There have been conflicting reports today on whether Chuck Hagel is still a serious contender for the defense secretary nomination. But this story comes from Josh Rogin, who has led the pack on the Chuck Hagel reporting ever since he broke the news that the former senator was being vetted for the position. And according to Rogin, the White House is preparing to go ahead with the nomination:
White House officials and sources close to Hagel declined to confirm to The Cable that Hagel is the president’s choice to be the replace Leon Panetta at the helm of the Pentagon, but several sources close to the process said have told The Cable that the White House and Hagel have been in touch on a regular basis and that Hagel is indeed the expected pick. Decisions about the timing and logistics of the announcement are being finalized now.
The Cable had previously confirmed that Hagel successfully complete the vetting process, as have Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy.
Based on Bill Kristol’s editorial this morning, it sounds like his sources are saying something similar:
It looks, though, as if President Obama may be determined to nominate Chuck Hagel. If he does, he will be doing himself and the nation a disservice. The next secretary of defense should be a well-respected mainstream national security leader, not an out-of-the-mainstream mediocrity. So if the president nominates Chuck Hagel, we would expect a vigorous examination of the Hagel record by senators of both parties, followed by the United States Senate withholding its consent to his selection as secretary of defense. This would give the president another chance to select a man or woman of distinction for this high office, one who would command widespread support and would be confirmed easily. And this would be a better outcome for our military, the Defense Department, and the nation.
Nothing is certain until Obama makes the announcement. If he does nominate Hagel, it was an odd political strategy to let him get his nose bloodied by the media and critics for nearly a month without stepping in and defending him. Maybe the White House figured the opposition would use up its best arguments and tire out after a few weeks. But based on some of the new and damaging stories coming out about Hagel, I’m not sure that was a wise bet. If anything, the Hagel opposition has solidified, and he’s in for a serious fight in the Senate if he’s the pick. He’d be facing off against Senate Armed Services Committee members who fundamentally disagree with him on foreign policy, including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte. Democrats on the committee have also expressed concerns.
One thing is certain. If Obama is willing to put up with all of that for a nominee, he must be really invested in this guy. And considering Hagel’s views–which are ostensibly out-of-step with Obama’s–that raises serious doubts about whether the president’s true positions on Iran, Israel and national defense are the same as the ones he’s claimed publicly.
I find it hard to believe that Obama's really going to nominate this guy but then again he doesn't need to get reelected so what does he care? If he does nominate Hagel, he is in for a major fight. I wonder how all my Obama supporter friends, who claim to be pro-Israel, will spin this one.
I'm sure nothing would make you happier than have Bibi the head of the DOD.
A nomination would make clear what should have been clear all along, that Barry is stridently anti-Israel. Putting an Arabist homophobe in as SecDef is a big thing, and the Jew-haters will read Barry's message loud and clear. They couldn't have expected more from Pat Buchanan or David Duke.
Replying to MightisRight nPro-Israel No nHere’s the big secret. It’s a question though. How come Chuck Hagel & Obama ain’t vulnerable to Israel as those exposed endangered 100 Senators & 435 Representatives at the Hill? Are you ready? Now hold your breath, Shut-up, Sit-down & Listen, and the golden answer is; Zionists ain’t got nude compromising poses posing nude photos of Chuck Hagel & Obama with preteen queer kibitz boys in King David Hotel to Wikileak. Hollywood inspired and made many movies outta David Hotel queers with US Politicians. Everyone must remember the good ol’ Joe Biden’s hysterically unpleasant trip to Tel Aviv during Israel Mea culpa. Use your imagination to finish. How about that?
