A Farewell Ceremony For U.S. Secretary Of Defense Chuck Hagel

Mark Thompson, Time: Obama’s Awkward Farewell to Hagel

WNU Editor: He will not be missed.

More News On The Farewell Ceremony For U.S. Secretary Of Defense Chuck Hagel

Remarks by the President at Farewell Tribute in Honor of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel -- White House
Obama bids farewell to Hagel -- The Hill
Obama Says Hagel Never Forgot Roots as Soldier in Pentagon Job -- Bloomberg
Obama plays down tensions with outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at retirement ceremony and thanks him for being 'frank and honest' -- Daily Mail
Outgoing Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel to troops: Safeguard our reputation -- Washington Post
At Farewell, Obama Praises Chuck Hagel As 'True American Patriot' -- AP

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

How Obama Dumped Hagel -- Glenn Thrush, Politico

He ‘just wasn’t the man for the job,’ president concluded.

When President Obama first summoned Chuck Hagel to the Oval Office in October, he wanted to know how his Pentagon chief planned to cope with the dangerous new threat posed by the Islamic State that had drawn the reluctant president back into war in the Middle East, not to mention getting a sense of Hagel’s other plans for the final two years of Obama’s presidency.

But after several lackluster, low-energy sessions, Obama was so unimpressed by the performance of his laconic, self-effacing defense secretary that he decided Hagel “just wasn’t the man for the job,” according to a senior administration official. That set in motion the decision that led to Hagel’s decorous dumping on Monday by a president who almost never fires anybody—and never admits it when he does.

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

Hagel Takes a Bullet for Obama: Inside the Defense Secretary’s Sudden Firing -- Shane Harris & Tim Mak, Daily Beast
Where did it go wrong for US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel? -- Jonathan Marcus, BBC
Obama, Hagel Couldn't Make Relationship Work -- Alexis Simendinger, Real Clear Politics
Chuck Hagel: The Fall Guy -- David Rothkopf, Foreign Policy
Hagel out; Obama’s inner circle is intact -- Debra J. Saunders, SFGate
Chuck Hagel’s resignation underscores defense rifts -- Philip Ewing and Jennifer Epstein, Politico
Hagel's exit from Pentagon still leaves administration divided -- W.J. Hennigan & Christi Parsons, L.A. Times
Chuck Hagel departure sets up new battle -- Kimberly Atkins, Boston Herald
President Obama needs to look in mirror about policies that are failing -- James Warren, New York Daily News
Pushing out Hagel not shake-up Obama needs -- David Rothkopf, CNN
Requiem for Chuck Hagel’s many Pentagon reviews -- Dan Lamothe, Washington Post
The Hagel Opportunity -- Thomas Donnelly, Weekly Standard
What Chuck Hagel Got Right -- Michale O'Hanlon, WSJ
On replacement, caution urged -- Eugene Robinson, Saint Louis Dispatch
Chuck Hagel’s far from first in his post 
to clash with President Obama -- Jaclyn Cashman, Boston Herald
A Shake-Up Stops at One -- Mark Landler, NYT
Hagel resignation viewed as inevitable by some -- Euronews
Hagel was 'a very loyal soldier' -- Deutsche Welle
Who On Earth Would Want to Replace Hagel? -- Aaron MacLean, Washington Free Beacon
Hagel move not seen scuttling efforts on innovation, warships -- Reuters
Hagel Exit Shows Obama Has Taken Power Away From Pentagon -- Jonathan Allen and Mike Dorning, Bloomberg Businessweek
White House seeks a stronger hand at Pentagon to manage crises -- Greg Jaffe and Rajiv Chandrasekara, Washington Post
Chuck Hagel's firing won't help U.S. foreign policy -- L.A. Times
Firing Chuck Hagel Won't Solve Obama's Foreign Policy Problems -- John B. Judis, New Republic
Hagel's Departure is Bad News for the Asia Rebalance -- Michael Green, Foreign Policy
Chuck Hagel: A Legacy -- Andrew Stiles, Washington Free Beacon

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: U.S. Military Capability Is Being Threatened

HAGEL: The World Is 'Damn Dangerous' And Our Army Is Not Ready -- Business Insider

In an exclusive interview with Charlie Rose at the Pentagon yesterday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned of the unprecedented challenges facing the United States military role on the global stage.

