Chuck Hagel draws fire for his position on Israel

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — The prospect of former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., taking over as the next secretary of defense sparked swift, negative reaction among some conservatives worried about his approach to Israel.

As reports circulate that a Hagel appointment could come as early as this week, the Republican Jewish Coalition issued a statement denouncing the pick as a “slap in the face.”

“Chuck Hagel's statements and actions regarding Israel have raised serious concerns for many Americans who care about Israel,” said Matt Brooks, the coalition's executive director. “The Jewish community and every American who supports a strong U.S.-Israel relationship have cause for alarm if the president taps Hagel for such an important post.”

Obama himself has been criticized over the years by those who see him as insufficiently supportive of Israel. He could stoke those fires more by appointing Hagel, who has declined World-Herald interview requests.

FULL story at link.




Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121218/NEWS/712189948/1685#chuck-hagel-draws-fire-for-his-position-on-israel

[oberliner]

1. Why choose a Republican for Sec of Def?

Is there not a qualified Democrat who could do the job?

[still_one]

3. That is a different question, and actually very good. One point in his favor, hagel was against the

Iraq war from the start

[Recursion]

7. Hagel also worked with Obama on nuclear nonproliferation

They seemed to work well together, and Hagel is definitely on the right side of that issue.

[karynnj]

11. He was one of the first Republicans to question it, but he voted for it and

against Kerry/Feingold which would have established an end to it. It is true that both Lugar and Hagel questioned the conduct of the war before the 2004 election and Kerry often quoted from them to show his reservations were not just partisan.

One interesting coincidence. It was Kerry, Biden and Hagel whose plane had to make an emergency landing in Afghanistan due to snow in 2007. While there, they apparently came up with the gist of what became Kerry/Lugar/Berman. The idea was that aid to help the lives of the people might be something transformational long term for Pakistan/Afghanistan. At this point, it is not clear it worked, but it is always hard to see what impact something had. At least it is a better idea than working to put our strong man in.

[Recursion]

5. It's become something of a tradition

Clinton started it IIRC

[oberliner]

16. No it hasn't

During President Clinton's tenure, he had three Secretaries of Defense, two Democrats and one Republican.

President Obama has nominated one, a Democrat.

Traditionally the Secretary of Defense comes from the same party as the President.

[iandhr]

6. Hagel also accompanied then Senator Obama on his overseas trip when he was a candidate.

[question everything]

32. Bill Clinton had William Cohen, a Republican, as his

secretary of defense and, I think, was good at his job.

[oberliner]

38. Has any Republican ever chosen a Democrat to be Sec of Def?

Pretty sure they haven't.

Also pretty sure we can find a qualified person within our party.

[Heywood J]

40. Answer appears to be no.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Defense#List_of_Secretaries_of_Defense

[Ash_F]

47. Known Dems are so far right, they have to get an R for some centrism

It's great that Hagel was against the Iraq war and for non-proliferation. Seriously more power to him. But there are plenty of Dems in this country who feel the same.

The problem is, there not that many high profile ones.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

49. You write

You write: It's great that Hagel was against the Iraq war and for non-proliferation.

I agree.

[still_one]

2. Why would I have any credence in "republican Jewish coalition". They do not represent the majority

of American Jews. Over 70% of American Jews supported President Obama

This group are just a bunch of right wingers

[karynnj]

13. Not to mention, they are completely out of touch with the entire

younger generation of Jews, who are often frustrated with even J Street's positions, much less AIPAC or the RJC. This is especially true with those most involved who are personally distraught that Israel's positions are far from the Jewish values they love. (From observations of my kids and the Jewish friends they have.)

[starroute]

20. They're heavily funded by Sheldon Adelson and his buddies, anyway

They were never a grassroots group, but were always the doing of a few high-profile Jewish Republicans -- but lately they seem to be totally an outlet for Adelson and a few other right-wing plutocrats. No credibility whatsoever.

[Eric the Reddish]

29. AIPAC 2.0

Fuck 'em!

[fightthegoodfightnow]

50. Agree Completely

Kind of like Log Cabin Republicans.

[Enrique]

4. Politico story tells what their real problem with Hagel is

it isn't his positions, it's his frankness about them.

Advocates for Israel have a variety of policy disagreements with Hagel, but one of their biggest concerns may be his frank and unflattering public assessments of their work and role in Washington.