This is what sober voices said about Hagels appointment.u2028u2028“Enormously qualified” THE HONORABLE WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY TO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE u2028“Mr. Hagel is a man of unshakable integrity and wisdom who has served his country in the most distinguished manner in peace and war” u2028GENERAL JIM JONES, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA u2028“He is a rare example of a public servant willing to rise above partisan politics to advance the interests of the United States and its friends and allies.” u2028GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO PRESIDENTS GERALD R. FORD AND GEORGE H.W. BUSH u2028Hagel “would infuse into our foreign policy what is very much needed…strategic influence.” u2028DR. ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER u2028“Impeccable choice for Defense Secretary” u2028Nicholas Burns, Former Ambassador to NATO and Greece u2028Ryan Crocker, Former Ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan u2028Sam Lewis, Former Ambassador to Israel u2028Edward Djerejian, former Ambassador to Israel and Syria u2028William Harrop, former Ambassador to Israel u2028Daniel Kurtzer, former Ambassador to Israel and Egypt u2028William H. Luers, former Ambassador to Venezuela and Czechoslovakia u2028Thomas R. Pickering, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, u2028Ambassador to Israel and Russia u2028Frank G. Wisner, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ambassador to Egypt and India nAdd 10! US Generals to that list that think Chuck Hagel would be a great secretary of the DOD. nWho do AIPAC and the neocons have? Bill Kristol the cheer leader for the Iraqi war, that left 5 thousand of our troops dead, and 5 times that many wounded. Not to mention the trillion + that nearly bankrupt us. And all the rest like him, the list goes on and on. These creeps want to be a character witness to a American war hero. All they have are half truths at best and lies and smear tactics at worst.u2028If this wasn't so sicking it would be laughable.
About time Obama showed some stones. The list goes on and on with people in defense and in Ambassadorship that think Hagel is MORE than qualifed for the position. nWhat you have on the other side are creeps with NO PROOF that he's not qualified. So what they do is smear. I cant wait for the hearings. like the godfather, the traitors will reveal themselves. And they will get cut down by the American public. nDrag a war hero through the mud huh. We'll see. n
Hagel is more than anti-Semitic enough to please most of the crypto-fascists that comprise Obama's constituency. That said, it is almost time for another Op Ed piece by the noted intellectual stooge Alan Dershowitz explaining how Soetoro's heart is really in the right place even if his own brain is anatomically misplaced
Replying to DanielShays nThe game is over boys! Back to Chuck Hagel; Quit nagging about USO like Tel Aviv hookers when ain’t pimped to rich parties. Chuck Hagel ain’t Anti-Semitic enough to crow about. Here’s really something that Israeli loath you to publish. Chuck Hagel is a Godsend magnet to unbury Israel rig and spam world headlines.
Is the perception and/or reality that Hagel is anti-Semitic intended to create noise to provide Obama cover for the gay issues in the military?
Yet no comment on Rand Paul on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Funny that.
Obama now has to announce a new SecTreas, which might complicate his choice for SecDef. nJack Lew would be crazy to accept nomination for SecTreas if Hagel was nominated at same time. Surely he is smart enough to realize he would become a lightning rod for those who mistakenly believe (Paulbots) that Jews control all the money… n nI really think you should let the LGBT critiques overwhelm the Hagel nomination. nAll the criticism from neocon Jews like Kristol just highlights the myth of the power of the "Jewish lobby".
It remains to be seen whether the LBGT groups really will be willing to cross Barry on this one, though a Hagel nomination (to defense!) does make a mockery of their principles. Barney Frank said he would Hagel is a senator, but LBGT groups have been pretty quiet on the whole.
Replying to Killer_Paisley nHomophobia is stooopid Redherring. Chuck Hagel got larger phallus than LGBT ever queered in their daydreams. Israelis will be digging their own graves if they rally to conspire to assassinate Chuck Hagel’s character as they did to Charles Freeman.
Replying to K2K nChuck Hagel escorted & schooled Obama during 2008 Presidential Campaign to Israel. Chuck Hagel was right when he said to Potus-to-be: “if you get to White House. Israeli Bleached Nu2721 ggas will need 4 years to recover”. Bleached Nu2721 ggas are more racist than whites simply because they ain’t wasps.
Thanks for that link. I get MEMRI's newsletters, which are horrifying. I'm a glutton for punishment….
