The first hours of Chuck Hagel’s Senate confirmation hearing did little to gladden the hearts of his supporters. While the strict partisan divide over the nomination should ensure that he would get the support of a majority of senators, his bumbling performance undermined any notion that the president’s choice to lead the Pentagon was winning over any of his critics. More to the point, his effort to portray his recent recantations of his long-held skepticism about attempts to stop Iran from going nuclear, his criticisms of Israel, and his belief in engagement with Hamas and Hezbollah as consistent with his record was a flop. Though he had obviously been prepped to state his support for Israel and President Obama’s policies on Iran over and over again—a task made easier by Democratic senators asking him to merely reaffirm and regurgitate those talking points—he still managed to stumble over some issues he hoped to put to rest.
On the question of his refusal to back sanctions against Iran and its Revolutionary Guards, Hagel was both contradictory and disingenuous. But on the one past statement that was the smoking gun about his attitudes toward Israel—his rant about the “Jewish lobby” and its intimidation of Congress—his answers did little to dispel the notion that his views have not changed.
The most pointed confrontation of the morning centered on John McCain’s demand that Hagel admit that he was wrong about his opposition to the Iraq surge. Hagel wouldn’t do so and, with the aid of the Democrats on the committee, managed to come out of the exchange not looking too bad since he could claim that he was right that the war (which he had voted to authorize) was a mistake.
He also danced around his participation with Global Zero, a group that issued a report about nuclear weapons that he co-authored, that called for drastic reductions in the U.S. arsenal and even offered unilateral disarmament as an option.
Yet far more damning was his incoherent response to questions about his refusal to support sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as well as his early opposition to those against the regime. His explanation of his vote in which he said Iran’s government was “elected and legitimate” was a shocking revelation of his mindset about the confrontation in which he has always failed to understand the nature of the threat.
Throughout the hearing, Hagel kept repeating that he supported President Obama on Iran and acted as if his record hadn’t been consistent in opposing sanctions on Iran and even considering a military option.
But the most damning moment came when Senator Roger Wicker finally asked about his comment about how he stood up to the “Jewish lobby” and discussed how it “intimidated” Congress and forced it to do “stupid” things. Wicker asked what groups he was referring to and whether he still agreed that Congress was intimidated into acting against U.S. interests.
In reply, Hagel only said that he should have said “pro-Israel lobby” rather than “Jewish lobby” and that he should have said “influenced” rather than “intimidated.” Curiously, he claimed that it was the only time he stated these thoughts “on the record,” leading to the obvious conclusion that he had probably said the same thing or worse in private.
But these words aside, he did nothing to answer whether he thought Israel’s friends have a disproportionate influence on the United States or whether its actions resulted in bad policy. Indeed, his silence on that point and his inability to cite a single member of Congress who had been intimidated or a single stupid policy enacted as a result of such pressure showed just how vicious and insulting that remark was. It also made it clear that despite his constant reiteration of his support for Israel and its qualitative military edge, he had not really changed his extreme views about the Middle East.
So long as Democrats stay loyal to the president and Republicans choose not to filibuster, Hagel will be confirmed. But Hagel has done nothing to convince anyone that his recantation of so much of what he has said and done during his career is sincere or deeply felt. But perhaps even more disturbing is the unimpressive command of the issues that he demonstrated while testifying. His nomination is clearly not one based on his merits but on his close relationship with President Obama. A second Obama administration with Hagel in charge at the Pentagon will be one in which it has a flawed leader at Defense whose out-of-the-mainstream record on key issues may reveal the president’s own inclinations.
Incredible. “elected and legitimate”???? Hagel must have an IQ of -100. Of course we have had idiots in all positions of power in our government. We certainly have one now in the presidency. Eloquent, stupid, vile – these are a few of the characteristics that come to mind for Obama. Leave out eloquent for Hagel. I really am ashamed that I ever voted Democrat – not recently though.
And what if it was indeed "elected and legitimate?" Hitler was democratically and legitimately elected. Does that make Hitler and the Nazis any better?
He is no friend of Israel, I dont care what he says. He is a "Yes-man" to 0bama, whatever 0bama wants he'll agree with. And 0bama is not too crazy about Israel either, thats why he chose him.
He's no friend to the US either, or to any freedom loving people or country. But he is a friend or stooge of the worst dictatorships and authoritarian regimes that exist today.
Cruz just totally devastated Hagel. The commentariot will be talking about it very soon. Watch the video.
where can I watch the video?