“The political reality is … that the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here,” Hagel told former Mideast peace negotiator Aaron David Miller in a 2006 interview. “I have always argued against some of the dumb things they do because I don’t think it’s in the interest of Israel. I just don’t think it’s smart for Israel.”

Hagel also said he didn’t think he had ever signed one of the letters the American Israel Public Affairs Committee regularly circulates to demonstrate support for Israel or tough stands against its enemies such as Iran. “I didn’t sign the letter because it was a stupid letter,” he said in the interview with Miller, referring to one such missive.

Hagel has also been blunt in dismissing those who think he’s not sufficiently supportive of Israel.

“I’m not an Israeli senator. I’m a United States senator,” the Nebraska Republican told Miller for his book “The Much Too Promised Land,” released in 2008.

“I support Israel, but my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States, not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel. If I go run for Senate in Israel, I’ll do that,” the senator said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/chuck-hagels-record-on-israel-draws-scrutiny-85123.html#ixzz2FPuEscV1

[Eric the Reddish]

30. “I’m not an Israeli senator. I’m a United States senator,”

Amen!!!

[JRLeft]

48. Thank You!

[cyclezealot]

8. Conservatives don't like one of their own.

That means Hagel is 'fair and balanced.' Something sorely needed in the Middle East, if the US is to be an even broker.

[JoeDuck]

9. Yes, senators represent U.S., not Israel

I've seen postings on Facebook politely referring to the Israeli president as "Mr. President" from people who call our own President Obama very derogatory names. There are Democrats who could serve well on the cabinet, but if Hagel is appointed and confirmed, then that reflects Obama's choice. Whoever is nominated, I totally agree with the statement in one of the threads that the senators are elected to serve the U.S., and not to be representatives for Israel. I don't care if some Americans want to believe that Israel is "God's chosen people," in my mind Israel is the major impediment to peace in the Middle East. Or, if not peace, then perhaps a coexistence that doesn't involve guns and missiles on a regular basis. If there is a God and if he has indeed chosen Israel as his favorite, he doesn't need the help of the U.S.

[cyclezealot]

15. Too many senators represent the interests of their campaign donors.

And you can count on lots of AIPAC money directed to them with the blessings of Tel Aviv.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Israel doesn't choose our cabinet. Neither does England or

France or Sweden.

[rosesaylavee]

12. The article really didn't say what Hagel has said

that was anti-Israel or maybe I am missing something? Was it that he didn't think a preemptive strike against Iran was a good idea? I don't think that's ever a good idea.

[geek tragedy]

17. He believes the US government's job is to protect American interests, not Israeli interests.

That runs afoul of the AIPAC crowd.

[PatrynXX]

14. Being Jewish and being Israeli two different things

Israel is controlled by a fairly extremely conservative group. Would kinda figure a Conservative group in the USA would support the one in Israel. But the fun thing is . He's a Republican. ahem hey now Cenk used to be one. So Chuck's just fine. He's one of the sane ones. I'd trust him long before someone who isn't.

[oberliner]

18. Criticism is coming from a Republican group - LW Jewish groups support the choice

J Streets Supports Sen. Hagel, Rebuts Charges Against Him

http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-streets-supports-sen-hagel-rebuts-charges-against-him_1

[harmonicon]

19. Moral of the story: even Republicans are too liberal when it comes to Obama.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO HE NOMINATES FOR ANYTHING. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PROPOSALS HE MAKES.

In every case, the right will be against it, because it's Obama. Why can't more people just fucking admit that?

[Diyames]

21. I'm guessing

repubs and AIPAC wont be happy until Avi Lieberman is given asylum here and appointed to the job of Sec. of State.

[julian09]

23. Ithink we need a muslum republican sos.

[JackRiddler]

22. Kabuki to create impression he's somehow a daring choice.

All that matters is that Hagel will perform the job of the Pentagon CEO. He will lobby for maximum (realistic) MIC profits, stir up bullshit about supposed threats, and prepare the next six or seven little wars the Empire will be forced to start. Just like any other Secretary of War. And we saw during the latest Gaza atrocity the limits of frankness about Israel. Obama called the Israeli attack counterproductive and the next batch of military aid to Israel went into the defense bill, as always. Hagel won't be any impediment to that. This is a sop for choosing Another Republican.

[TwilightGardener]

24. You don't know him very well, then.

[JackRiddler]

25. Question. How did you like Gates or Panetta or Cohen?

[TwilightGardener]

26. I liked Gates. Don't remember much about Cohen.

Panetta--meh.

