Latest Breaking News

Coyotl

(15,262 posts) Mon Jan 7, 2013, 12:36 AM Jan 2013

Critics slam Chuck Hagel's likely nomination as Defense secretary [View all]

Source: latimes.com By Matea Gold, Washington Bureau

With former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination as Defense secretary imminent, conservatives denounced his views on Israel and Iran as out of step with mainstream foreign policy, underscoring the difficulty he is likely to face winning Senate confirmation.

An administration official said Sunday that Hagel — a decorated Vietnam veteran, a Republican and a former two-term senator from Nebraska — would be nominated Monday to succeed Leon E. Panetta. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House planning.

The nomination is likely to set up a bruising confirmation fight. Critics on all sides already have been complaining about Hagel, with Republicans leading the charge.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) predicted that Hagel would be "the most antagonistic secretary of Defense toward the state of Israel in our nation's history" and called it an "in-your-face nomination."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hagel-20130107,0,2775614.story

Israel needs to both shape up as a world citizen and stay out of US politics.

32 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Critics slam Chuck Hagel's likely nomination as Defense secretary [View all] Coyotl Jan 2013 OP

What Democratic critics have there been, really? This is all an attempt TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #1

I am. Pab Sungenis Jan 2013 #29

A threat to the The Wizard Jan 2013 #2

"A slap in the face to Bibi Netanyahu!" Larrymoe Curlyshemp Jan 2013 #3

Bibi deserves a Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #28

The only critics are repukes still_one Jan 2013 #4

Not enough Democrats support this nomination KeepinItReal4u Jan 2013 #5

'yet'. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #6

Oh, there will be. Senate Dems aren't going to weaken our President TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #7

Senators all face re-election at some point unless they retire or are kicked out. amandabeech Jan 2013 #8

I seriously doubt that they will hear from Dem constituents on this. TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #15

I think that there are a few who will hear from a select group of Dem constituents, amandabeech Jan 2013 #17

If you are referring to Jews, on Israel, the majority of US Jews agree with J Street karynnj Jan 2013 #21

I was thinking about Jewish Americans who might be concerned about Israel. amandabeech Jan 2013 #24

Thank you karynnj Jan 2013 #25

Republicans = Nattering Nabobs of NegaTEAvity Berlum Jan 2013 #9

I still think a Democrat will be a better pick leftynyc Jan 2013 #10

There's a good article on this by Glenn Greenwald muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #11

I'm not a fan of Greenwald leftynyc Jan 2013 #12

But Greenwald points out this is more about the withdrawal from Afghanistan muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #14

NOw he's looking for a fancy job leftynyc Jan 2013 #16

But you have quoted nothing about his reducing the defense budget. grantcart Jan 2013 #18

BFD leftynyc Jan 2013 #19

There isn't one Democrat who could get as many votes in the Senate and the House to get something grantcart Jan 2013 #22

Trivialities? leftynyc Jan 2013 #23

leftynyc JustAnotherGen Jan 2013 #27

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #30

When it comes to the Defense Department the Secretary of Defense has only one grantcart Jan 2013 #31

Thanks grantcart JustAnotherGen Jan 2013 #26

For some people, cabinet positions are mostly an opportunity to showcase and TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #20

I think Graham is doing Hagel and the admin a favor.. naaman fletcher Jan 2013 #13

Clever point grantcart Jan 2013 #32