Hagel to be named Secretary of Defense - BloombergNews

[Paul Kemp]

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https://twitter.com/BloombergNews/status/279299146706477056

Not a bad choice. Voted for the Iraq War and PATRIOT Act, although he later opposed the war and voted to withdraw troops.

Weren't the rumors that if Kerry wasn't named SoS that he'd get SoD? Hmm....

[Joe Republic]

Hmm, this means Panetta will have been the only Democrat in this office in twenty years.

[Blue3]

I wish we had a female Secretary of Defense for once

[CountryRoads]

lol

[Simfan34]

A solid choice. Sen. Hagel would bring in a critical perspective to the Defense Department, and certainly this would burnish the administration's bi-partisan credentials more substantially than having Ray LaHood in the Transportation Department (where I'd say we need a radical, pro-infrastructure liberal, if anything). Hagel has historically taken a sensible approach to foreign and defense policy, and I think with him in the cabinet Obama might be able to get some of those sorely needed cuts passed through the House. Though one can never underestimate the intransigence of the House GOP, unfortunately.

I really do like what Hagel has been saying about cuts and soft power, and engagement with other nations, which really does underscore the interconnected and inseparable nature of foreign and economic policy. He's one of the key members of the Atlantic Council, which I am a very, very strong supporter of, both in theory, and in regards to the fact I've been to a few of their events here in NYC and I really liked what they had to say. I kind of wish he was going to State, for we might see movement on a Transatlantic Free Trade Area, but it's great to see him in the Administration.

[Incipimus iterum]

Hagel will be a Excellent Secretary of Defense

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Great news!

[The Mikado]

I really wish the Democratic Party weren't scared of appointing Democrats to the Defense Secretary post.  It looks like an admission that Democrats aren't qualified, when in fact there are many great alternatives like Wesley Clark...um...I can't think of any at the moment, but I'm sure they exist.

[All Along The Watchtower]

I really wish the Democratic Party weren't scared of appointing Democrats to the Defense Secretary post.  It looks like an admission that Democrats aren't qualified, when in fact there are many great alternatives like Wesley Clark...um...I can't think of any at the moment, but I'm sure they exist.

This.

[Donerail]

"A military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option.”--Chuck Hagel.

Freedom Choice.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

"A military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option.”--Chuck Hagel.

Freedom Choice.

Too bad he didn't say that about Iraq in 2003.

[hawkeye59]

Interestingly, he's Pro-Palestinian, and since Obama's pro-Israel, that could pose a problem if another situation happened in the Gaza.

[Simfan34]

Interestingly, he's Pro-Palestinian, and since Obama's pro-Israel, that could pose a problem if another situation happened in the Gaza.

I don't know where people get this idea from. Hagel has said little about Palestine, and what he has said could hardly be construed as anti-Israeli. It's not as if Hagel is FallenMorgan or anything.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What a terrific choice.

[politicallefty]

A solid choice. Sen. Hagel would bring in a critical perspective to the Defense Department, and certainly this would burnish the administration's bi-partisan credentials more substantially than having Ray LaHood in the Transportation Department (where I'd say we need a radical, pro-infrastructure liberal, if anything). Hagel has historically taken a sensible approach to foreign and defense policy, and I think with him in the cabinet Obama might be able to get some of those sorely needed cuts passed through the House. Though one can never underestimate the intransigence of the House GOP, unfortunately.

I think he's a fine choice as well. To be fair on the bipartisanship issue though, remember that Obama did keep Gates for 2.5 years. I would hope you're right that he can possibly get Republicans to agree to defense cuts.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

"A military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option.”--Chuck Hagel.

Freedom Choice.

Unfortunate.  Still a good choice, though.

[Franzl]

"A military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option.”--Chuck Hagel.

Freedom Choice.

Unfortunate.  Still a good choice, though.

You want someone that desires war with Iran?

[Simfan34]

"A military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option.”--Chuck Hagel.

Freedom Choice.

Unfortunate.  Still a good choice, though.

You want someone that desires war with Iran?

I think he wants someone who's willing to put all options on the table. As anyone should, I would think. I have confidence that Hagel is willing to be pragmatic about the issue, however, and if not Obama's always the commander-in-chief. But let's hope it doesn't come to that in any case.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

You want someone that desires war with Iran?

I don't want someone who says it isn't feasible from the start.

[Frodo]

Interestingly, he's Pro-Palestinian, and since Obama's pro-Israel, that could pose a problem if another situation happened in the Gaza.

Maybe my perspective is skewed by the personal feud between Obama and Netanyahu, but hasn't President Obama been one of the least friendly (or at least most skeptical) American President Israel has ever had to deal with since Dwight Eisenhower?  He doesn't exactly strike me as a Zionist sympathizer.  

[Landslide Lyndon]

Interestingly, he's Pro-Palestinian, and since Obama's pro-Israel, that could pose a problem if another situation happened in the Gaza.

Maybe my perspective is skewed by the personal feud between Obama and Netanyahu, but hasn't President Obama been one of the least friendly (or at least most skeptical) American President Israel has ever had to deal with since Dwight Eisenhower?  He doesn't exactly strike me as a Zionist sympathizer.  

I'm sure that if Netanyahu didn't act like a spoiled brat during the last four years then Obama's stance would have been indistinguishable from that of his predecessors.

[Simfan34]

Interestingly, he's Pro-Palestinian, and since Obama's pro-Israel, that could pose a problem if another situation happened in the Gaza.

Maybe my perspective is skewed by the personal feud between Obama and Netanyahu, but hasn't President Obama been one of the least friendly (or at least most skeptical) American President Israel has ever had to deal with since Dwight Eisenhower?  He doesn't exactly strike me as a Zionist sympathizer.  

I distinctly recall Ehud Barak going on Fareed Zakaria's show not too long ago and saying that Obama was one of the most pro-Israel presidents in recent history, and I've seen nothing to truly contradict that. The idea that Obama is in some way an anti-Israeli leader is nothing more than a right-wing talking point, which like most of them these days, unfortunately, is untrue.

[Boris]

Chuck Hagel and John Kerry, huh? It's comeback city for big names in 2004!

[Mr. Morden]

Weigel notes that Hagel, as judged by his public statements after he left the Senate, is actually to the left of Panetta on at least two big issues:

link

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[Chancellor Tanterterg]

So Hagel was also involved in the Benghazi coverup  The plot thickens...