Try the Free Beacon website.
wow, was that Al Jazeera interview Ted Cruz's surprise? I think we do need to read the transcript because the audio was not great, but, I now wonder why ANY Senator besides Hirono of Hawaii would vote to confirm Hagel. n n"…more disturbing is the unimpressive command of the issues that he demonstrated while testifying…." is the #1 take-away for me so far. At some point, someone else in the media will notice, but then they still think Hillary's recent performance was A-ok, while I saw another rant.. n nHagel did not serve on the Armed Services Committee during his Senate years. and it shows. n nLooking forward to more on Hamas, and maybe those F-16s to Egypt. and watching how Hagel holds up – he already sounded tired after Ted Cruz. I do give Hagel an "A" for wardrobe. n n n n
After hearing Graham and Cruz, among others, rip Hagel apart, I don't see how any Senator with a conscience can vote for this guy. Of course, I understand that excludes much of the body.
Many, if not the majority of the Democratic Senators have no conscience.
Everyone should check out HagelNo.com.
Wow! This Hagel SOB is one evil man. Can we please have Panetta back? Please? This second Obama administration is shaping up in such a way that the seemingly impossible has occurred: I'm actually waxing nostalgic for the FIRST Obama administration ! My goodness.
"But on the one past statement that was the smoking gun about his attitudes toward Israel—his rant about the “Jewish lobby” and its intimidation of Congress—his answers did little to dispel the notion that his views have changed." n nDon't you mean that his answers did little to "show' or "prove" that his views have changed?
Jewish "leadership"–in national politics and in the mainstream Jewish organizations–is a disgrace. Hagel's confirmation will be a confirmation–as if one is needed–of American Jewish cowardice. n nThe 30% of the Jewish electorate who have their heads screwed on right need to rouse themselves and kick some ass. And I don't mean merely with letters and boycotts. Things need to get ugly if they are ever to get better.
The Jews voted for Obama–twice–and they should not be surprised that he would nominate one of his own to a critical position of leadership. The idiot will be confirmed, just as Sotomayor was confirmed despite her bizarre and somewhat racist comments ("I'm a wise latina") and just as Elizabeth Warren was elected even after lying about her supposed Native ancestry. Like their Islamist friends, the American Left believe deceit is acceptable when it serves their cause.
Deception – also known as 'taqiyya', based on Quranic terminology, – is not only permitted but sometimes obligatory. n nOne would think those most heavily invested in the continuity of a liberal order would have the intelligence to refrain from undercutting that order. But, no, it never ceases to amaze that intellectuals and others whose life style most requires freedom, are always the most reluctant to man the battlements of their society and civilisation. n nThe operational principle is apparently "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." It is for this reason that progressives, hostile to any significant role for religion in society, find it expedient to champion anything at all that would put a stick in the eye of the dominant (and therefore, to them, more menacing) religion in their society. And so the more reactionary (and even barbaric) outside religion tends to get a smarmy free pass. n n n
Of course jihadists practice deception. ANYONE skilled at war does so. Sun Tzu wrote that "All warfare is based on deception."
"The Jews"? I did not realize we were that monolithic. If we are, it would be a first in Jewish history. n n80% of the Jews died during the 9th plague because they were so immersed in Egyptian culture that they could not be liberated. That means that the Jews who left were from the BETTER 20% — yet look how many of that remainder rebelled how many times from the day we left Egypt until we entered Eretz Yisroel 40 years later. But the assimilated, misguided and disconnected Jewish Americans who voted for Obama are suddenly "THE Jews"? Oy va voy..
80% of Jews voted for Obama–twice. They were and are his biggest monolithic bloc of supporters after the Blacks. n nIt's no surprise, therefore, that the Jews (at least, those who vote) have become this namby-pamby liberal group who can be depended on to reliably follow the Democrat party line even as the country sinks. n nFrankly I'm appalled and disappointed. I will say, there's a difference between the lockstep non-Zionist liberals I encounter so often in East Coast synagogues and the relatively unapologetically pro-Israel synagogues back west in Arizona and Oklahoma.
Yeah it's a charade. Unless he jumps up on his desk, flashes the committee and screams out a speech from Hitler, he'll be confirmed. Congress is craven.
As commented on by a noted radio talk show host, Hagel, Kerry and all will simply be place holders and will dutifully phone home for instructions from THE ONE.
I just finished watching the clips from Hagel's hearing. He's as unable to answer serious questions about past statements and policies as his future boss, Obama. We supporters of Israel have a great deal to fear. Let's hope we're wrong.
we supporters of a strong United States have a great deal to fear. n nThe man is ignorant. What does this say about Barry;s administration, and his gang of pathetic failures running this country into bankruptcy? n nThis administration is only concerned with promoting a socialist agenda, all Barry's effort is in growing government and discrediting the constitution. n nHe has disbanded the jobs council…he doesn't care. n nThe economic and jobs mess, with help from the media, is blamed on the Republicans, and he feels that is something others will deal with after he is out of office. n nHis sole agenda, is radical transformation of America, and turning this country very very hard left. n nHe will do nothing n nnothing, n nexcept more bailouts, and more government.
