Why Hagel ?

QueEx · Jan 7, 2013

Rumors and speculation are abound that Obama will/may nominate Chuck Hagel, the former two-term Republican Senator from Nebraska, as the next Secretary of Defense. There are reports that many republicans and democrats as well oppose Hagel. But, why ???

Those who oppose appear to have these concerns:

Hagel will cut the military budget.

Hagel may allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon

Hagel is reluctant to use military force generally; and

Hagel doesn't much like Israel.

Why is this guy attracting so much attention ???

Kind of hard to see how his critics would question his patriotism. Hagel was awarded 2 Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam.

thoughtone · Jan 7, 2013

Re: Why Hegel ?

Because as President Obama has repeated, "We are not Red States or Blues States, we are the United States." :smh:

QueEx · Jan 9, 2013

Re: Why Hegel ?

“Frankly, I thought that there would come a time when he would renege on what he conveyed on his support of Israel,” said Koch, adding, “it comes a little earlier than I thought it would.”

“It’s very disappointing, I believe he will ultimately regret it,” Koch said, “and it undoubtedly will reduce support for him in the Jewish community, but I don’t think he (the President) worries about that now that the election is over.”

“It’s not good,” he said, “but fortunately, Congress, overwhelmingly both Democratic and Republican supports the Jewish state, so I’m sure they will defend it against the defense department when it ruptures the current good relationship which exists.”

“I’m sure that the Arabs are drinking orange juice and toasting Hagel’s good health,” Koch said.

“I believe it will encourage the Iranian program. I believe it will encourage the jihadists. They will say ‘ah, we are winning the battle. America is beginning to desert Israel,’” he added.

“Hagel is more afraid of the gay community than he is of the Jewish community. Does anybody believe that Hagel regrets what he said about gays? I don’t think so. In fact, did he ever say anything (apologetic) between whenever that incident (when Hagel opposed an ambassadorial appointment on sexual orientation grounds) occurred many years ago until his name was discussed as secretary? Undoubtedly, one of his friends said ‘you better get the gays off your back,’ but they don’t believe it, they don’t believe it at all. If he really believes what he says today, he would have said it a long time ago, not today. With the Jews, he doesn’t, I mean the thing I’m aware of, that most depresses me, is (for Hagel) to say that the letters from Congress (sent to the President) supporting Israel basically were “stupid,”

- Democrat and Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch on Obama and his nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense; comments as made in the algemeiner, January 7, 2013 in Ed Koch on Chuck Hagel Nomination: Obama’s Reneging on His Conveyed Support for Israel Has Come Earlier Than I Thought

Koch explained to The Algemeiner why he decided to back the President’s re-election even though he says he suspected that Obama would backtrack on his pro-Israel overtures: “I did what I thought was warranted and intelligent,” he said, “He was going to win! There was no question about it. I thought it would be helpful to have a Jewish voice there, being able to communicate.” . . . “it wouldn’t make any difference. The Jews were going to vote for him no matter what. And that’s the nature of the Jews. They are always very solicitous of everybody else except their own needs and community.”

thoughtone · Jan 9, 2013

I think this is a good move on one level. Hagel has military cread, so President Obama can have an easier time of cutting the military budget. There are a lot of sacred cows in the death business.

QueEx · Feb 1, 2013

Re: Why Hegel ?

QueEx said:
“Frankly, I thought that there would come a time when he would renege on what he conveyed on his support of Israel,” said Koch, adding, “it comes a little earlier than I thought it would.”

“It’s very disappointing, I believe he will ultimately regret it,” Koch said, “and it undoubtedly will reduce support for him in the Jewish community, but I don’t think he (the President) worries about that now that the election is over.”

“It’s not good,” he said, “but fortunately, Congress, overwhelmingly both Democratic and Republican supports the Jewish state, so I’m sure they will defend it against the defense department when it ruptures the current good relationship which exists.”

“I’m sure that the Arabs are drinking orange juice and toasting Hagel’s good health,” Koch said.

“I believe it will encourage the Iranian program. I believe it will encourage the jihadists. They will say ‘ah, we are winning the battle. America is beginning to desert Israel,’” he added.

“Hagel is more afraid of the gay community than he is of the Jewish community. Does anybody believe that Hagel regrets what he said about gays? I don’t think so. In fact, did he ever say anything (apologetic) between whenever that incident (when Hagel opposed an ambassadorial appointment on sexual orientation grounds) occurred many years ago until his name was discussed as secretary? Undoubtedly, one of his friends said ‘you better get the gays off your back,’ but they don’t believe it, they don’t believe it at all. If he really believes what he says today, he would have said it a long time ago, not today. With the Jews, he doesn’t, I mean the thing I’m aware of, that most depresses me, is (for Hagel) to say that the letters from Congress (sent to the President) supporting Israel basically were “stupid,”

- Democrat and Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch on Obama and his nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense; comments as made in the algemeiner, January 7, 2013 in Ed Koch on Chuck Hagel Nomination: Obama’s Reneging on His Conveyed Support for Israel Has Come Earlier Than I Thought

Koch explained to The Algemeiner why he decided to back the President’s re-election even though he says he suspected that Obama would backtrack on his pro-Israel overtures: “I did what I thought was warranted and intelligent,” he said, “He was going to win! There was no question about it. I thought it would be helpful to have a Jewish voice there, being able to communicate.” . . . “it wouldn’t make any difference. The Jews were going to vote for him no matter what. And that’s the nature of the Jews. They are always very solicitous of everybody else except their own needs and community.”

Ed Koch dead; passes away at 88

Upgrade Dave · Feb 1, 2013

thoughtone said:
I think this is a good move on one level. Hagel has military cread, so President Obama can have an easier time of cutting the military budget. There are a lot of sacred cows in the death business.

That and him not being in love with the idea of throwing troops at every problem make him a good pick. I'm sure there are some who are equally qualified but Hagel has more name value in some circles.

That Koch quote is amazing. And yet they pretend there is no Israel lobby.

muckraker10021 · Feb 1, 2013

Upgrade Dave said:
That Koch quote is amazing. And yet they pretend there is no Israel lobby.

In just the last ten years Israel has received more than $35,000,000,000 ($35 Billion Dollars)

<img src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2012-01-06-Nucleardistribution.jpg" width="600">

As Of June 2012

QueEx · Feb 13, 2013

John McCain might delay Chuck Hagel vote

Rand Paul says he'll block CIA nominee

Roy Blunt says Republicans may delay Chuck Hagel vote

<param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=2162631519001&playerID=1409164951001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETmrZQ~,EVFEM4AKJdRjek0MS21pRzf_GTDAM-xj&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFF" flashVars="videoId=2162631519001&playerID=1409164951001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETmrZQ~,EVFEM4AKJdRjek0MS21pRzf_GTDAM-xj&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>