the opposition of républicains.

risk for the Democratic president by forcing the appointment of Chuck Hagel is to engage the political capital needed for the next round of budget negotiations with républicains.

The Republicans have made no secret Sunday that the process of confirming the appointment of Chuck Hagel would be difficult. The South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who is often expressed on the subject, spoke on CNN of "incredibly controversial choice."

ELIMINATION OF BEN LADEN

Critics say Chuck Hagel, who left the Senate in 2008, is sometimes opposed to Israel's interests, voting repeatedly against U.S. sanctions against Iran. His supporters counter that support for Israel is not démontrer.

Chuck Hagel, who came close to Barack Obama when they were both senators because of their common opposition to the war in Iraq was also one of the most fervent advocates of easing U.S. sanctions against Cuba.

In 2011, in an interview with the Financial Times, he advocated a "slimming" for Pentagone.

The appointment of John Brennan, who is the adviser to the president for counterterrorism since his first term, may also make waves Washington.

John Brennan seems to have always been the choice of Barack Obama to head the CIA. But defenders of human rights emphasize that the use by the CIA under President George W. Bush techniques of "enhanced interrogation", some amounting to torture, splashed the reputation of John Brennan.

latter has denied any link with these methods of interrogation, but at the time he withdrew his candidature.

Since

, John Brennan has been praised for its role in the preparation of the operation that led to the elimination of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011. His supporters believe that this episode will help silence critics and will raise its nomination.

"States service Brennan (...) were prepared to be an outstanding director of the CIA. Brennan has the full confidence of the president," said a senior Obama administration. "For four years, he saw the President every day, and was at his side for his most difficult decisions."

Pascal Liétout Guy Kerivel, Danielle and Jean-Loup Rouquié Fiévet for service français