Hagel: I've lost confidence in Rumsfeld

Lincoln Journal Star ^ | April 17, 2006 | Don Walton

[AntiGuv]

Sen. Chuck Hagel said Monday he shares the lack of confidence in Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld separately voiced by six retired generals.

“The concern I’ve had is, at a very dangerous time, (the) secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

“There is a real question about his capacity to lead at this critical time,” he said.

“I have had many conversations with military leaders about their concern about what’s happening at the Pentagon and with our force structure.”

Hagel first expressed lack of confidence in Rumsfeld a year ago.

Concerns expressed by the six generals, four of whom served under Rumsfeld, should be taken seriously, the Nebraska Republican said.

Hagel was questioned about the issue during a conference call from Washington in which he briefed reporters about his trip last week to India and Pakistan.

The public criticisms voiced by the generals probably are unprecedented in modern times, Hagel said.

Hagel, who warned against a precipitate U.S. military attack on Iraq without broad international support and careful planning for the aftermath, said President Bush “needs to make the call” about Rumsfeld.

Responding to criticism from the generals, Bush has expressed his continued confidence in his defense secretary.

“The president has that responsibility,” Hagel said. “He’s not asked for my advice on Iraq.”

On another issue, Hagel said he believes the Senate will provide the 60 votes required to end debate and approve a comprehensive immigration reform bill after considering a number of amendments.

Hagel is co-author of a compromise proposal dealing with illegal immigrant workers already living in the United States. Under his plan, most of the estimated 11 million illegal workers could earn their way to legal status.

Senate consideration of a number of amendments should precede a vote for cloture ending debate, Hagel said.

“Let everybody be heard, and then let’s fix the problem,” he said.

[rightinthemiddle]

Hey, Chuck: We NEVER had confidence in you.

Shut up.

[MadeInAmerica]

Wow, I'm so suprised.....NOT

[Rummyfan]

Seems we can always count on the RINOs being RINOs!

[HoosierHawk]

Will he ever grow up?

[Right_in_Virginia]

Wow. I'm impressed Hagel's waited this long to jump on an anti-administration bandwagon.

[Chi-townChief]

That's interesting because I've never had any confidence in Hagel.

[finnman69]

[michaelt]

Sen. Hagel, you are an attention-seeking bandwagon jumper. Few people care what you think. You must like being used by the Democrats.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Hagel NEVER had any confidence in Rumsfeld, FWIW IMO.

[dirtboy]

Dear Senator Hagel.

Here is a large bucket and five gallons of water. Please use it to go soak your head.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

You mean Hagel seperated his lips from McCain's posterior long enough to issue this verbal flatulence?

[DBrow]

If our enemy cannot defeat us on the battlefield, they try to defeat us at home using our freedom of speech and the willing media.

[LIConFem]

I'm sure he loves you too, Chuckles.

[Semper Paratus]

Start producing those "Anybody but McHagel" buttons.

[Puppage]

the secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

The 6 or 7 retired uniforms? Several of which are out hawking their books? THOSE men & women?

[spkpls4]

“The concern I’ve had is, at a very dangerous time, (the) secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

No, I think the men and women in uniform have more than likely lost the respect of you, Sen. Hagel, along with a majority of your colleagues.

[Cautor]

Call Chucky the opportunist RINO and tell him to get screwed. This hack needs to go:

Washington, D.C. Office
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 224-5213
Omaha Office
11301 Davenport Street, Suite 2
Omaha, NE 68154
Tel: (402) 758-8981
Fax: (402) 758-9165

Lincoln Office
294 Federal Building
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508
Tel: (402) 476-1400
Fax: (402) 476-0605
Kearney Office
4111 Fourth Avenue, Suite 26
Kearney, NE 68845
Tel: (308) 236-7602
Fax: (308) 236-7473

Scottsbluff Office
115 Railway Street, Suite C102
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Tel: (308) 632-6032
Fax: (308) 632-6295

[Cold Heat]

Hey, Chuck: We NEVER had confidence in you. Shut up.

