Lasky: Anti-Israel Sen. Hagel for Defense if Obama wins?

[Israel Insider]

by Ed Lasky

Senator Obama has leaked names of potential Cabinet picks to the Times of London. Among the revelations: Senator Chuck Hagel has been "tipped as defence secretary". This would be seen as reaching across the aisle since Hagel is-at least nominally-a Republican.

Many on the right would designate him a RINO (Republican in Name Only) since he has often taken positions that rankle fellow Republicans. He opposed the surge in Iraq, for example.

Furthermore, concerns may arise in other quarters.

Americans who support the American-Israel relationship (and this includes millions of Christians) may look in askance at the selection of Senator Hagel. He has compiled a record towards our embattled ally that raises questions about his views and the likely advice he may present to a President Obama.

Hagel has a record of being "weak on terrorism" according to the New York Sun (now sadly closed, but a paper that the Obama campaign used periodically to burnish his pro-Israel bona fides because it once ran an editorial supportive of Obama on the issue of Israel. The campaign ignored many op-eds and editorials that did not reflect so well on Senator Obama on this issue).

Areas of concern, according to the New York Sun: hat motivated their columns on Hagel:

One indicator came on July 24, 2001, when the Senate voted 96 to 2 to renew the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. The act helps deny Iran and Libya money that they would spend on supporting terror or acquiring weapons of mass
destruction. The two senators who opposed the measure? Messrs. Lugar and Hagel.

Another indicator came on November 11, 2003, when the Senate, by a vote of 89 to 4, passed the Syria Accountability Act authorizing sanctions on Syria for its support of terrorism and its occupation of Lebanon. Mr. Hagel - along with Mr. Kerry - didn't vote. Mr. Hagel met in Damascus in 1998 with the terror-sponsoring dictator, Hafez Al-Assad, and returned to tell a reporter about the meeting, "Peace comes through dealing with people. Peace doesn't come at the end of a bayonet or the end of a gun."

Feature, as well, the lineup on April 6, 2001, when 87 members of the Senate sent President Bush a letter saying Yasser Arafat should not be invited to meet with high-level officials in Washington. The letter also faulted the Palestinians for using violence against Israel. Messrs. Lugar and Hagel did not sign the letter. When, on May 22, 1998, the Senate, by a vote of 90 to 4, passed the Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act, imposing sanctions on foreigners who help Iran's missile program, Mr. Lugar fetched up among the four senators who voted against the measure.

These columns, in a July 10, 2003, editorial headlined "Ayatollah Lugar," have already reported on how Mr. Lugar watered down the Iran Democracy Act that was introduced by Senators Brownback, Schumer, Kyl, Inouye, and others. On April 18, 2002, when the Senate, by 88 to 10, voted to ban the import to America of Iraqi oil until Iraq stopped compensating the families of Palestinian Arab suicide bombers, Messrs. Lugar and Hagel were among the handful who voted to bring in the oil.

The bottom line is that Messrs. Hagel and Lugar (Hagar, is how their names can be contracted) want a weaker stance than most other senators against the terrorists in Iran and Syria and the West Bank and Gaza and against those who help the terrorists. They are more concerned than most other senators about upsetting our erstwhile allies in Europe - the French and Germans - who do business with the terrorists.

Senator Hagel often appears before Arab-American groups to air his views regarding the Middle East. Among the gems of wisdom: support for Israel shouldn't be automatic. .

He has also joined a chorus of people surrounding Barack Obama who have made derogatory remarks about the so-called Jewish Lobby.

Says Hagel: "The political reality is that... the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here." This audio should be heard to truly gauge his own feelings.

Google "Chuck Hagel and Israel" for a history of his views.

Note his use of the term "Jewish Lobby". There are many millions of Americans who are not Jewish, who are also active in supporting the American-Israel relationship.

As Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel would play a key role in working with his Israeli counterparts when formulating strategies that would promote our mutual interests in the region. The Israeli and American defense industries and departments have a long record of working closely together-an alliance that has been mutually beneficial and that has proven crucial in giving Israel the tools she has needed to defend herself from a wide range of adversaries boasting of her coming destruction.

