Hi clo,
I think it was right to challenge Hagel.
It's just McCain wasn't the right guy to do it as he screwed up by supporting the war to begin with - and his delivery was poor. But it was legitimate to challenge Hagel about his judgement re the surge.
Nor can Hagel ask the question you offer, as he also supported the Iraq war at its inception - which was when it was unpopular to do so, and also when it mattered.
The person who can question McCain about the decision to go into Iraq is someone who was opposed to it at the beginning.
The person who can question Hagel about the surge is someone who understood the obligation the USA had taken on and who recognised the value of the surge (and related initiatives), but who hadn't screwed up by supporting the war in the first place.
So I'd toss both McCain and Hagel as people with poor judgement in defense matters.
After seeing Hagel's performance, I'd guess Obama regrets his nomination.
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