Come on girls! Homophobia is stooopid Redherring. Chuck Hagel got larger phallus than LGBT ever queered in their daydreams. Israelis will be digging their own graves if they rally to conspire to assassinate Chuck Hagel’s character as they did to Charles Freeman. Israeli in their own eyes, believe that they are the-chosen-ones, Americans are fools and the Donuthole is Gaza, they can get away with crime. In Arabspringers eyes Israel ain’t a thing but East European Urban Rejects & IRS fugitives who hijacked Judaism as hostage to extort Jews worldwide and took refuge in Auschwitz called Palestine. Henry Kissinger is Jew, said: “give those kibitzers 10 years to die”. George Soros is Jew too established Soros Fund for any Jew who will defect and flee Israel. The game is over boys! Back to Chuck Hagel; Quit nagging about USO like Tel Aviv hookers when ain’t pimped to rich parties. Chuck Hagel ain’t Anti-Semitic enough to crow about. Here’s really something that Israeli loath you to publish. Chuck Hagel is a Godsend magnet to unbury Israel rig and spam world headlines. Chuck Hagel escorted & schooled Obama during 2008 Presidential Campaign to Israel. Chuck Hagel was right when he said to Potus-to-be: “if you get to White House. Israeli Bleached Nu2721 ggas will need 4 years to recover”. Bleached Nu2721 ggas are more racist than whites simply because they ain’t wasps. Their White House Raw Model is John Wayne. Israelis need an idiot like George Bush who hired a Jewish Dumbu2721sses as George Tenet for CIA, Michael Chertoff for Homeland Security, Paul Wolfowitz for Dy Assistant Secretary of Defense and many Menajahtwa Muthafukahuh to fu2721ck America. Though George Bush the kid and George Bush the father gave Israel nothing compared to Egypt but Israelis are Deranged Megalomaniac Egomaniacs. Here’s the big secret. It’s a question though. How come Chuck Hagel & Obama ain’t vulnerable to Israel as those exposed endangered 100 Senators & 435 Representatives at the Hill? Are you ready? Now hold your breath, Shut-up, Sit-down & Listen, and the golden answer is; Zionists ain’t got nude compromising poses posing nude photos of Chuck Hagel & Obama with preteen queer kibitz boys in King David Hotel to Wikileak. Hollywood inspired and made many movies outta David Hotel queers with US Politicians. Everyone must remember the good ol’ Joe Biden’s hysterically unpleasant trip to Tel Aviv during Israel Mea culpa.
From what mental asylum did you type this screed?
I only could read it a third of the way through and I used to deal with the insane on a daily basis as part of my job. n n
ok we played it backwards but all we got was the sound of a distant siren blowing though a tire dump and a wino throwing up into a plastic bucket. n nnext week infra red Doppler analysis. Professor Houke insists there are signs of intelligent purpose–the rest of us still think its just random noise.
A tale as told by an idiot…….
Looks like, Obama is showing his strength to his opponents and basically to the Israeli lobbies around the globe. Hope, he will succeed and place his name in the great, daring and mightiest American President. If he will bogged down, during the process, he will be considered as the timid President, Who has no guts to stand-up to the Israeli puppets in the Congress and Senate.
Come on, just say the Jewish lobby, like your hero Hagel.
those aren't puppets. those are "puppies". Israeli puppies. Staring at you with those large black pupils. And it isn't Israeli "lobbies"–it's Israeli "Bobbies"–implacable in their copper hats and their bristling handlebar moustaches and silently swinging their batons, whistling Chad Gad Ya through the gap in their front teeth. Surrounded by those cursed Israeli puppies, their tails just barely twitching following your every move. n nIt isn't right, it just isn't right. n
Replying to john2397 nIsraelis need an idiot like George Bush who hired a Jewish Dumbu2721sses as George Tenet for CIA, Michael Chertoff for Homeland Security, Paul Wolfowitz for Dy Assistant Secretary of Defense and many Menajahtwa Muthafukahuh to fu2721ck America. Though George Bush the kid and George Bush the father gave Israel nothing compared to Egypt but Israelis are Deranged Megalomaniac Egomaniacs.
Yeah right. Putting a small group of persecuted people in their “place” really shows courage. For Obama’s next act of daring and courage he might just tear a wing or two off a butterfly. I bet you are salivating at that, right john boy.
Aren't we all a little hysterical here? Hagel is well within the establishment bipartisan foreign policy. He's just a little less servile to AIPAC than some others. n nThese are just nuances. n nThe ugliness of the reaction to the man is educational–paranoia and hate prevail. Bad juju if the Lobby loses this one, as it well might.
