Chuck Hagel, Gone Who is Next?
U.S.
Hagel Resigns Under Pressure as Global Crises Test Pentagon
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel handed in his resignation under pressure on Monday, the first cabinet-level casualty of the collapse of President Obama’s
Democratic majority in the Senate and the struggles of his national
security team to respond to an onslaught of global crises.
In
announcing Mr. Hagel’s resignation from the State Dining Room on
Monday, the president, flanked by Mr. Hagel and Vice President Joseph R.
Biden Jr., called Mr. Hagel critical to ushering the military “through a
significant period of transition” and lauded “a young Army sergeant
from Vietnam who rose to serve as America’s 24th secretary of defense.”
Mr.
Obama called Mr. Hagel “no ordinary secretary of defense,” adding that
he had “been in the dirt” of combat like no other defense chief. He said
that Mr. Hagel would remain in the job until his successor is confirmed
by the Senate.
Administration
officials said that Mr. Obama made the decision to remove Mr. Hagel,
the sole Republican on his national security team, last Friday after a
series of meetings between the two men over the past two weeks.
President Obama called Chuck Hagel “no
ordinary secretary of defense” during a news conference at which Mr.
Hagel announced his resignation.
Video by Associated Press on
Publish Date November 24, 2014.
Photo by Stephen Crowley/The New York Times.
The
officials characterized the decision as a recognition that the threat
from the militant group Islamic State will require different skills from
those that Mr. Hagel, who often struggled to articulate a clear
viewpoint and was widely viewed as a passive defense secretary, was
brought in to employ.
Mr.
Hagel, a combat veteran who was skeptical about the Iraq war, came in
to manage the Afghanistan combat withdrawal and the shrinking Pentagon
budget in the era of budget sequestrations.
Now,
however, the American military is back on a war footing, although it is
a modified one. Some 3,000 American troops are being deployed in Iraq
to help the Iraqi military fight the Sunni militants of the Islamic
State, even as the administration struggles to come up with, and
articulate, a coherent strategy to defeat the group in both Iraq and
Syria.
“The
next couple of years will demand a different kind of focus,” one
administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He
insisted that Mr. Hagel was not fired, saying that the defense
secretary initiated discussions about his future two weeks ago with the
president, and that the two men mutually agreed that it was time for him
to leave.
But
Mr. Hagel’s aides had maintained in recent weeks that he expected to
serve the full four years as defense secretary. His removal appears to
be an effort by the White House to show that it is sensitive to critics
who have pointed to stumbles in the government’s early response to
several national security issues, including the Ebola crisis and the
threat posed by the Islamic State.
Even
before the announcement of Mr. Hagel’s removal, Obama officials were
speculating on his possible replacement. At the top of the list were
Michèle A. Flournoy, a former under secretary of defense, and Ashton B.
Carter, a former deputy secretary of defense.
Chuck Hagel, whose resignation as defense
secretary was announced Monday, said he would stay in the job and
support the president until his successor was confirmed.
Video by Associated Press on
Publish Date November 24, 2014.
Photo by Stephen Crowley/The New York Times.
Senator
Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and a former officer with the
Army’s 82nd Airborne, was also considered to be a contender, but a
spokesman said that the senator was not in the running. “Senator Reed
loves his job and does not wish to be considered for secretary of
defense or any other cabinet post,” the spokesman said.
Mr.
Hagel, a respected former senator who struck a friendship with Mr.
Obama when they were both critics of the Iraq war from positions on the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has nonetheless had trouble
penetrating the tight team of former campaign aides and advisers who
form Mr. Obama’s closely knit set of loyalists. Senior administration
officials have characterized him as quiet during cabinet meetings; Mr.
Hagel’s defenders said that he waited until he was alone with the
president before sharing his views, the better to avoid leaks.
Whatever
the case, Mr. Hagel struggled to fit in with Mr. Obama’s close circle
and was viewed as never gaining traction in the administration after a
bruising confirmation fight among his old Senate colleagues, during
which he was criticized for seeming tentative in his responses to sharp
questions.