"The world is dangerous. It is damn dangerous," Hagel said.

Earlier on, Hagel conceded to an array of US foreign policy failures read aloud by Rose from the op-ed pages of The New York Times, adding they came in response to an unprecedented and uniquely volatile global environment.

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Update: Hagel: ‘U.S. Military Capability is Being Threatened’ -- Washington Free Beacon

My Comment: He is right that the world is dangerous and that U.S. military capability is being threatened .... but he is the one who presiding over some the steepest cuts in the U.S. military since the Second World War .... and he seems to be incapable/unable/unwilling to stop it.

US Defense Secretary Hagel ‘Supports’ VA Secretary Eric Shinseki

Defense Secretary Hagel ‘Supports’ Shinseki Amid Health Care Crisis -- Time

But the Secretary of Defense says anyone responsible for poorly caring for sick, wounded veterans must be held accountable

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel lent his support to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki amid an ongoing veterans’ health care scandal, but said in an interview Friday that someone needs to be held accountable for the poor treatment of military veterans.

“Anytime there is an issue or a problem or a veteran doesn’t get service, or certainly if a veteran dies because he or she doesn’t get service, or anytime there’s an issue, there’s no higher responsibility our country has than to these people who serve and sacrifice,” Hagel said during an interview with Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning.

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Update #1: Sec. Hagel : Accountability needed in VA system -- AP
Update #2: Hagel defends Shinseki -- The Hill

My Comment: I am not impressed.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Visits U.S. Allies In The Middle East

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivers closing remarks during the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council defense ministerial conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2014. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Hagel Assures Gulf Allies of Continued U.S. Military Presence -- WSJ

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia--U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies on Wednesday that the U.S. would maintain its military presence in the region to deter Iran even if negotiations to curb its nuclear program are successful.

Negotiators will begin drafting terms of a final agreement on the future of Tehran's nuclear program this week in Vienna. A deal would end a decade-long standoff between Tehran and the West and put into place greater assurances that Iran won't be able to build a bomb, in return for a major easing of Western sanctions.

The U.S. pulled its troops out of Iraq and has sought to shift its focus to Asia, unnerving Gulf states worried about Iran's regional ambitions.

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More News ON U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Visiting U.S. Allies In The Middle East

Hagel Continues Middle East Trip in Jordan -- US Department of Defense
Hagel Arrives in Israel for Consultations, Troop Talk -- US Department of Defense
Hagel Urges Expanded Cooperation in Gulf Region -- US Department of Defense
Iran deal won't weaken Gulf security, Hagel vows -- AP
Hagel Urges Gulf Arab States to Unite Against Threats -- New York Times
US Urges Divided Gulf to Unite Against Threats Like Iran -- Voice of America
Hagel reassures Persian Gulf allies but stops short of offering lethal aid to Syria rebels -- FOX News/AP
Hagel urges unity at Gulf Arab states conference -- UPI
U.S. calls on GCC, Saudi to "confront threat" of Iran -- Al Bawaba
Hagel calls for unity, increased security in the Gulf -- Al Bawaba

Low Poll Results For U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel signs the Human Goals Charter during a ceremony at the Pentagon, April 28, 2014. DOD photo by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Hostutler

Hagel Receives Low Marks From Defense Community In Poll -- The Hill

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has an approval rating of only 36.2 percent, versus a 44.9-percent disapproval rating, according to a new Defense News poll.

Hagel received high marks from Democrats, at 82.6 percent, but that rate was dragged down by Republican disapproval of 62.4 percent and defense industry disapproval at 50.9 percent.

The military gave Hagel a 44-percent approval rating, while 36 percent said they disapprove. Pentagon civilians were split at 38.2 percent.

The poll was taken earlier this month, by 245 members of government, industry and academia who work in defense. Most respondents were Republican, and most came from the defense industry.

Mackenzie Eaglen, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the results were not necessarily personal.

