Posted on 11/15/2005 6:58:38 PM PST by jmc1969
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) strongly criticized yesterday the White House's new line of attack against critics of its Iraq policy, saying that "the Bush administration must understand that each American has a right to question our policies in Iraq and should not be demonized for disagreeing with them."
With President Bush leading the charge, administration officials have lashed out at Democrats who have accused the administration of manipulating intelligence to justify the war in Iraq.
Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran and a potential presidential candidate in 2008, countered in a speech to the Council of Foreign Relations that the Vietnam War "was a national tragedy partly because members of Congress failed their country, remained silent and lacked the courage to challenge the administrations in power until it was too late."
"To question your government is not unpatriotic -- to not question your government is unpatriotic," Hagel said, arguing that 58,000 troops died in Vietnam because of silence by political leaders. "America owes its men and women in uniform a policy worthy of their sacrifices."
At one point, while answering a question from the audience about Syria, Hagel suggested that the Middle East was worse off after the invasion because the administration failed to anticipate the consequences of removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "You could probably argue it is worse in many ways in the Middle East because of consequences and ripple effects," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
So, they're gonna pump Hagel up as a war hero and expert because he was in Vietnam?
Didn't they do this once already?
No kidding! With Republicans like this, we don't need any dems!
It is fine to disagree with the policies.
It is wrong.. WRONG... WRONG!!! to call Bush a liar after Clinton, Albright, Clinton, Berger, Kerry, Kennedy, and all the rest of them said Saddam had WMD and was a threat to the world.
Wrong!
I recall the President specifically stating that people had every right to criticize, but they did not have a right to re-write history...
Why, Senator, do you have selective hearing? If you are distancing yourself from the Proesident, I wonder who you think will vote for you?
Hagel is auditioning for the Sunday Morning talk shows again.
So now it is demonizing so point out that someone is wrong? What does he think the Dems have been doing for the past five years?
If you have questions, ask them in the proper time and place. If you want to make political statements to undermine the president and the war effort, that's a whole different deal. One that can't understand the difference between questions and aid and comfort to the enemy is a fool.
Guess he doesn't mind that the people of VietNam still have the boot heel of their Communist masters on their throats.
Makes him an evil bastard, IMO.
Well well, another Baathist Republican heard from. He wants Saddam back in power, wants to scrap the Constitution and the elected government in Iraq. This peabrain gets worse every time he opens his mouth. What they won't do to curry favor with the Capitol Hill press corps. Come on Nebraska, toss this turncoat out of office next time he's up. I am so sick of these Quislings in our party.
Mr. Hagel, The President has every right to defend himself and his administration from those damned liars on the left side of the Isle. If you can't see this, you are simply blind or a willing partner in these baseless lies the Democrats are throwing at President Bush. You are RINO and I hope the good people of Nebraska send you packing out of DC
Grow a spine Hagel, the troops you voted to send into harms way deserve nothing less. I'm sure your latest back stabbing of the President should get you some face time on Meet the Press. We see through you Chuckie, you're a fraud
McCain, Hagel and Allen will learn that you cannot win without the base. The GOP seems to be stuck on stupid with all this infigthing.
He's probably next
As a long-time Nebraskan I would like to apologize for the idiots in the Nebraska GOP for not dumping his worthless ass and putting up someone who will actually represent the people who elected them.
Senator Hagel
Your accusation of the administration today that they are demonizing their critics is despicable. Who is demonizing who senator? Who is going on TV day after and hour after hour accusing the President of lying and misleading the American people? They are the “Liars” in the democrat party who are doing so and thus they are not only lying but they are also undermining the war on terror, and giving aid and comfort to the enemy. And you want the administration to just be silent about these lies from the democrats?! Well hell no senator Hagel. We want the administration to demolish the lies of these traitors among us. Yes I call them traitors because they are giving a lot of comfort to the enemy, in the old times they would have been jailed or hanged for sedition.
Shame on you Senator, just shame on you.
Name, town, State, Date
When this a** is due for re-election?
Great e-mail!
The untouchability of war veteran status should have been buried once and for all with Kerrey. Benedict Arnold was a hero of the revolutionary war, Lee and several other southern generals were considered to be heros of the Mexican war, yet they all turned on their country. Heroism and patriotism at single points in time should merit some admiration, yet it doesn't make you immune from critism of acts that are at odds with or against your country's best interests.
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