He
never really shed that pall after arriving at the Pentagon, and in the
past few months he has largely ceded the stage to the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, who officials said
initially won the confidence of Mr. Obama with his recommendation of
military action against the Islamic State.
In
Mr. Hagel’s less than two years on the job, his detractors said he
struggled to inspire confidence at the Pentagon in the manner of his
predecessors, especially Robert M. Gates. But several of Mr. Obama’s top
advisers over the past few months have also acknowledged privately that
the president did not want another high-profile defense secretary in
the mold of Mr. Gates, who went on to write a memoir of his years with
Mr. Obama in which he sharply criticized the president. Mr. Hagel, they
said, in many ways was exactly the kind of defense secretary whom the
president, after battling the military during his first term, wanted.
Mr.
Hagel, for his part, spent his time on the job largely carrying out Mr.
Obama’s stated wishes on matters like bringing back American troops
from Afghanistan and trimming the Pentagon budget, with little pushback.
He did manage to inspire loyalty among enlisted soldiers and often
seemed at his most confident when talking to troops or sharing wartime
experiences as a Vietnam veteran.
But
Mr. Hagel has often had problems articulating his thoughts — or
administration policy — in an effective manner, and has sometimes left
reporters struggling to describe what he has said in news conferences.
In his side-by-side appearances with both General Dempsey and Secretary
of State John Kerry, Mr. Hagel, a decorated Vietnam veteran and the
first former enlisted combat soldier to be defense secretary, has often
been upstaged.
He
raised the ire of the White House in August as the administration was
ramping up its strategy to fight the Islamic State, directly
contradicting the president, who months before had likened the Sunni
militant group to a junior varsity basketball squad. Mr. Hagel, facing
reporters in his now-familiar role next to General Dempsey, called the
Islamic State an “imminent threat to every interest we have,” adding,
“This is beyond anything that we’ve seen.” White House officials later
said they viewed those comments as unhelpful, although the
administration still appears to be struggling to define just how large
is the threat posed by the Islamic State.
995 Comments
UnclePeter
NJ 9 hours ago
This is just another example of silencing your critics. Chuck Hagel called 'em as he saw 'em.
Usa Lover
Detroit,Mi. 9 hours ago
I am Republican. - This is fine with me. Hagel
just wasn't a good fit for that Job. He always looked like a deer in
the headlights to me. And never exuded much confidence.
Reality Based
Flyover Country 9 hours ago
This is no time for piling on one of the few
decent remaining Republicans, Chuck Hagel.. But there were always far
more qualified candidates for DefSec. Former NATO commander and
top-of-his-class at West Point Wesley Clark, who is no neo-con, comes to
mind. Sure, Republicans hate him, but they will assassinate the
character of any Obama appointee.
AACNY
is a trusted commenter NY 9 hours ago
Chuck Hagel didn't always present well, often
appearing muddled and sleepy, but when he spoke about Vietnam Veterans,
he was brilliant and came alive. There was no doubt about his
commitment to them. I hope he continues to work on their behalf.
Bert Gold
Frederick, Maryland 9 hours ago
I am truly surprised that Barack Obama took a
stand on something. It must be that Hagel violated his loyalty oath to
the President. My take is that it is way too little, way too late to
change the dismal course of events. But, at least, when the history of
this era is written, we can say that Obama was a stronger President as a
lame duck, than anticipated.
PaulB
Cincinnati, Ohio 8 hours ago
It's been painfully apparent for months, if not
years, that the Obama Administration operates out of the Oval Office and
the West Wing, with little input or gravitas from Cabinet officials,
agency heads and Congress. In theory, this might work if the staff
around the President were both dedicated and independent. But this
group is most notable for its insularity, its excessive loyalty (to the
point of blindness), and its total lack of public profile or
accountability.
Ultimately, it reflects the President's severe management limitations. That a rather inarticulate former Senator would even be considered for Defense Secretary says less about him and much much more about a in-bred weakness at the top of the federal government pyramid.
