Posted on 03/20/2008 5:17:29 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Hagel Slams Iraq War, Says U.S. May Need 3rd Party OMAHA, Neb. (AP) ― U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel writes in a new book that the United States needs independent leadership and possibly another political party, while suggesting the Iraq war might be remembered as one of the five biggest blunders in history.
"In the current impasse, an independent candidate for the presidency, or a bipartisan unity ticket ... could be appealing to Americans," Hagel writes in "America: Our Next Chapter," due in stores Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained an advance copy.
The Nebraska Republican, who announced last year he wouldn't seek a third term or the GOP presidential nomination, had been widely mentioned as a running mate on an independent ticket with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg said last month he wouldn't run.
Hagel said that despite holding one of the Senate's strongest records of support for President Bush, his standing as a Republican has been called into question because of his opposition to what he deems "a reckless foreign policy ... that is divorced from a strategic context."
Hagel, who's been a harsh critic of the war since 2003, writes that the invasion of Iraq was "the triumph of the so-called neoconservative ideology, as well as Bush administration arrogance and incompetence."
The Vietnam veteran said he had hoped the lessons from that war would give the nation's leaders perspective before troops were sent to Iraq.
"To the astonishment of those of us who lived through the agony of Vietnam, these lessons were ignored in the run-up to the Iraq War," he writes.
Hagel said Vice President Dick Cheney and others "cherry-picked intelligence" and used fear to intensify "war sloganeering."
(Excerpt) Read more at wcbstv.com ...
“U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel writes in a new book that the United States needs independent leadership and possibly another political party, while suggesting the Iraq war might be remembered as one of the five biggest blunders in history.”
Electing Jimmy Carter being #1.
By the way, I agree with Hagel, we do need another party....just not the one he’s thinking of.
upChuck Hagel pontificates.
America yawns.
Just change your affiliation to Democrap, Chuckie.
You’re as bad as any of them, and worse than some.
Chuck’s off his meds again.
“..The Nebraska Republican, who announced last year he wouldn’t seek a third term or the GOP presidential nomination...”
Because he knew the fine husker folks would vote him out in the primaries...
Wow, another constructive US Senator.......
So it's come to this, has it? Chuck Hagel now plagiarizes Moron.Org.
Hagel is a loser.
[By the way, I agree with Hagel, we do need another party....just not the one he’s thinking of.]
It must be a ONLY Conservatives need apply party, no rinos or dems welcoem (by Chuck, does he not realize he is a libertarian) which would stick to the to the priciples of American conservatism and keep Americans safe from the communist democrat party.
I saw a picture of Senator Hagel during his Vietnam service. He was totally unkept, out of uniform, and an insult to the idea of a professional responsible military. His shirt was hanging out of his pants down to his crotch and open to his belly button, wrinkled and dirty, and this was not in a combat area. I don’t know what military Hagel belonged to then, but it was not very professional looking.
I guess that kills Chuck’s chances to be McCain’s VP.
Now if he would just shut up and go away.
Another non-seller.
“I saw a picture of Senator Hagel during his Vietnam service. He was totally unkept, out of uniform, and an insult to the idea of a professional responsible military. His shirt was hanging out of his pants down to his crotch and open to his belly button, wrinkled and dirty, and this was not in a combat area. I don’t know what military Hagel belonged to then, but it was not very professional looking.”
Wow, that’s disgraceful. He should have just dodged the draft instead of embarrassing the military that way. /s
Well Mr. Hagel I come from a military family and we all wish you the worst in this life, wish you would shut the hell up, and wish you an eternity in hell.
Yes, we certainly need a third party...a conservative party.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.