Washington Post outraged with Hagel claiming he might push Obama well to the left on foreign policy

[Douglas Carpenter]

WaPo Editorial: Chuck Hagel is not the right choice for defense secretary
By Editorial Board, Published: December 18

FORMER SENATOR Chuck Hagel, whom President Obama is reportedly considering for defense secretary, is a Republican who would offer a veneer of bipartisanship to the national security team. He would not, however, move it toward the center, which is the usual role of such opposite-party nominees. On the contrary: Mr. Hagel’s stated positions on critical issues, ranging from defense spending to Iran, fall well to the left of those pursued by Mr. Obama during his first term — and place him near the fringe of the Senate that would be asked to confirm him.

The current secretary, Leon Panetta, has said the defense “sequester” cuts that Congress mandated to take effect Jan. 1 would have dire consequences for U.S. security. Mr. Hagel took a very different position when asked about Mr. Panetta’s comment during a September 2011 interview with the Financial Times. “The Defense Department, I think in many ways, has been bloated,” he responded. “So I think the Pentagon needs to be pared down.”

While both Republicans and Democrats accept that further cuts in defense may be inevitable, few have suggested that a reduction on the scale of the sequester is responsible. In congressional testimony delivered around the same time as Mr. Hagel’s interview, members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the sequester would lead to “a severe and irreversible impact on the Navy’s future,” “a Marine Corps that’s below the end strength to support even one major contingency” and “an unacceptable level of strategic and operational risk” for the Army.

Mr. Hagel was similarly isolated in his views about Iran during his time in the Senate. He repeatedly voted against sanctions, opposing even those aimed at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which at the time was orchestrating devastating bomb attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq. Mr. Hagel argued that direct negotiations, rather than sanctions, were the best means to alter Iran’s behavior. The Obama administration offered diplomacy but has turned to tough sanctions as the only way to compel Iran to negotiate seriously.

-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chuck-hagel-is-not-right-for-defense-secretary/2012/12/18/07e03e20-493c-11e2-ad54-580638ede391_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines


Thanks to DonViejo for posting this in the Politics 2012 forum

[Faygo Kid]

1. Their neocon mouthpiece Rubin is foaming at the mouth

Nothing new for her, or Fred Hiatt at the Post, the single biggest cheerleader for the War in Iraq - which buried every mass protest at the bottom of page 10, no matter how large. The Post has blood on its hands.

It wants more.

[TwilightGardener]

2. That editorial is asinine. They are manufacturing shit.

Hagel has some interesting enemies.

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. a truly excellent comment from the comment section of the Washington Post

Last edited Sat Dec 22, 2012, 02:02 AM - Edit history (1)

malleusmaleficarum wrote:
9:28 AM UTC+1000

Chuck Hagel should be the next Secretary of Defense. Sad to say, but this editorial is deeply jingoistic, Islamophobic and fundamentally foolish. The hitherto distinction between the Washington Post and the Washinton Times is vanishing

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chuck-hagel-is-not-right-for-defense-secretary/2012/12/18/07e03e20-493c-11e2-ad54-580638ede391_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

[tledford]

4. If all this is true, Hagel is looking better and better! eom

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. I wish people would think critically about what Hagel's influence might mean for the direction

of U.S. national security policy. Those who oppose him the strongest are those who do not want a restrained and long term foreign -policy strategy - especially those who do not want a more balanced approach to the Middle East that is based more on America's national interest than short term domestic politicking.

It is the simple reality that a movement conservative Republican has more license than a liberal Democrat to show boldness in restraining militarism and boldness in influencing America toward a more balanced policy in the Middle East

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. I think this is a very important article

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. one more knr

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. Hagel is sounding better every day. Obama's foreign policy is too far to the right.

[Douglas Carpenter]

9. for those who have not heard this first