White House confirms Obama will nominate Hagel, Brennan

WASHINGTON (AP) The White House confirms that President Barack Obama will be nominating former Republican senator Chuck Hagel and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan today to be key players in his second-term national security team.

Hagel is Obama's choice to be defense secretary, while Brennan is being nominated to lead the CIA. Along with John Kerry -- who is nominated to be secretary of state -- Brennan and Hagel would play major roles in shaping and implementing Obama's national security priorities for the next four years.

Obama is making it clear that he's ready for a tough confirmation fight in the Senate. Hagel has been accused of being anti-Israel and soft on Iran. And Brennan has faced questions about his ties to harsh interrogation techniques that were used during the administration of George W. Bush.