Hagel for Defense Secretary?

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/24/hagel_for_defense_secretary.html

Hagel for Defense Secretary?


Former Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-NE) endorsement this week of Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania could be a reminder to the White House about his very loose ties to the Republican party as they look for a replacement for Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Chris Cillizza: "Hagel has made no secret of his interest in serving in the Obama Administration... Hagel is rightly understood as trying out for a Cabinet job and the more he can show a willingness to put party aside to do what he believes is the right thing, the more attractive he will be to President Obama and his inner circle."

Ben Smith: "Hagel would provide some of the same political cover as Gates, shielding Obama if Petraeus or the generals complain about a lack of White House commitment to Afghanistan or other defense issues. And he has other assets. Being one of the Senate club might ensure an easy confirmation. He's also ideologically in sync with Obama, to a degree at least: He opposed the war in Iraq, has spoken of the need to leave Afghanistan, and -- though this is hazier territory -- has infuriated supporters of Israel for a refusal to sign on to the many statements of support on the Hill for the Jewish State, and by suggesting the more dispassionate approach to that conflict that -- on some days -- Obama seems to prefer."

[zipplewrath]

1. Because there are no progressives available?

We're just feeding the misperception that democrats are "soft on defense" by continually appointing republicans under democratic presidents. Clinton did this, and now we're suppose to do 2 in a row under Obama? The way you get "qualified" democrats for future administrations is by appointing them to the various deputy and "under Secretary" positions. You pick republicans for cabinets, you young republicans in those positions.

[babylonsister]

2. Do you have any suggestions, and preferably someone with

a decent background such as Hagel's?

[zipplewrath]

3. Clark?

I'm less concerned about who the person is, as who he puts on his staff. And really, I'd rather have someone who didn't already have skin in this game like Hagel does. I'd say Richardson, but I'm not sure that he has his legal problems worked out.

[karynnj]

10. Richardson does not have Hagel's military experience

As to people that Hagel might bring in, you might consider that he currently is with a Kerry aligned foreign policy think tank headed by Gary Hart. Hagel, Biden and Kerry were the three people who on a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan came up with the idea that became Kerry/Lugar/Biden.

He also is involved with the Atlantic Council. Here is a link to where he and Kerry released a paper on Pakistan - http://www.acus.org/event_blog/john-kerry-and-chuck-hagel-unveil-atlantic-councils-pakistan-report

On Wednesday, February 25, Senator John Kerry and former Senator and Atlantic Council Chairman Chuck Hagel unveiled Needed: A Comprehensive U.S. Policy Towards Pakistan, the report of the Atlantic Council's Pakistan Task Force, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room. Kerry and Hagel both served as co-chairs of the Task Force. Media coverage of the report and its presentation to Congress is compiled below.

The link lets you download the report.

Pakistan is the key to Obama's Afghanistan plan - especially as the McChrystal/Gates/Clinton surge really did not work.

[zipplewrath]

17. He'll start with his own staff

Do you doubt that? He's got a long list of staff an former staff that will be first in line. They'll be the ones helping him develop a list of candidates for various positions. Who do you think will be at the heads of their lists?

[BootinUp]

8. I would like to See Clark in there

but I won't hold my breath. I don't know enough about Hagel to really offer much of an opinion. I think this is a tough job and needs someone highly competent.

[karynnj]

11. Hagel and Lugar were by far the best Republicans in the SFRC

and Hagel, a Vietnam vet, was also on the Armed Services Committee.

(Not as much military experience as Clark, but as much as most defense secretaries have had.)

[BootinUp]

12. Fine, what about raw intelligence?

Clark is a Rhodes Scholar.

[karynnj]

19. I have no intention of comparing Clark and Hagel

I am simply arguing that Hagel is not a bad choice. From watching his comments on the SFRC, he is very intelligent. Clearly Clrk is a very intelligent, capable man, but that does not mean that he is the only one who is.

[Inuca]

21. Hagel was not in the Armed Services committee

he was in the intelligence one.

[Radical Activist]

13. Pete Seeger.

Unrealistic I know, but it would be awesome. :)

[BootinUp]

24. Who?

Is this a joke?

[Radical Activist]

25. One of the country's most famous peace advocates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_seeger

[Phx_Dem]

26. Progressives and defense don't mix.

[Overseas]

4. NO NO NO. Republicans destroyed our national security!

They broke the Geneva Conventions and trashed the Nuremberg principles and promoted rampant war profiteering.

NO NO NO NO -- please don't keep pretending Republicans are strong on defense. Stop feeding that ridiculous propaganda.

More Democrats have served in the military http://www.awolbush.com/whoserved.html too, so we don't as casually promote war.

[Dinger]

5. Obama Must Still Have A Bug Up His Ass About Wesley Clark

WHose credentials are quite a bit stronger than hagel's, not to mention that Clark is a DEMOCRAT! WTF? Does Obama have a problem with Dems??:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[IndianaGreen]

16. Wes Clark headed the torture school at Ft. Benning known as SOA/WHINSEC

and Clark's cavorting with known Serbian war criminals is another problem area for him.

Join us in Georgia from November 19-21 to remember the victims and to celebrate the resistance!

Thirty years have passed since Maryknoll missioners Maura Clark, Jean Donovan, Ita Ford, and Dorothy Kazel were brutally killed by graduates of the SOA in El Salvador. They are four among thousands of victims and survivors of the ongoing SOA / WHINSEC violence. In 2009, SOA graduates overthrew the democratically elected government of Honduras and unleased brutal repression against the pro-democracy resistance. This year saw the release of a human rights report that links SOA graduates to extrajudicial killings in Colombia. The SOA / WHINSEC has remained open throughout too many years of terror and violence in Latin America, and no formal investigation of the school has ever taken place. Enough is enough! Shut it down!

From November 19-21, 2010, thousands will gather at the gates of Fort Benning to stand up for justice, to shut down the School of the Americas and to end the oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the school represents. We invite you to join us this November as we remember, in solemnity, the victims, and as we grow stronger than ever before in our resistance.

http://www.soaw.org/

[Dinger]

6. Boo Hiss On chuck hagel (nt)

[eleny]

7. I don't like his overall stand on policies

Therefore, I wouldn't want him to influence the president to have those policies reflected in the military.

How Hagel voted or stood on various issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/chuck_hagel.htm

[TheKentuckian]

9. No dice. Stop supporting Republicans and the DLC for high level positions

[Uzybone]

14. More rumor mill chit chat

[IndianaGreen]

15. NO!

Put a Democrat in charge of the Pentagon, and purge all of Bush's moles and hanger ons.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. He's a Republican and a bigot

Take a look at the world around you, that is what Republicans in charge of our defense do to the world. On the other hand, he agrees with Obama in his opposition to equal civil rights. Big winner.

[Inuca]

22. He is indeed a republican

He is NOT a bigot.

[jeanpalmer]

20. Hard to believe he would ever be chosen

The MIC would never allow it, if he really is against the wars. No one who is opposed to the wars or empire will ever be selected.

[Warren Stupidity]

23. Kucinich. nt

[Phx_Dem]

27. Works for me. I like Hagel.

And I don't care if he is a Republican -- as long as he's not replacing a Dem in the House of Senate.