Chuck Hagel - Defense Secretary

What is the reality behind Chuck Hagel’s nomination by President Obama to be the next Secretary of Defense?

Hagel is a Republican. He is from the Midwest, Nebraska actually. He is a former US Senator from Nebraska. He was independent minded, enough so to speak his mind on the emergent issue of gay rights and the continuing relationship with Israel.

Hagel made public comments on gay rights back in the 1990’s. The comments were anti-gay then, but in the nearly 20 years since he has reformed his thinking. A lot has happened in American culture that surround the issues pertaining to gay people. Mr. Hagel no longer has the same narrow sense of those issues as he did 20 years ago. That doesn't make him a champion of gay rights, but neither does it make him an enemy of gay people. So let’s just give him and others more space on this matter!

Now, about Israel. America is and has been a great supporter and defender of the state of Israel. And Israel returns its support and good will directed toward the United States. There is a mutuality contained within their relationship. It is also a relationship that is marked by change, attitude adjustments, and challenging differences of opinion. In short it is a normal relationship. It is not blind or deaf or dumb.

Israel has political challenges within its citizenry. Israel has an open political democracy in which public opinion is shared and discussed openly and vigorously. Such exchanges are not always polite. In fact many of them are scathing!

Prime Minister Netanyahu has often been a lightening rod of political disagreement within his own land. Naturally he will provoke similar disagreements outside the borders of Israel. Certainly the USA is no different.

There are many detractors of Netanyahu, I among them. He has a bully sort of personality and pushes people around to get his way. He does this in Israel. He also does this among his foreign enemies and friends.

American foreign policy supports Israel. It does not blindly support Netanyahu, or his objectives or means to attain those objectives. American foreign aid supports Israel. Military and foreign aid dollars amount to $4 billion annually; have for many, many years. Some years the dollar amount is higher, others lower. But Americans significantly support Israel in word, deed and money.

Chuck Hagel is a realist. He knows American foreign policy and defense postures support Israel but he also wishes America to set its own policy on its own terms and interests. He does not wish America to do so blindly in support of Israel. That is realistic and smart.

If Republicans in the House and Senate wish America to support Israel blindly then they have much to answer for. I prefer we determine our own self interest, the needs of the global community, and where Israel’s needs intersect all of those interests. We then support what is realistic.

Accordingly, Chuck Hagel appears to be a highly qualified person for the role of Defense Secretary. He also is of a different political party which should allow the White House more negotiating space with Congress on other issues of importance. The president is reaching across the aisle. I give him credit for that.

Only narrow mindedness would deny Hagel the appointment.

January 16, 2013