U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel Dodges The Question On Reports That The U.S. Is Talking To Syria's Islamists

Hagel’s Worst Dodge Ever -- Washington Free Beacon

Sec. Def. on WSJ Syria report: 'That's not my area I deal with'

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sidestepped Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin’s question about today’s Wall Street Journal report alleging the U.S. has reached out to Islamists inside Syria Wednesday in a Pentagon press conference.

Griffin asked Hagel if the American overtures to extremists are a tacit acknowledgment Islamists have gained the upper hand in the Syrian civil war.

Hagel demurred in his response, offering a rather banal explanation (even by Hagel standards) of Syrian diplomacy all the while avoiding the crux of Griffin’s question:

JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Mr. secretary, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is now reaching out to some of the islamist groups inside Syria. Is this an acknowledgment that Al Qaeda is getting the upper hand and there is concern if you don’t reach out to these groups you won’t have any influence in Syria first can you comment on that, both of you actually?

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My Comment: He is either totally out of the loop .... or he is in the loop and has not been prepped by the White House on how to answer this question. Either way .... he inspires utterly no confidence.