Ultimately, it reflects the President's severe management limitations. That a rather inarticulate former Senator would even be considered for Defense Secretary says less about him and much much more about a in-bred weakness at the top of the federal government pyramid.
brian
egmont key 8 hours ago
saw his interview on charlie rose. seemed like
he was hanging onto a branch at the shore of a raging river. no
straight answers either
Andre
Germany 8 hours ago
Chuck Hagel seemed to me to be a good choice
after Gates. although it sometimes felt as if he had trouble trying to
keep a straight back while melting his position with that of the
administration - maybe that's why some think he wasn't always clear
enough with what he said.
Especially during this month's hearing on fighting ISIS, answering the same kind of questions over and over again, trying to keep calm. I admired him there. Some of the politicians wanted nothing but to hammer away or use the few minutes to state their position.
I wish Chuck Hagel the best. The balancing act (him/administration) might have destroyed him sooner or later. Being forced time and again to try and sell watered down versions of what you think is right ultimately always gets to you. No matter how tough you are, or what a master diplomat.
Especially during this month's hearing on fighting ISIS, answering the same kind of questions over and over again, trying to keep calm. I admired him there. Some of the politicians wanted nothing but to hammer away or use the few minutes to state their position.
I wish Chuck Hagel the best. The balancing act (him/administration) might have destroyed him sooner or later. Being forced time and again to try and sell watered down versions of what you think is right ultimately always gets to you. No matter how tough you are, or what a master diplomat.
Arthur Silen
Davis California 8 hours ago
Cabinet appointees reflect the times and
circumstances of when they were appointed. One need only look back to
the Vietnam era when Robert S. McNamara, a Kennedy appointee and former
Ford executive, became the emblematic figure of the military buildup and
deployment of American combat troops to Southeast Asia. McNamara was
perhaps the most visible member of that group of American cabinet level
officials who were tagged with the sobriquet, "the best and the
brightest". McNamara was the consummate bean counter, a soulless
bureaucrat whose claim to fame rested entirely on his ability to
manipulate numbers. We all know what happened after that.
Mr. Hagel, the current Defense Secretary, appears to be caught in a similar bind. He, too, served during the Vietnam era, but as a front-line soldier and noncommissioned officer. Regardless of Mr. Hagel's future prominence in politics and government, his personal experience as a combat infantryman fighting a costly, losing war in the jungles of Southeast Asia, must inevitably have colored his vision and understanding of what his job as Defense Secretary is all about. When the external threats we now face were on a distant horizon, and which nobody really understood, Mr. Hagel was an excellent choice for the job he was given. But circumstances change. We now need someone who is savvy about the conflict we are now about to face, and can deal with it effectively. Better that Mr. Hagel leave now before the killing begins in earnest.
Mr. Hagel, the current Defense Secretary, appears to be caught in a similar bind. He, too, served during the Vietnam era, but as a front-line soldier and noncommissioned officer. Regardless of Mr. Hagel's future prominence in politics and government, his personal experience as a combat infantryman fighting a costly, losing war in the jungles of Southeast Asia, must inevitably have colored his vision and understanding of what his job as Defense Secretary is all about. When the external threats we now face were on a distant horizon, and which nobody really understood, Mr. Hagel was an excellent choice for the job he was given. But circumstances change. We now need someone who is savvy about the conflict we are now about to face, and can deal with it effectively. Better that Mr. Hagel leave now before the killing begins in earnest.
Al Neuman
Reality 8 hours ago
Chuck Hagel is a pioneer who initiated
discussion on lifting the military's ban on transgender soldiers. The
Obama administration and Chelsea Mannings of the world will miss him.
Ned
San Francisco 7 hours ago
Hagel was a poor choice, but not because of his
views. His efforts to shrink a grossly bloated and inefficient defense
budget should be applauded, as should his skepticism about rushing into
war. Don't mistake a reluctance to get involved in another pointless
war--and let's face it, Iraq and Afghanistan are largely failures--with
weakness. (It actually takes more guts to do nothing in circumstances
like this). No, Hagel's problem, and this is mentioned in the article,
is that he is not a great communicator, and that is a critical deficit
in a DOD chief.
