WASHINGTON, Feb 27: Chuck Hagel was sworn in as US Defence Secretary on Wednesday, a day after the Senate confirmed him with a simple majority of 58 to 41 votes. Mr Hagel, who arrived at the Pentagon 40 minutes late because of Washington’s morning traffic, was sworn in by his Director of Administration and Management Michael L. Rhodes.

The simple ceremony ended two months of his tough fight with conservative opponents who tried to derail his nomination soon after US President Barack Obama picked him for the job.

Mr Hagel, former Republican senator from Nebraska, had to face harsh interrogation at congressional hearings for criticising Israel and opposing the Iraq war.

On Tuesday, a conservative news portal also released the video of a speech he had made two years ago to prove that Mr Hagel was against India.

The video showed Mr Hagel as saying that India had financed anti-state elements in Pakistan and was using Afghanistan to cause trouble in the border areas.

But even this video failed to persuade the Democrats, who control the Senate, to vote against Mr Hagel. They voted twice, first to clear a procedural hitch, to confirm him as the new secretary of defence.

But the video did cause angry reactions in New Delhi and forced US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake to assuage India’s concerns.

President Obama called Mr Hagel, a decorated Vietnam veteran, a patriot who “fought and bled for our country”.

Mr Obama said he would count on Mr Hagel’s “counsel and judgment” as the United States was ending combat operations in Afghanistan and staying “ready to meet the threats of our time”.

But the new defence secretary’s conservative critics, upset with his endorsement of President Obama’s views on limiting US military involvements, continued to rebuke him.

“He is obviously not qualified for the job and holds dangerously misguided views on some of the most important issues facing national security policy for our country,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

“I do not believe that Chuck Hagel, who is a friend of mine, is qualified to be secretary of defence,” said Senator John McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate.

“Mr Hagel’s view concedes the limits of American power. For many hawks, that means conceding American decline,” wrote Peter Beinart of the Daily Best while explaining why conservatives opposed the new secretary.

Mr Hagel’s criticism of the Iraq war, harsh anti-terrorism laws, and his past positions on Iran had also raised red flags with his opponents.