[JackRiddler]

27. Okay, maybe you don't know them very well.

Gates? Seriously? Gates of Iran-Contra? Gates of the bogus Baker commission that recommended a drawdown in Iraq? Gates who then succeeded Rumsfeld and initiated the mass-murdering "surge" but "won the war" by increasing the pay-offs to the insurgents?

As I said, no one will be selected for this office who won't serve the MIC and the neocon fantasy of what constitutes a threat (which they will do even if they don't support every neocon plan for new wars). Let me know when Obama has someone in mind ready to end the bogus and reckless war-coming-soon propaganda on Iran. Someone who will be willing to draw down the empire and stop devoting of 50% of discretionary spending to useless and murderous pursuits.

[TwilightGardener]

28. Yes, I know Gates's history. But under Obama he

led the drawdown in Iraq, and also wanted less reliance on defense contracting. He was also a strong advocate for the troops. Hagel isn't going to topple the MIC. But he will oversee the drawdown in Afghanistan, he will oversee defense cuts, and he will support the troops. Read more about him before you judge. ESPECIALLY Hagel's views on Iran.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

34. You're probably right. Now, nothing would surprise me any more.

[Nictuku]

31. Anyone remember Sibel Edmonds?

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/found-in-translation/

I kept thinking that it was Hagel involved in that storyline, but it was Hastert. I guess I should be relieved.

[question everything]

33. Republican Jews do not represent American Jews

As we've seen in the recent elections, with all the "warning" that American Jews will defect the Democratic party. They did not. So why pay attention to huffing and puffing of the few?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/17/was-hagel-the-buzz-at-the-white-house-chanukah-party.html

To read the press, you might think the organized American Jewish community is in full revolt against Sen. Chuck Hagel's likely nomination to head the Defense Department? Not true. Sure, the pro-Israel right has raised objections to Hagel. But, as this fall’s elections reminded us, once again, there’s a vast gulf between Republican-Jewish-leaning groups and the mass of even committed American Jews. And that’s true on the Hagel nomination, too. In fact, there have been virtually no on-the-record statements from liberal Jewish groups or figures opposing Hagel.

[hifiguy]

35. If true, a damned good reason to

support Hagel.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

36. He see right wing jews/Israellis for what they truely are. ZIONISTS!

[oberliner]

37. Obama and Biden are Zionists

As are most Democrats in Congress.

[question everything]

39. And this is terrible, right?

To support the Jews to have their own country, after generations of being persecuted, massacred, evicted, discriminated.

What is so wrong about Zionism, do you care to explain? Do you even understand what this term means?

[FiveGoodMen]

41. What about the folks shoved out of the way for Israel to come in and "have their own country"?

[question everything]

43. And from where did you get this bit of "information?"

May I suggest that you study the topic yourself instead of relying on sound bites and propaganda?

Oh, and the subject of your avatar, Senator Paul Wellstone was a great supporter of Israel. So if you are against Israel, don't you think this is a bit of hypocrisy?

Again, don't take my word. Study the topic. If you can.

[byeya]

44. As far as the etnic clensing of Palestinians from Palestine, you are either misinformed or are

deliberately trying to mislead people. Either way your posts are obnoxious.

[question everything]

46. Takes one to know one, right?

I would suggest you, too, learn the topic but it seems that throwing attack words is easier.

You can put me on your precious ignore list; I've never done this but as far as I am concerned, this discussion is over. You can have your last world if this what makes you feel good.

[and-justice-for-all]

52. Do you honestly not know what that region looked like prior to 1946??

Israel has been illegally annexing land that is not theirs for decades.

[Marrah_G]

53. What about the Palestinians?

Do they have any rights? Or is it okay for them to be persecuted, evicted and discriminated against?

There has to be a solution beyond Israel getting to forcibly take more and more land.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

42. He has my approval. Fuck Israel and their apartheid of Palestine. nt

[olddad56]

45. I like the headline "Draws fire"..

seems that terminology often used with war or guns is creeping into our daily speech.

[and-justice-for-all]

51. Israel has a right to exist...

but their actions are deplorable and vial. Their continued annexation of land that is not theirs should merit a redacting of financial support the US gives them every year, and giving them weapons should also be stopped.

[davidpdx]

54. I think it is ironic that Israel is claiming he is anti-semiotic

and is now running add smearing Hagel's positions as a senator.