I can’t stop thinking about the roughing up Chuck Hagel received when he testified this past week before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senators, led by Hagel’s fellow Republican John McCain, kept harping on statements the former Nebraska senator made about Israel, Iran, gays in the military and God knows what else. Hagel found himself rethinking many of those statements, expressing regret over poor word choices.

But here’s what galls me today: Why didn’t anyone ask Hagel about what he intends to do for today’s returning veterans? The hearing was long on gotcha and quite short on specifics related to the here and now.

Hagel will confront spending issues within the Defense Department. Among those expenses will be whether the Pentagon will be able to treat returning warriors suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, which is leading to a shocking level of suicides among these brave Americans. How will he deal with that?

He also faces issues relating to across-the-board cuts in defense spending. What are his plans for those upcoming cuts, which every responsible politician ought to know are needed. No, this man won’t disarm the United States unilaterally, as some of his chicken hawk critics have implied he would do.

I keep waiting for someone to explain why senators spent so much time grilling this decorated Vietnam War veteran on things he said years ago and spent so little time quizzing him on how he intends to deal with today’s defense issues.

I still believe Hagel is highly qualified to lead the Pentagon. As the first defense boss who comes from the enlisted ranks – he saw combat in ‘Nam as an Army infantry sergeant – Hagel has a special perspective on the consequences of sending young Americans into battle. His two Senate terms also count for plenty, as does his business acumen.

I am hoping he gets confirmed and serves his country once again with honor. I just wish senators who questioned him would have given him more of a chance to offer his vision for the future instead of harping on the past.