Meet the Press   |  February 03, 2013

What lies ahead for next Defense Secretary

Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs; Chairman of the Faith and Freedom coalition Ralph Reed; former National Hispanic Co-Chair for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, Ana Navarro; and the New York Times’ David Brooks break down the issues facing the next Secretary of Defense and whether former Sen. Chuck Hagel has the ability to oversee the defense department.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>> tackle something here. it's the confidence -- he may get confirmed, david. but will he have the ability to go back before the armed services committee and sell cuts?

>> he will if he has the ability to do it. that's what we don't know. so look at what the next defense secretary is going to have to supervise massive defense cuts. make key decisions , long-term technical advance, short-term readiness. these are tough questions. you have to be able to present leadership and toughness. he is personally a tough guy. i've seen him oppose the iraq war with other republicans. he personally has that courage. but can he project that and show mastery of the building? that's the question.

>> the ability to be a salesman, a politician.

>> absolutely. let's divide politics from all of this. you know, ralph just said this was about judgment. and david just said opposing the war in iraq takes courage. i think the notion in some ways to say because chuck hagel doesn't believe what john mccain says you question his judgment. for somebody that carried a gun as a general in vietnam, i'm going to trust their ability --

>> well, chuck hagel doesn't believe what he says 10 years