Israel's access to America's arsenal of high tech defense goods have given her the qualitative edge that is vital in ensuring her safety and security against numerically superior enemies with vast oil wealth at their disposal. Israel's access to X-Band radar technology and anti-ballistic missiles (facilitated by my own Congressman-Mark Kirk) have been the fruits of this cooperation, as has been Israel's ability to buy advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes.

Will Chuck Hagel change this policy of cooperation? Samantha Power, a likely foreign policy key player in an Obama Administration, certainly wants to use this type of leverage on Israel.*

These sort of joint programs often have to have the approval of the Defense Secretary. Will Chuck Hagel be willing to continue the long tradition of America helping her only true ally in the region? Will he use the threat of terminating or slowing down such cooperation as a means to exert leverage? Will he work expeditiously to supply Israel with the defense items she needs when attacked (as Richard Nixon did when he ordered massive quantities of weapons to be airlifted to Israel during the 1973 War)?

If past is prologue, there are legitimate reasons to be concerned if Barack Obama appoints Chuck Hagel as our next Secretary of Defense. Ed Lasky is editor of American Thinker.

[RonaldH]

Good post radiantstreams. If Hagel is appointed Secretary of Defense, Israel will need to be constantly vigilant for the knifing at close range. Israel should not trust Hagel at all ... period. Be polite, then send him home quickly. Under no circumstances, does Israel reveal technological secrets. No strategic secrets, either. Hagel will not help Israel ... period. If Hagel says he will help ... run. He is about to plant the knife in the Jews.

[RedSniper]

"Hagel is a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the United States Army infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) from 1967–1968. While serving during the Vietnam War, he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After returning from Vietnam, Hagel worked as a bartender and radio newscaster while finishing college." - thus spake the Wikipedia. Not too correct to leave this snippet of info out. I think as opposed to all the yahoos in current Bush's Animal House - who spent NOT A DAY in uniform (not counting W's getting hammered in Air Guard O'Club), let alone in the bush in Vietnam, let alone as grunt GI - Chuck Hagel comes up trumps on every front. He may be an Israel-hating SOB (although this charge may be yet another of the shrill, groundless acusations that flew this way and that during this campaign) - at least it's known where he stands. He hasn't been caught holding hands with any Saudi princelings, has he?
And further,as I said before, and will continue to say: if Israel's survival and security is so bloody dependant on this or that particular personage in some cabinet in Washington, DC - then it's a high time to pull out the stakes, board the ships and brace ourselves for another long Diaspora and all the "nice" things associated with it. I for one will not give a rats dropping for a Province of Iudaea, a loyal client to the Roman Empire. Am Israel Chai!

[RedSniper]

I have NEVER compared the worthiness of McCain vs. Chuck Hagel. I have compared worthiness of Rep (R)Chuck Hagel with the personages of current US administration. Particularly, their glaring luck of record of putting their prescious pelts anywhere near the "harm's way". This is not in any way an endorsment of this highly hypothetical prospective appointment as SecDef in Obama's cabinet. That being said - we must face reality. McCain (a thoroughly worthy mensch that he is) has failed to put together a campaign. Partly this failure can be attributed to the burden of the previous administration, partly of his being out of touch - either way, the way wind's blowin' - we wont see President McCain administration, come Jan1st. Were I an American - I'd still vote for him, though - because I firmly hold Sen. Obama to be a politically correct showpiece without substance or gravitas. I also believe that, despite Obama's unsuitability to the Office of POTUS, his campaign was aided, rather then hampered by the shrill condemnations and outlandish claims that his opponents (with more than one mole-supporter hidden in, no doubt) unloaded all over the internet. As you may recall, I have voiced my misgivings about that earlier - and I hate to see them coming to bear fruit. Again - our choices are between grim (or may be not so grim afterall) reality and happy propaganda. USA can look after itself, and if Obama screws up - in four years he can be booted out of office and relegated to the "Lousy Presidents File" - if GWB and Jimmy Carter would spare a room. As for Israel - I have expressed my sentiments above.

