A Tale of Two Chucks
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Photo Credit: Yori Yanover
Based on several key assurances provided by Senator Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation. I encourage my Senate colleagues who have shared my previous concerns to also support him…
On Iran, Senator Hagel rejected a strategy of containment and expressed the need to keep all options on the table in confronting that country. But he didn’t stop there. In our conversation, Senator Hagel made a crystal-clear promise that he would do “whatever it takes” to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, including the use of military force. He said his “top priority” as Secretary of Defense would be the planning of military contingencies related to Iran. He added that he has already received a briefing from the Pentagon on this topic.
In terms of sanctions, past statements by Senator Hagel sowed concerns that he considered unilateral sanctions against Iran to be ineffective. In our meeting, however, Senator Hagel clarified that he ‘completely’ supports President Obama’s current sanctions against Iran. He added that further unilateral sanctions against Iran could be effective and necessary.
On Hezbollah, Senator Hagel stressed that—notwithstanding any letters he refused to sign in the past—he has always considered the group to be a terrorist organization.
On Hamas, I asked Senator Hagel about a letter he signed in March 2009 urging President Obama to open direct talks with that group’s leaders.
In response, Senator Hagel assured me that he today believes there should be no negotiations with Hamas, Hezbollah or any other terrorist group until they renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Senator Hagel volunteered that he has always supported Israel’s right to retaliate militarily in the face of terrorist attacks by Hezbollah or Hamas. He understood the predicament Israel is in when terrorist groups hide rocket launchers among civilian populations and stage attacks from there. He supported Israel’s right to defend herself even in those difficult circumstances.
In keeping with our promises to help equip Israel, Senator Hagel pledged to work towards the on-time delivery of the F-35 joint strike fighters to Israel, continue the cooperation between Israel and the U.S. on Iron Dome, and recommend to the President that we refuse to join in any NATO exercises if Turkey should continue to insist on excluding Israel from them. Senator Hagel believes Israel must maintain its Qualitative Military Edge.
Regarding his unfortunate use of the term “Jewish lobby” to refer to certain pro-Israel groups, Senator Hagel understands the sensitivity around such a loaded term and regrets saying it.
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…
I think that such a radical conversion by Hagel is unlikely, given both the substance and tone of his remarks over the years. But apparently Schumer buys it, and that means that unless something totally unexpected happens, so will a majority of senators.
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tell a friendAbout the Author: Vic Rosenthal created FresnoZionism.org to provide a forum for publishing and discussing issues about Israel and the Mideast conflict, especially where there is a local connection. Rosenthal believes that America’s interests are best served by supporting the democratic state of Israel, the front line in the struggle between Western civilization and radical Islam. The viewpoint is not intended to be liberal or conservative — just pro-Israel.
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Chuck Hagel nas made a phenomenal total reversal of his views on several major issues.
But in 2013, the Road to Damascus is too perilous to accept pretend conversions.
Hagel really does not believe that a military option is an option even if negotiations fail.
He has just recently changed his previous stated views on this issue.
to making military plans against Iran his top priority, in order to advance his career. It means he now believes that it is expedient to use the threat as.
a public lever in negotiations, but if negotiations fail, he would advise in private, that the US should allow a nuclear armed Iran.
Many of those who are in favor of confirmation such as Nicholas Kristof, writing in the New York Times, have said the same thing. Iran certainly understands this, and is rooting for him.
A nuclear Iran has sworn to eliminate Israel and every mosque in Iran has a poster "Death To Israel."
After Iran drops an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv, the issue of whether Hagel is anti-Israel or pro-Israel becomes mute.
A Hagel confirmation kills any chance of Iran agreeing to stop it's nuclear weapons program through negotiations. why would they take the tremendous political risk of telling their people that years of sanctions privations was for nothing when they know their is no risk of an American military action?
Chuck Schumer did not achieve this miraculous confirmation conversion, Hagel has already switched his tune when previously speaking to Florida's Wasserman-Scultz.
(She, of course, is the Queen of absurd lies to the Jewish community).
What Senator Schumer did achieve was to betray his pro-Israel constituents and the American people. He deserves exactly what he feared would happen if he opposed President Obama, the end of his political career.
I hope at least one Senator will have more courage than Schumer and filabuster this dangerous choice.
If Schumer ever gets his head out of Obama's backside he may realize what a mistake he is making.
Jean Pierre, I think you meant moot, when you used mute, but mute works. The time to speak is before the unthinkable becomes the known. For my part, I will continue to doubt the sincerity of Hagel's about face until he proves otherwise…the sooner the better, should his confirmation go through. One wonders if the players in Obama politics are not simply copying the disinformation strategies of their financial backers in the oil rich countries, and their Middle East subordinates, the less rich minions. I tell it thus, so that bureaucrats at FBook don't accidentally shut down my FBook page.
If Schumer is really planning to support Hagel, something obviously crooked is going on or he is stupidly naive to believe all the bs Hagel is dishing out just to get confirmed…Hey, let's get real people…who's fooling who?