Hagel confirmed as Sec of D despite neo-con smears

[Row6]

Today's WaPo column:

"Chuck Hagel’s confirmation as secretary of defense ended as it began — with a smear.

“Senator Hagel has accused Israel of quote ‘playing games’ and committing, quote, ‘sickening slaughter,’ ” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said before Tuesday’s confirmation vote, which had been delayed 12 days by a Republican filibuster.

Minutes later, Jim Inhofe (Okla.), ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, repeated the allegation that Hagel had claimed “Israel committed ‘sickening slaughter.’ ”

There was something sickening about this, but it wasn’t Hagel’s quote. As Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) pointed out, what the nominee had in fact said, during a Senate speech on the 2006 Lebanon war, was this: “The sickening slaughter on both sides must end.”"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z2

This was part and parcel of Republican opposition which included US senators implying - with zero evidence - that Hagel was receiving money from the North Koreans and Iranians and suggesting that he belonged to a group called "Friends of Hamas" which didn't even exist. This was all because Hagel woke up in the middle of the last decade and acknowledged that Iraq had been a huge mistake, something that his neo-con republican allies from the past still can't face. Their time is past and their world view is as popular as "freedom fries" and "shock and awe". America has wisely moved on while they haven't.

[MichiGator2002]

... Despite what can be at best describe as ambivalence about actually defending America and (what's left of) its status in the world.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

... Despite what can be at best describe as ambivalence about actually defending America and (what's left of) its status in the world.

Reluctance to aggressively start wars is not "ambivalence about defending America". We've been there, done that - Hagel on a personal level - and it led to the two largest foreign policy debacles of the last half century.

[PSGator66]

Terrible selection and another poor judgement by Obama.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by PSGator66

Terrible selection and another poor judgement by Obama.

Yeah, if only he had nominated someone from the officer or administrative ranks who hadn't spent so much time working on veteran affairs and especially had been part of the foreign policy "mainstream" which produced such excellent results in Iraq.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

It's been really interesting to see party politics at work here. Hagel's basically been treated as though he were a democrat.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

It's been really interesting to see party politics at work here. Hagel's basically been treated as though he were a democrat.

Perhaps, but other democrats - Panetta for example - have not received this level of venom. I think this is pay back - that failed - for publicly bucking his parties orthodoxy, which had been captured by neo-con mania - often Israeli centric - for an aggressive use of our military. You have people like McCain - who predicted an easy short victory with parades through Baghdad for our troops like it was Paris in 1945 - angrily demanding an admission from Hagel about not supporting the surge (which extended us for another 1000+ lives lost) while we will never hear an admission from him about how wrong he was on the war and the debacle and death his ideas wrought. Chutzpah of high order - a little yiddish in there.

[108]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

It's been really interesting to see party politics at work here. Hagel's basically been treated as though he were a democrat.

yup, it just doesn't matter with Republicans, if Obama is for it, they are against it

[rivergator]

Originally Posted by 108

yup, it just doesn't matter with Republicans, if Obama is for it, they are against it

unfortunately, that seems to be it. also unfortunately, they had to go through the usual misquotes, falsehoods, etc, because of it.
The 'Friends of Hamas' stuff was ridiculous.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

Originally Posted by rivergator

unfortunately, that seems to be it. also unfortunately, they had to go through the usual misquotes, falsehoods, etc, because of it.
The 'Friends of Hamas' stuff was ridiculous.

So, you defend his anti-Semitic comments? Please don't ask me to give "proof" of his comments. They arre all over this thread and all over the internet.

What I want to know is this; do you or do you not defend Hagel's anti-Semitic comments?

[AmericaFirst]

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

So, you defend his anti-Semitic comments? Please don't ask me to give "proof" of his comments. They arre all over this thread and all over the internet.

What I want to know is this; do you or do you not defend Hagel's anti-Semitic comments?

He said absolutely nothing that was anti-semitic. Get real, dude. Calling it the Jewish Lobby is what it is, saying Israel has committed crimes against the Palestinians is what they're doing over there, and believing Israel brings hatred on the US in that region is also a fact.



If he had said we should go over there and imprison every Muslim in a concentration camp you'd probably be cheering for it.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

So, you defend his anti-Semitic comments? Please don't ask me to give "proof" of his comments. They arre all over this thread and all over the internet.

What I want to know is this; do you or do you not defend Hagel's anti-Semitic comments?

What anti-semetic comments? It is unbelievable that you have been called out now for evidence numerous times on this thread and still post without offering any at all.

Put up or shut-up or keep embarrassing yourself.

[squigator]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

It's been really interesting to see party politics at work here. Hagel's basically been treated as though he were a democrat.

Well, his politics are certainly more closely aligned to the neocom, pre-911, anti-CIA/FBI policies that led to the collapse of the twin towers.

[Minister_of_Information]

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by Minister_of_Information

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

That is correct. Good post.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by Minister_of_Information

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

Maybe it does, but that wasn't really articulated well by anyone if so, nor was it really noteworthy prior to the nomination.

[rivergator]

Originally Posted by Minister_of_Information

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

Conservatives certainly seem convinced they know what everyone else hates.

[grayg8rstevo]

Originally Posted by Minister_of_Information

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

always to the point. He is beyond incompetent, if his own words and actions have any meaning. I am independent. I hate incompetent republicans also.Kudos to my minister

[g8rjd]

Originally Posted by Minister_of_Information

That's right, it has nothing to do with him being an incompetent boob who hates Israel.

Originally Posted by grayg8rstevo

always to the point. He is beyond incompetent, if his own words and actions have any meaning. I am independent. I hate incompetent republicans also.Kudos to my minister

Ah, yes gray...but I am a heterosexual man. And I very much enjoy boobs.

[Tim85]

Originally Posted by 108

yup, it just doesn't matter with Republicans, if Obama is for it, they are against it

There are a lot of issues at work here with this, the media is so convoluted in their reporting, and I don't just mean from the Left - Noone is getting any clear news, and all major politicians, including President Obama, spend so much time posturing and courting donors. 95% of them aren't really interested in trying to find out what's truly best for everyone.