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Update #1: Poll Shows Low Job Approval for Hagel -- Defense News
Update #2: Poll: Defense Chief Hagel Rates Low on Job Approval -- Newsmax

My Comment: Considering what his job is all about right now .... cutting the Pentagon's budget .... I expected even lower poll results for Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. But the sample that was used in this poll was small (245 respondents) and skewed Republican .... you cannot read much from these results.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: US Military Must Adapt To Smaller Budgets

Hagel Warns Against Overreliance on Military Power -- Voice of America

PENTAGON — U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Tuesday the United States should use all of instruments of power, not just its military, to lead the world against terrorism and other threats.

Hagel laid out a list of budget and strategic priorities for the Pentagon in what he called the post-9/11 era when President Barack Obama is moving the country off a perpetual war footing.

He told officials and strategists gathering at a global security forum put on by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that after 12 years of costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are fighting a tendency to look inward and stay out of world conflicts.

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More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Comments At The Pentagon

Lunch At The Pentagon: Hagel Meets With Military Personnel -- NPR
Hagel Warns of Dangers in Deep Cuts to Defense -- ABC News/AP
Pentagon chief warns against over reliance on military power -- Reuters
Hagel warns that defense cuts mean trade-offs -- Washington Post
Hagel: Military must play supporting role in foreign policy -- Washington Times
Hagel’s Call for Smaller Force Delays Picking Among Contractors -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Budget cuts will mean leaner US force -- Global Post/AFP
Hagel says US will continue to lead but admits: 'We must listen more' -- The Guardian
Hagel Warns Against Dangers of 'Hubris' in Military Might -- US News and World Report
Hagel Warns Congress Against Isolationism; Renews Call For Soft Power -- Breaking Defense
Secretary Hagel blasts Congress for defense spending cuts -- Kansas City/McClatchy News
Hagel: Military must adapt to nation's redefined role in world -- UPI
U.S. must use all instruments of power, not just military- Hagel -- Reuters
Hagel Calls for Smaller Force to Protect Defense Technology Edge -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Military Essential in U.S. Foreign Policy Future, Hagel Says -- US Department of Defense
Defense Chief Hagel Raises Prospect of ‘Tiered Readiness’ -- Wall Street Journal
Hagel: U.S. Should Recognize Limits of Military Force -- National Journal
Hagel Identifies Six Areas to Guide DoD Reform Effort -- Defense News
The Pentagon's top 6 to do -- Politico

An Interview With U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel

Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo/DoD

The Atlantic's Interview With Defense Secretary Hagel -- Steve Clemons, Defense One/The Atlantic

Recently, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent a 904-page book to Egyptian Army commander in chief Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, with whom he has had over 20 conversations since taking over at the Pentagon. The book, Washington: A Life, won the Pulitzer Prize for its author, Ron Chernow. Rather than suggesting he read it all, Hagel emphasized to General Al-Sisi the chapter on Washington giving up his power at the end of his presidential term and thus securing for the young nation one of the key pillars of leadership transition in a democracy run by civilian authority.

Hagel connected with the Egyptian general, who would later lead the anti-Morsi coup, when he toured the Gulf region bolting down a major U.S. arms sale in April of this year. Hagel and his Pentagon team had tied together Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirites, and Israel in a $10 billion deal bolstering these countries' defenses against potential Iranian aggression. Though each of the deals were particular to the specific countries, they knew that the cumulative impact would send a signal of resolve to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Given that the powerful lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, was formed in part as a response to American’s 1981 effort to sell military aircraft to Saudi Arabia, the implicit cooperation between the Israelis and Saudis on the Hagel deal was unusual.

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Secretary of Defense Hagel Talks Security And Syria

Sec. Chuck Hagel Talks Security, Syria With PBS NewsHour -- PBS Newshour

In the wake of the Navy Yard shooting, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recognizes his department's responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees. But, he told Judy Woodruff, there were "red flags that didn't get connected." On Syria, Hagel said the military is ready to respond to any option the president decides to take.

Sec. Hagel on the Navy Yard shooting: "When something like this happens, something failed, something broke down. Now, we live in an imperfect world. And I said this morning, we don't live in a risk-free society. But that's not an excuse. That's not good enough. We have to do more to assure the safety of all of our people, and we're committed to do that. We'll continue to do that. I'm committed to do it. Everybody is."