Ron
Detroit 7 hours ago
This is an opportunity for compromise.
Republicans have already threatened to stall on any appointments
proffered by Obama, including Loretta Lynn (US Attorney). With Hagel's
untimely resignation, Obama will likely use this as an opportunity to
bargain for Lynn's appointment, with the agreement to name as next
Secretary of Defense, someone much, much more aggressive in the Middle
East.
expat from L.A.
Los Angeles, CA 7 hours ago
I admire Chuck Hagel for who he is and what he
has done in his life. He deserves our congratulations for his service,
and for putting country ahead of party. I wish him well.
malabar
florida 7 hours ago
Its time this job is filled by an intelligent
military strategist and not a politician from any party. We will be
fighting a permanent war against endemic islamo-terrorism and we need a
Defense secretary who knows the region and its politics and history
well. We will prevail with a consistent strategy of intimidation,
targeted attacks and assassination (yes that's what we do now with
drones), employment of special forces as needed, and supplemental
consolidation with traditional land-force military tactics as needed.
The task can be managed on a lean budget by the right candidate
executing a relentless and consistent strategy. We need to win the war
long-term and keep it off the front pages. We can do it.
Chantel
By the Sea 7 hours ago
I echo the comments of those who assert that
Hagel was the right person for the job when the focus was on Iraq and
Afghanistan. Now, we need an expert on broader Middle Eastern foreign
policy.
It really is that pragmatic.
Is the GOP really so simple that it must have an apocalyptic meltdown over everything?
Seriously?
It really is that pragmatic.
Is the GOP really so simple that it must have an apocalyptic meltdown over everything?
Seriously?
Takenitez
Cleveland 7 hours ago
The right-wingers attacked Hagel, and now Obama
casts him aside. Not too many people cared for him much. No swagger.
No presentation, little hard-nosed strength like Gates. Hagel did not
shine in front of the camera. But anyone who has actually been in war
on the ground as a common soldier understands Hagel immediately and
respects him. Gates is to be respected because he cared about what he
was doing and he was not joking. Hagel too.
Birch
New York 7 hours ago
The "war party" has won. I think it an ominous
sign that Hagel is being kicked out, presumably in favor of someone more
belligerent. We are now set for all out war in Ukraine and the Middle
East.
PogoWasRight
Melbourne Florida 7 hours ago
As a former career military man, I am surprised
that Hagel lasted this long. A former combat enlisted soldier had to
have been looked down on by the Congress he had to deal with. And
probably by General Officers whom he now controlled and far outranked. I
can only say that we need more combat-boot-experience by our government
officials, such as Rand Paul, who is now recommending we declare war on
ISIS. A war in which he knows he will never have to participate. My
thanks to Chuck Hagel and I wish him well. He did a good job.
ernieh1
Queens, NY 7 hours ago
A tragedy indeed, Hagel is a good man, and Obama
fought so hard to get him appointed. SecDef is a job almost no one can
succeed at today, maybe not even Dwight Eisenhower.
To my mind, however, Obama should have picked a younger person, someone on the way up, not retired and tired, as Hagel clearly was.
To my mind, however, Obama should have picked a younger person, someone on the way up, not retired and tired, as Hagel clearly was.
Adrian O
State College, PA 6 hours ago
"He raised the ire of the White House ...
directly contradicting the president, who months before had likened the
Sunni militant group to a junior varsity basketball squad.
Mr. Hagel... called the Islamic State an “imminent threat to every interest we have, this is beyond anything that we’ve seen.”
White House officials later said they viewed those comments as unhelpful."
******
So basically Hagel had to resign because he was right...
Mr. Hagel... called the Islamic State an “imminent threat to every interest we have, this is beyond anything that we’ve seen.”
White House officials later said they viewed those comments as unhelpful."
******
So basically Hagel had to resign because he was right...
Valerie
Maine 6 hours ago
As a lefty lucy liberal, I say, Chuck Hagel is a good guy; one of the few conservatives I respect and can tolerate.
As such, I'm really sad to see him go. As much as I support the president, I wonder if Hagel's own deliberate manner is something we should discard.
I hope Hagel appears elsewhere in the political arena. He is too reasoned and rational to lose.
As such, I'm really sad to see him go. As much as I support the president, I wonder if Hagel's own deliberate manner is something we should discard.
I hope Hagel appears elsewhere in the political arena. He is too reasoned and rational to lose.
Uga Muga
Miami 6 hours ago
It doesn't matter who's Secretary of Defense. As
a chef once said in a college cooking class "if the meat is rotten, no
sauce can improve the dish" (use good materials to formulate a good
result). Hegemony or no hegemony, America's foreign policy has been a
disaster for decades upon decades. Instead of speak softly and carry a
big stick, we've had speak loudly and carry a big schtick.
If not for the overwhelming economic and military power, the US would not have survived its dismal performance in that arena that brings us to where we are today.
If not for the overwhelming economic and military power, the US would not have survived its dismal performance in that arena that brings us to where we are today.
Ed Winter
Montclair, NJ 6 hours ago
It's been known for some time that the president
is calling the military shots, right down to approving individual
actions on the ground. If he's going to run military actions out of the
White House a la Lyndon Johnson, then he certainly needs an insider,
someone known and trusted on his side of the moat. A political loyalist
with some veneer of military respectability will best serve the
president's interests and get him through the next two years.
Marie Claire
Scottsdale 6 hours ago
We will soon see the real reason why Hagel was
removed by the replacement and the actions taken after the replacement
takes office.
Yoandel
Boston, MA 6 hours ago
Mr. Hagel became, since he was appointed some
short time ago, a liability to the President, and had the temerity of
criticizing and weakening the President's hand by providing fodder to
his critics.
Mr. Hagel is, of course, entitled to his own opinions, and should voice them internally --or in a book, after a few years of reflection. Yet, at the same time, it is clear that Mr. Hagel should have never been appointed to Mr. Obama's cabinet --nor should any other Republicans such as Ray LaHood and Robert Gates. Mr. Obama expected to somehow have these overtures result in bipartisan cooperation --a naive dream that resulted instead in backstabbing, lack of coordination, and lackluster support for the President and his policies. Time is running out, but it seems that Mr. Obama has decided to make the best of his time in office by improving on his team --and this is a positive.
Mr. Hagel is, of course, entitled to his own opinions, and should voice them internally --or in a book, after a few years of reflection. Yet, at the same time, it is clear that Mr. Hagel should have never been appointed to Mr. Obama's cabinet --nor should any other Republicans such as Ray LaHood and Robert Gates. Mr. Obama expected to somehow have these overtures result in bipartisan cooperation --a naive dream that resulted instead in backstabbing, lack of coordination, and lackluster support for the President and his policies. Time is running out, but it seems that Mr. Obama has decided to make the best of his time in office by improving on his team --and this is a positive.
24 November 2014
Last updated at 13:11 ET
President Barack Obama confirmed Chuck Hagel's resignation and paid tribute to his "class and integrity"
Mr Hagel may not have been fired, but he certainly appears to have been pushed; realising himself before the mid-term congressional elections that his position was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
In the wake of those elections, with the Republicans ascendant on Capitol Hill, it is clear that the Pentagon and President Barack Obama's foreign policy in general, is going to come under concerted scrutiny from the Republican chairmen of the powerful oversight committees.
The White House appears to have concluded that it needs a stronger, less diffident hand on the tiller.
'Imminent threat' Mr Hagel is the first casualty of what many of Mr Obama's critics see as a struggling national security policy.
He came on board to oversee the US draw-down in Afghanistan and to manage a defence establishment with a much smaller budget.
The world has changed since Mr Hagel was appointed as President Obama's defence secretary in 2013
But the world has changed since then.
Worsening relations with Russia, the response to the Ebola crisis and above all the rise of the so-called Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria and Iraq have put the defence department in the spotlight.
Mr Hagel often seemed uncomfortable or at variance with aspects of the administration's policies.
Describing the threat from IS in August he said that it was " an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it's in Iraq or anywhere else… this is beyond anything that we've seen."
This dramatic elevation of the IS challenge seemed to many analysts to be out of proportion to the real threat that the organisation poses.
Withering criticism Mr Hagel was also known to be uneasy with the administration's focus largely on Iraq, with Syria seen as a secondary front.
Quite apart from being overshadowed by other members of the administration, he was frequently upstaged by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey who has often spoken out clearly and eloquently very much in the vanguard of stated administration policy.
But if there has been confusion and uncertainty in the administration's approach to IS it is hardly Mr Hagel's fault alone.
Mr Obama's handling of foreign policy has come in for some withering criticism from well-placed analysts.
His own lack of foreign policy experience and lack of a real strategic sense is seen as a large part of the problem.
Mr Hagel's successor has yet to be decided
So too his willingness to make policy in the White House surrounded by a small group of loyal aides.
Mr Hagel may be as much a casualty of Mr Obama's shortcomings as he is of his own.
Chuck Hagel will continue to head the Pentagon until his successor is nominated and confirmed.
Those confirmation hearings promise to provide an opportunity for the President's Republican critics to mount a forensic critique of Mr Obama's approach to the world.
Where did it go wrong for US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel?
President Barack Obama confirmed Chuck Hagel's resignation and paid tribute to his "class and integrity"
Chuck
Hagel, a former enlisted soldier, Vietnam veteran and moderate
Republican senator, appeared to be an ideal candidate for the post of
defence secretary.
But his less than impressive performance during his
confirmation hearings back in February 2013 - he had a decidedly bumpy
ride from his fellow senators - was a clear indication of potential
problems ahead.Mr Hagel may not have been fired, but he certainly appears to have been pushed; realising himself before the mid-term congressional elections that his position was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
In the wake of those elections, with the Republicans ascendant on Capitol Hill, it is clear that the Pentagon and President Barack Obama's foreign policy in general, is going to come under concerted scrutiny from the Republican chairmen of the powerful oversight committees.
The White House appears to have concluded that it needs a stronger, less diffident hand on the tiller.
'Imminent threat' Mr Hagel is the first casualty of what many of Mr Obama's critics see as a struggling national security policy.
He came on board to oversee the US draw-down in Afghanistan and to manage a defence establishment with a much smaller budget.
The world has changed since Mr Hagel was appointed as President Obama's defence secretary in 2013
Worsening relations with Russia, the response to the Ebola crisis and above all the rise of the so-called Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria and Iraq have put the defence department in the spotlight.
Mr Hagel often seemed uncomfortable or at variance with aspects of the administration's policies.
Describing the threat from IS in August he said that it was " an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it's in Iraq or anywhere else… this is beyond anything that we've seen."
This dramatic elevation of the IS challenge seemed to many analysts to be out of proportion to the real threat that the organisation poses.
Withering criticism Mr Hagel was also known to be uneasy with the administration's focus largely on Iraq, with Syria seen as a secondary front.
Quite apart from being overshadowed by other members of the administration, he was frequently upstaged by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey who has often spoken out clearly and eloquently very much in the vanguard of stated administration policy.
But if there has been confusion and uncertainty in the administration's approach to IS it is hardly Mr Hagel's fault alone.
Mr Obama's handling of foreign policy has come in for some withering criticism from well-placed analysts.
His own lack of foreign policy experience and lack of a real strategic sense is seen as a large part of the problem.
Mr Hagel's successor has yet to be decided
Mr Hagel may be as much a casualty of Mr Obama's shortcomings as he is of his own.
Chuck Hagel will continue to head the Pentagon until his successor is nominated and confirmed.
Those confirmation hearings promise to provide an opportunity for the President's Republican critics to mount a forensic critique of Mr Obama's approach to the world.
...and I am Sid Harth