You beat me to that comment......:-)

[trubluolyguy]

This just in, the republican base has no confidence in Chuck Hagel.

[ClaireSolt]

He represents some financial interests in DC. He just showed up in NE and ran. I long ago lost confidence in him.

[The South Texan]

And most real Republicans and Conservatives have never had confidence in Senator Bagel. So I guess the feeling is mutual.

[evets]

It's the company you keep.

Hey Chuck, shut the hell up.

[TheForceOfOne]

lol perfect.

[DoctorMichael]

Hagel who? [/sarc]

[gunnedah]

Hagel doesnt have confidence in anyone but himself. He wants to be a dictator. The General Officer in the military is becoming more political with each passing year. They should be able to confront Rumsfield or anyone else but it should be on record. Most of these Generals mouthing off now like all politicians have an ax to grind. If they were not on record before leaving the military they should not be now. All this is doing is causing a feeding freenzy and aiding the terrorist.

[lfod1776]

Why did a state like Nebraska send a RINO like Hagel to the Senate?

[hawkaw]

That's what I keep asking myself too ....

[Coldwater Creek]

It is not just the media. Dems and RINO's as well. The blood is on their hands.

[A message]

Hagel is such a tool.

He must like being used and abused.

[alarm rider]

Amen to that! Which is why I have personally taken a pledge to never vote for another RINO, period.

[joesnuffy]

Yeah Charlie if you were in charge how many Americans would be dead now?...hmmmm?

[A Citizen Reporter]

I hope the RNC cuts off all funding to Hagel.

Or do we have to wait until he does a complete Jeffords?

[HawaiianGecko]

Who cares Chuck?

[DustyMoment]

I lost confidence in Hagel the first time he opened his pie-hole.

Nothing's changed.

[wizardoz]

That's a great cartoon.

[armymarinemom]

“Let everybody be heard, and then let’s fix the problem,” he said.

Hopefully the citizens of Nebraska have heard the problem and will take care of it the next election.

[Lancey Howard]

If there is one Senator you can count on to moisten his finger up the rear-end of the dinosaur liberal press and hold it to the wind of their farts, it's Hagel. What a coward.

[brytlea]

Hmmm, now THAT sounds like another war we fought....
susie

[D-Chivas]

Chuck Hagel needs to change his name to BEN DOVER.

[Nextrush]

A "two-inch" Senator.

[brytlea]

“The concern I’ve had is, at a very dangerous time, (the) secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

And so, the answer is to attempt to contribute to it?

susie

[onyx]

I really want him to enter the GOP presidential primaries so he can see for himself how much he counts.

[pissant]

Hagel is a worthless POS. Might as well be a democrat.

[Ann Archy]

Hagel is part of The Fifth Column in this country! What a PATHETIC sad-sack person.

[DoughtyOne]

The only question is, what took you so long Chuck?

This guy should get a spine and change parties, but then with the MSMs help he's much more effective from within.

[pointsal]

Hagel needs to go back to Lincoln and watch old football game videos....

[Ann Archy]

yesterday, Michael Medved had on Col. Ralph Peters who said he didn't like Rumsfeld and would WALK OVER GLASS TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN!!!! and I thought Peters was SMART!! YUK! I will take Peters from now on with a grain of salt!!

How could ANYONE think McInsane would make a good Commander in Chief???? Bizarre.

[trebb]

“The concern I’ve had is, at a very dangerous time, (the) secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform,” Hagel said.

How about a poll to see how many of our men and women in uniform have confidence in Rummy vs. Hagel. I would predict about 98% Rummy to 2% Hagel (there are some idiots in uniform, but most of us agree that their opinions don't really count because they aren't based on rational thought).

[TheForceOfOne]

Chuck Hagel represents a major reason why it is a false notion to say that there is a Republican majority in Congress.