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel Comments On The Defense Budget, Future Priorities, And The State of Military Preparedness

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivers remarks to attendees at the Veterans of Foreign War national convention held at the Louisville International Convention Center in Louisville, Ky., July 22, 2013. DOD Photo By Glenn Fawcett

Hagel: DoD Must 'Fundamentally Reshape' Itself -- Defense News

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon must “fundamentally reshape” itself to adapt for a future of strategic and budgetary challenges, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday.

Speaking at the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Louisville, Ky., Hagel laid out four principles “that will guide these efforts to realign and reshape our military”: prioritizing DoD’s missions and capabilities around the core responsibility of defending the US; maximizing the military’s combat power; and preserving and strengthening military readiness and honoring the service and sacrifice.

DoD was hit with a $37 billion reduction to its 2013 budget, which has sharply cut training and led to the furloughing of hundreds of thousands of civilian employees. Sequestration mandates about $500 billion in defense spending cuts over a 10-year period beginning this year.

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More News On U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel Commenting On The Defense Budget, Future Priorities, And The State of Military Preparedness

Hagel: Future Requires Hard Decisions, Disciplined Priorities -- US Department of Defense
Hagel: Strategic Review Will Yield Options For Reshaping Pentagon -- Defense Daily
Hagel to VFW: Budget cuts ‘very damaging’ -- MSNBC
Chuck Hagel: Budget Cuts, Furloughs 'Are The Facts Of Life' -- AP
Pentagon chief Hagel offers no hope in budget cuts -- Big News Network
Sequestration Damaging To Military Readiness, Chuck Hagel Says -- Huffington Post
Hagel warns of more layoffs in 2014 -- Allvoices
Hagel warns: Troops are 'close to the breaking point' -- Politico
Hagel Calls on Vets to Partner in Reshaping Military -- US Department of Defense

Defense Chief Hagel Regrets Taliban Joke

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel attends the opening ceremony of the Pentagon's permanent Korean War exhibition near Washington June 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Defense Chief Hagel Expresses Regret Over Taliban Joke -- Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has expressed regret to an Indian-born college professor for jokingly asking, "you're not a member of the Taliban, are you?" seconds before the professor rose to ask a question.

Hagel's spokesman said the joke was not directed at anyone in particular, and the defense secretary called the professor, Robin Gandhi, to tell him as much hours after the Wednesday event at the University of Nebraska, where Hagel gave a speech and took questions from the audience.

Still, the remarks have drawn considerable media attention, particularly given the announcement this week that the United States and the Taliban intend to hold talks after nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan.

Hagel "expressed regret for any trouble that this caused the professor," spokesman George Little told reporters.

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My Comment: In this politically correct world .... this is serious. For me .... not so .... but I am from a different time and generation where jokes were just that .... even the ones with bad taste.

What Memorial Day Means To Secretary Hagel

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: His Strategy For Cutting Pentagon Spending

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gestures toward a reporter waiting to ask questions during a briefing at the Pentagon, March 28, 2013. Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the ongoing sequester affecting the Defense Department's budget and North Korea's recent provocative actions. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett

From Battleland:

“There will be changes, some significant changes. There's no way around it. I would say also this is an imperfect process, and any decisions we make -- and we'll have to make some and will make some -- will be within the context of that imperfection. But we don't have any choices but get through a very significant analysis, back to why I asked the chairman and the deputy to lead a review on intensifying a review on everything. I mean, what do we really need? How do we protect those strategic interests? There are some opportunities in that, I think. I think everyone would agree we would just assume not have to find the high ground of opportunities this way, but we are where we are. So that's what we're going to do.”

— Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, outlining his strategy for cutting Pentagon spending to reporters on Thursday.

My Comment: And I thought President Bush was a terrible speaker.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Orders A Strategy Review In Response To Defense Budget Cuts

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks at a Pentagon press briefing on March 15, 2013. Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo/Department of Defense

Defense Chief Orders Strategy Review In Response To Budget Cuts -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed senior Pentagon officials to re-examine the U.S. military strategy approved last year to see how priorities may need to be adjusted due to budget cuts that took effect on March 1, officials said.

