Present-Hagel Disavows Past-Hagel: Is he Politicking or Unprincipled?
Much was supposedly riding on Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision about whether to support Obama’s nomination for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel. Schumer is a big supporter of Israel and a shameless foreign policy hawk, and Hagel’s past positions – like, being willing to criticize Israel and advocating diplomacy over belligerence on Iran – deeply troubled him.
So the two Chucks decided to meet, so that both could be reassured of the other’s political good faith. How it apparently turned out is that Hagel flipped and flopped like a fish out of water. The Los Angeles Times explains:
According to Schumer, Hagel promised to make planning military options against Iran his “top priority,” if confirmed, disavowed a past call to open negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and said further unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran may be necessary — positions that are seemingly at odds with stances the former Nebraska lawmaker has previously taken.
Hagel also told Schumer he regretted once using the term “Jewish lobby” to refer to Israel supporters in Washington and promised to work for “on-time delivery” of F-35 fighters and other military equipment to Israel, the statement said.
…”I know some will question whether Senator Hagel’s assurances are merely attempts to quiet critics as he seeks confirmation to this critical post. But I don’t think so. Senator Hagel realizes the situation in the Middle East has changed, with Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago. His views are genuine, and reflect this new reality,” Schumer said.
I wrote last week that it was unlikely Hagel immediately abandoned his political views once Obama nominated him. But this explicit disavowal of almost every one of his positions is just foul. Either Hagel is willing to verbally placate nearly anyone for his own political career, or he is actually shifting his views for the sake of his political career. I’m not sure which is worse.
rosemerry
January 15th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
"Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago" What?
I agree with John Glaser's conclusion. Hagel now sounds like everyone's darling Senator Elizabeth in her slavish pre-election submission to AIPAC.
Every single Senator, every job to be approved, must conform to the POLITICAL policy of the most extreme Israeli party in office. Look at Kerry, Lew; the only spark of using evidence to allow fair decision-making for the USA was Hagel, we thought.
Curious
January 15th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Joe Klein seems hopeful: http://swampland.time.com/2013/01/15/bill-kristol…
If I were an Iranian citizen I would read the writing on the wall and flee.
Tricky Dick
January 15th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Hagel recommended Biden for VP in 2008. He endorsed Kerrey for Senate in 2012. This nomination is his reward for being a good ole boy and Obama puppet. Hagel is a flip-flopping career politician. We will be at war with Iran by May under war-monger Hagel's watch.
Stevo
January 15th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Let's hope that this is just Hagel realizing that these Israel-Loyalists do not have the US's best interests in mind and is only doing what is necessary to get himself into a position where he can enact some change and protect the US from their hijacking of our government … otherwise, this is just pathetic.
thelittlegym
January 16th, 2013 at 12:29 am
Hagel’s past positions – like, being willing to criticize Israel and advocating diplomacy over belligerence on Iran – deeply troubled him.
abe
January 16th, 2013 at 2:46 am
Please, Hagel is a Man among children…He will spit in the face of Bibi as sure as the sun will rise!
He is doing what every pol does; Lies and lies but this time he is lying to the real world filth shylocks, warmongers. Can you imagine the rage he feels about now for the TRIBE? Oh Nelly! Happy days can be here again.
goldhoarder
January 16th, 2013 at 3:33 am
Is anyone surprised? Hello. He is going to work for a man who has kill lists and blows human beings up with remote cotrolled planes.
blutopie
January 16th, 2013 at 6:10 am
The ONLY thing that matters is that Hagel stops Netanyahu and the Israel Lobby from an attack on Iran – THAT'S IT. It's a 'single issue'
If an Iran attack is stopped, Israeli Apartheid is doomed and then the Israeli Lobby is doomed
Let's keep our eye on the PRIZE – it's Iran. The rest are dominoes
It's formulaic;.
Hagel 'ON' = Iran 'OFF' = Israeli Apartheid 'OFF'= Israeli Lobby 'OFF'
(The Israeli Lobby 'OFF' = the 2nd American Revolution)
Sorry for the lack of 'nuance' :)
Has Hagel ‘Sold Out’? Nope « Antiwar.com Blog
January 16th, 2013 at 7:15 am
[...] see my colleague John Glaser has taken to the hustings to once again express his skepticism of All Things Hagel. He’s convinced that our boy Chuck has “flipped and flopped like a fish out of [...]
Has Hagel ‘Sold Out’? Nope - Unofficial Network
January 16th, 2013 at 8:05 am
[...] see my colleague John Glaser has taken to the hustings to once again express his skepticism of All Things Hagel. He’s convinced that our boy Chuck has “flipped and flopped like a fish out of [...]
@charleycaruso
January 16th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Hagel? Never hard of the bum until two weeks ago.
He's just another hack, who'll kowtow even to Wailing Wall Schumer.
liveload
January 16th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
So one astroturfing "paleocon" is enough to grind the entire Globalist War Machine's strategic roadmap to a halt? Got it. I'll begin holding my breath now…
blutopie
January 16th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
I know – watch it happen. It's not about Hagel it's about stopping a war on Iran.
Iran is the key – Israel is co-mingled with the power of the Israel Lobby/neocons
Imagine 4 yrs from now with no war on Iran (because of Obama/Hagel) – what will people think or care about any neocon plan at that point? the answer is they will think nothing of the neocons at that point. We won't be having a neocon president (like Romney or McCain) at that point either.
Imagine 4 yrs from now what Israeli Apartheid is going to look like – there will be whole world sanctions on Israel (except from the US gov) including individual boycotts from tons of Americans
Watch Schumer or Kristol or Graham demand the US to kowtow to Israel under those circumstances
abe gold
January 16th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
O.K Maybe he is just one man; but he is better that assclown John Bolton or "HOLY" Joe Lieberman!!!!!!!
Bill Jones
January 16th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
“Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago”
If only it were true.
@laloigl
January 17th, 2013 at 6:01 am
Cool so the only pro-Hagel comment is anti-Semitic. Makes sense.
Joe Zrnchik
January 17th, 2013 at 10:47 am
If you did not hear about Hagel, then you were not watching the Iraq War very closely. MORON.
Joe Zrnchik
January 17th, 2013 at 10:48 am
If you did not hear about Hagel, then you were not watching the Iraq War very closely. MORON.
Examination Pins
January 17th, 2013 at 10:57 am
this guy wants war with Ir n, oh my goodness…
Anoldmarine
January 18th, 2013 at 5:10 am
Heh,heh …Israel more “endangered” than ever …. please come back to earth. They have more nukes than China and France combined and their chem.bio weapons stockpiles give everybody the heebie-jeebies. Hagel is a Rothschildist agent, just as Shumer …… the Great OZ has spoken (Shumer) Hagel is in……but don’t think for a NY minute he’s good … or an “Americanist” …… he’s nothing of the kind. This little drama has been one gigantic Punch n’ Judy show for our overlords’ amusement and to con Ma & Pa Kettle, back in Kansas, that the country has not taken an October revolution path.
rent a car beograd
January 18th, 2013 at 6:13 am
They are all the same to me. Other faces, same politics.
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