You know better. Just like they knew when they boarded the trains that they were not going to Auschwitz for a summer vacation.
supporters of America have a great deal to fear….
Tobin: Throughout the hearing, Hagel kept repeating that he supported President Obama on Iran and acted as if his record hadn’t been consistent in opposing sanctions on Iran and even considering a military option. n————————– nBut, but…he has supported Obama….by consistently opposing meaningful sanctions on Iran and even considering a military option.
exactly n nObama says one thing, but his actions belie his words n nthat is Obama's signature characterisic
Message to two senators from North Carolina: n nDear Senator, n nIn Chuck Hagel's record on foreign and defense policies, nothing is more disturbing than Hagel's vote AGAINST the U.S. designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard (I.R.G.) as a terrorist entity. Shockingly, Hagel cast this vote at a time when the I.R.G. was actively involved in the killing of American troops in Iraq! n nEven more frightening are Hagel's own Senate record and words, littered with anti-American initiatives. On Arab television, Hagel declared America, the "Bully of the World." n nIn his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee he stated that he supported the President's containment policy against Iran until he was handed a note indicating that there was no containment policy and then promptly admitted his 'misstatement'. This alone should be sufficient to disqualify him from being the Secretary of Defense. n nI have lost all faith in the Republican Party and no longer know what it stands for so I won't attempt to dissuade you from voting for Mr. Hagel. There is little doubt that the Senate will confirm this traitor to command our military forces. They already confirmed another traitor to be Secretary of State. n nWe Republicans had high hopes after the 2010 elections but those hopes were as illusory as the ones Obama offered in his 2008 campaign. He has failed the country miserably and so has the Republican Party. Many people I know share this view and I fear that the US Government will be surrendered completely to the Bolsheviks in the 2014 elections and then we will see the reincarnation of Vladimir Lenin and the Politburo. This is why we must NEVER surrender our weapons. The Founding Fathers knew that governments are inclined towards tyranny and despotism and in their wisdom and foresight gave us the 2nd Amendment, not to hunt, but to protect our freedoms and liberties.
after his performance today, I can't understand why anyone would vote to confirm Hagel. he is clearly–CLEARLY–not up to the job. n nI sure hope some of these clowns in the Senate really examine what they saw and heard today, and ask themselves if this is really the best person to be in charge of the military just right now. n nMJ Rosenberg's comment should be front-page news. instead, I bet none of the MSM brought it up. is it possible to retweet this to everyone in Congress? n nthe real mystery
No doubt Obama, or whoever he is, was laughing his ass off as he watched the dimwit Republican defend himself from other Republicans. He will get a lot of mileage out of lines like "I tried to include Republicans in important offices in my administration but other Republicans, of all people, wouldn't let me. What does a guy have to do to get cooperation from these people?"
Well, perhaps stop lying, distorting, cheating and stealing would help…but since Wilson, that has been the progressive way until they finally took the Democrat Party over 100% in the early 2000's. nSecond, the RINO's are dying out one way or another, thank goodness. I don't if you realize what is the truth, but I thank the lord I'll probably be gone just at l984 is fully implemented.
During the hearings, Hagel LIED in response to questions about that Global Zero report by claiming that Global Zero never proposed or called for anything. n nThis was a blatant lie because the Global Zero report explicitly CALLED FOR the total elimination of America's ICBMs, tactical nuclear weapons, and nuclear-capable cruise missiles, and for B-52s and B-2s to be retired or limited to conventional strike missions only. It also CALLED FOR cutting the total US nuclear arsenal down to just 900 warheads, of which 450 would be inactive and even the remaining 450 "active" warheads could not be used until 72 hours AFTER an enemy first strike on the US! n nIn other words, Hagel has lied under oath to a duly constituted Congressional Committee. Do you know what the penalty is for lying under oath, folks?
Well, I think you lose your law license in Arkansas and you get some service from Monica Lewinsky. Are those penalties?
And you get invited to address the American Bar Association at its annual meeting.
"…disingenuous…" why can't we just be truthful? Hagel lied to our faces. There, that's better. Lies and distortion…that is what Hagel and his "supporters" do…nothing new he just had to do it in front of cameras for the people to see. Too bad over 50% of the populace and voters in this country are dumb enough not to be able to understand what is going on, being said or proposed.
Hagel gave one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t matter though because the guy is a stooge. Obama picked him because he knows he’ll do Obama’s bidding; Obama wants a “yes” man and that’s what Hagel will be.
As you see drastic changes made to DoD, just remember it’s ALL coming from Obama. Hagel was telling the truth when he said he wasn’t going to be a policy maker. He’s just a bagman for The One.