The decision, made on Friday, comes as the Pentagon struggles to cut $46 billion from this year's defense budget and faces the prospect of an additional $50 billion per year in reductions for the next nine years.

"The Department of Defense must constantly examine the choices that underlie our defense strategy, posture and investments, including all past assumptions and systems," Hagel said in a memorandum obtained on Monday by Reuters.

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More News On Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Ordering A Strategy Review In Response To Defense Budget Cuts

Budget cutting forces Pentagon to review strategy -- Washington Post
Hagel orders review of US defense strategy to test its underpinnings in light of budget cuts -- Washington Post/AP
Hagel Orders Pentagon Strategy Review in Uncertain Times -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Pentagon officially begins strategy reassessment -- Washington Times
Pentagon: Civilian, Military Leaders Asked To Examine Defense Strategy -- RTT
Hagel orders review of US defense strategy -- FOX News/AP
Military reviewing strategy in light of tightening budgets -- CNN
Hagel orders review of plans for Asia-centric military strategy -- Stars and Stripes
DoD Reviewing Strategy in Wake of Budget Cuts -- Defense News

My Comment: This review should have been done before the defense cuts were implemented.

U.S. Secretary Of Defense Hagel Faces Numerous Problems On The First Week Of His Job

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to U.S. troops in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, March 9, 2013. The troops are assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Hagel Dogged By Problems As He Settles In As Defense Secretary -- Stars and Stripes

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT — It might just be the roughest break-in period that any U.S. defense secretary has faced.

Last month, outraged Republican senators made their former colleague Chuck Hagel’s confirmation process the most contentious in the nation’s history. He stumbled in a confirmation hearing, and some senators later questioned the twice-wounded Army veteran’s loyalty, saying he appeared “cozy” with Iran.

On March 1, two days after senators ended a filibuster and confirmed the former Nebraska senator as defense secretary, huge automatic budget cuts kicked in. Immediately, the so-called doomsday mechanism known as “sequestration” slashed $46 billion from the fiscal 2013 Pentagon budget, and reduced Pentagon spending by $500 billion over the coming decade — cuts that will primarily be Hagel’s to manage.

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Update: In First Overseas Trip, Hagel Offers a Terse Review: ‘It’s Complicated’ -- New York Times

My Comment: Here is an easy prediction .... his number one problem will be to limit the long term damage that massive defense budget cuts will have on the U.S. military and the industrial base that supports it. But President Obama is clearly focused on cutting the military ..... and at the end of his term of office it will not surprise me if Chuck Hagel will become known as the Defense Secretary that eviscerated the U.S. Defense Department as we know it .... and not as the one who saved it.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel In Afghanistan -- News Roundup

Hagel Makes First Trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon Chief -- Voice of America

PENTAGON — Chuck Hagel has made his first visit to Afghanistan as the U.S. secretary of defense.

The unannounced visit to the war zone comes only days after the former senator was sworn in as Pentagon chief, following a bruising battle for confirmation by the U.S. Senate, in which his political adversaries challenged his ability to do the job.

Hagel told reporters traveling with him the purpose of his visit is to thank U.S. troops - and to learn more about the mission ahead in Afghanistan.

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More News On U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel's Visit To Afghanistan

Secretary Thanks ISAF Troops, Pledges His Support -- US Department of Defense
Hagel makes first Afghan trip as defense chief -- Reuters
Hagel Begins Tenure With Afghan Trip -- Wall Street Journal
Defense chief Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan: 'We're still at war' -- NBC
US Defence Secretary Hagel in Kabul on surprise visit -- The Nation/AFP
In first trip as defense secretary, Hagel lands in Afghanistan -- CNN
Hagel makes 1st trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief -- USA Today
Chuck Hagel jets to Afghanistan in first trip as defense chief -- MSNBC
New Pentagon Chief Hagel Visiting Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe
Hagel visits troops in Afghanistan -- UPI
US defence chief Hagel arrives in Afghanistan -- Al Jazeera
In Afghanistan, Hagel faces early test: how many troops to leave behind -- Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor