Commentaries, Opinions, Editorials, And Analysis On The Appointment Of Chuck Hagel As U.S. Defense Secretary

Why President Obama Picked Chuck Hagel -- Reid J. Epstein, Politico

President Barack Obama’s decision to nominate Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense has mystified lawmakers from both parties.

Democrats don’t love the former Nebraska senator because he’s a Republican. Republicans don’t think he’s a real Republican. And his past statements have at times angered two key Obama constituencies: Jewish groups and gay-rights activists.

But inside the White House, the choice makes sense. It appeals to Obama’s bipartisan spirit — and the optics aren’t bad, either — to have any Republican as Defense secretary when Obama is seeking to end the war in Afghanistan and dramatically reduce the Pentagon’s budget. Hagel brings even more credibility to the task because he’s a decorated Vietnam veteran and would be the first from that war to lead the Pentagon.

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More Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials On The Appointment Of Chuck Hagel As U.S. Secretary Of Defense

Hagel Means Iran Containment -- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary
Hagel: A New Era In Foreign Policy? -- Peter Beinart, Daily Beast
6 Reasons Obama Is Nominating Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense -- Jill Lawrence, The Atlantic
Newsmaker: Republican maverick Hagel forged bond with Obama over Iraq -- Reuters
Hagel has history of controversial positions -- CNN
All the Reasons Why Everyone (Especially John McCain) Might Dislike Defense Secretary Nominee Chuck Hagel -- Juli Weiner, Vanity Fair
What's Behind the Chuck Hagel Confirmation Fight -- Susan Milligan, US News and World Report
The Hagel Choice: An 'Amish Give Up' Moment for Obama? -- James Fallows, The Atlantic
President Obama picks a confirmation fight. Can he win it? -- Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake, Washington Post
Obama Antagonizes with Hagel Pick -- Chris Stirewalt, FOX News
There’s No Case for Hagel -- William Kristol, Weekly Standard
Why Republicans Should Welcome Chuck Hagel To The Pentagon's Top Job -- Loren Thompson, Forbes
Why Won't Obama Chuck Hagel? -- james Poulos, Forbes
First Thoughts: Hagel -- a man without a party -- NBC
Obama pick for Pentagon shaped by combat in Vietnam -- AFP
Hagel pick challenges bipartisan national security consensus -- Jamelle Bouie,, Washington Post
Obama’s Pick for Defense Is an Ally, and a Lightning Rod -- Scott Shane and David E. Sanger, Washington Post
Who Is Chuck Hagel? -- Chris Good, ABC News