[RedSniper]

I am in favor of McCain/Palin, for what it's worth. I am still angry at them for they let this two-bit salesman with his glib mantras and no substance to outdance them so blatantly.

[RonaldH]

Redsniper, thank you for the information about Hagel's war record. I didn't know what it was. It sounds like he was a very good and brave soldier. However, I didn't see anything in his record that would qualify him for the highest civilian job in the Defense Department. But putting that aside, my concern about Hagel is his political views about Israel - not his military accomplishments and knowledge. Believe me, I am not worried about Hagel's impact on Israel. I am worried about Israel's impact on Israel. Israel needs to stand strong for her rights and tell the US 'no' when Israel's security is put in jeopardy. Just for the sake of discussion, one person can have a tremendous impact on another country, and the whole world for that matter. Harry Truman decided to cast the US vote in the UN in 1947, for the establishment of the state of Israel. He did this in spite of the advice he received from his Secretary of State George Marshall. Had Marshall prevailed in his views, Israel may never have come into existance.

[RedSniper]

Harry Truman decided to cast the US vote in the UN in 1947, for the establishment of the state of Israel. He did this in spite of the advice he received from his Secretary of State George Marshall. Had Marshall prevailed in his views, Israel may never have come into existance.----With all due respect, it's akin to saying that without the stamp from the clerk at the registrar's office, the child is not truly born. Truman, BTW was by no means a judeophile or a raving zionist. L-rd often uses the most unlikely tools to do H-s works, so to speak.

[RonaldH]

Redsniper, if what you are saying about the state of Israel is that Jews dreamed it, worked hard for it, sacrificed, fought, and died for it, then I agree with you. Jews built and earned the state of Israel. But I don't see the rationale or usefulness in diminishing the contributions of individuals and nations who participated in the establishment of Israel at the UN. The UN vote made Israel legal for all time. That is no small matter in my opinion.

[gol bitta pia]

Being a Nebraskan and Hagel being my congressman I think this article doesn't take into account all that Hagel is about. I have found Hagel to be pretty up front about his stances on things and at least not be a flip-flopper politician. I have also had favorable responses from his office when it comes to me writing him about Israeli and other political issues. At least his office replies. I never hear from Ben Nelson and Lee Terry is a joke. I have even gotten a telephone call from his office in Washington DC in reply to one of my many e-mails to him. Granted there are people here in Nebraska that do not like Hagel as he is not conservative enough. Others like him a great deal here. But when you don't get much to choose from come election time, one usually votes for the lessor of two evils. I would have liked to see Hal Daub running for congress to replace Hagel, however, he did not have enough pull in the Republican Party here in Nebraska to get the votes necessary to win once Mike Johanns entered the race, so Daub pulled out. And here in Nebraska, it seems that the Catholics rule, along with the rich and so goes the election trends here as well. But then again, here in Nebraska, Muslim, Jews and Christians all pretty much accept each other and let each other live as they like, in peace and as good neighbors to each other. So comprehending all the intricate relationships in Israel and the Middle East is somewhat unbelievable to many a Nebraskan I would say. But Nebraskan's like to be fair minded and not play favorites too much when it comes to certain foreign affairs. Mostly they like to play favorites when it comes to the BIG RED and UNL. Also, many a Nebraskan is not all that concerned with foreign affairs as they are with their own affairs, so since Hagel is representing Nebraska and the people living here, he is wise to say that he is working for what he believes is in the best interest of the USA, and that may not be necessarily in the best interest of Israel. But I would not be so certain either that Hagel would even accept the position of Defense Secretary even if offered the job. He does have other options open to him once he leaves the Senate.

[Keith]

YOu can thank osama obama for his hate of Israel

[RonaldH]

shovav, no one said Harry Truman established Israel.

[Ralph Levy]

Well technically that's true but the person who was the most instrumental in it was Eddie Jacobson his life long friend that convinced Truman to recognize Israel