Thanks for sharing that single half-thought of yours. Again. Every time you visit with us it's like somebody turned on a 25 watt bulb. There seems to be a light on but nobody''s home. Elvis left the building hours ago and all that remains is the shell of a constipated corpse grinning meaninglessly on the john. n nObama will not nominate him btw until the votes are there.
Replying to besht2003 nquit pot
replying to cloture: the whole point of not being high (or obsessed) is that you can rationally make choices in your words and your actions–you can go allusive or you may choose to methodically engage in discursive argumentation. The central lie about drugs is the myth of the great short cut–1% inspiration and 99% perspiration is the formula for a creative act that has consequence. n nThere is nothing in anti-Semitic speechifying or gibes to react to or to debate since you guys are locked in closed and circular "epistemic" systems. Your chosen style is bait, taunt, and implied or open threat. Which is why your longer posts never go anywhere. They are forced to double back and clang the same obsessive bells, including verbal abuse and violence to Jews. n nThat old queer Gore Vidal (who hated Jews as much as you) said of Jack Kerouac–he doesn't write, he types. You spit. Gobs.
Sometimes Besht has a coherent thought. Not today, alas. n nMay Obama be to Khamenei and Israel as Nixon was to Mao and Taiwan.
Your repeated riffs on "the Lobby" ping pong in a dark star of anti-Jewish animus, reasoned discourse fails as the starting point is a tautological certainty of the illegitimacy of Jewish advocacy on Israel. With that assumption fixed, the mundane details of the advocacy are marshaled to "confirm" a malevolence whose prior assumption is required for that interpretation in the first place. A circle. The logical partner for debate would be Meir Kahani. So get out the Ouija board and conduct a dialogue of the deaf and deafer. n num, Nixon made no breakthrough in PRC-Taiwan relations, but in US-China diplomacy. (backtracking on exclusive recognition of Taiwan's mainland claims). Israel has no claims of sovereignty to Iran. And. amid the aggressive revolutionary class-warfare cant ("running dogs of Western imperialism") the Communist Chinese didn't go for the intimately dehumanizing Iranian vituperation aimed against Jews. n nMao never made jokes about "its really funny how the Formosans complain about some supposed "Rape of Nanking" when everybody knows how licentious they are." n nConversely, Nixon didn't abandon Taiwan because the deal was about US-Chinese relations in a world of US-Soviet competition.
You need to keep up with your man Hagel, it's the Jewish lobby. Or just say the Jews for short, you know you want to.
Commentary should open a troll road–the mugs could help defray expenses.
Hagel's certainly bringing the Jew-haters out of the shadows.
Many years ago (about 10) I tried to post on a Grateful Dead usenet group. Forget about it. Israel this, the Lobby that, oppression of the Palestinians, neocons, up and down. This thing in the middle of their skulls. Applying.pressure.
Probably a trial balloon – if Obama receives enough messages that Israel is up in arms about Hagel, he will probably nominate him. It is good to hear that the democrats are also concerned.
Grumpy_Old_Man says:
January 5, 2013 at 12:24 am
Aren’t we all a little hysterical here? [aren't YOU always, grupz]
Hagel is well within the establishment bipartisan foreign policy. [no he is not, that is a lie, a filthy dirty lie]
He’s just a little less servile to AIPAC than some others. n nThese are just nuances.[so you are suggesting hagel is servile to aipac, maybe you are a constipated corpse]
nThe ugliness of the reaction to the man is educational–paranoia and hate prevail. [seems all in all a sober assessment of the treacherous hagel], but i Bad juju if the Lobby loses this one, as it well might. [glad you raised the subject, because time will prove you are absolutely 100% wrong, first of all aipac speaks for itself and it is not the same as the american jewish community. secondly and most importantly, obama’s planned nomination of hagel, the wicked, proves the concerns of those who expressed alarm of a second obama term because of his animus towards Israel. obama has proven us correct, so we have already won, now is going to be the fun part; hint#1;remember nixon’s second term, well you’re going to. hint #2 sell your rahm stock.
Well, Chuckie's nomination is official now. It will be entertaining to see the spin on it.