Posted on 11/24/2014 7:02:03 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
President Obama will announce the resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday in the first high-profile personnel move since Democrats suffered significant losses in this month's midterm elections.
"In October, Secretary Hagel began speaking with the President about departing the administration given the natural post-midterms transition time," a senior administration official said.
Obama will make the announcement with Hagel at 11:00 a.m. According to the White House, a successor will be named "in short order," but Hagel will remain in the post until that person is confirmed by the Senate.
A senior administration official praised Hagel as "a steady hand, guiding our military through this transition, and helping us respond to challenges from [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria] to Ebola."
But The New York Times, which first reported Hagel's departure, suggested the Defense secretary was being forced out over concerns over his ability to lead the campaign against ISIS.
An administration official told the Times that “the next couple of years will demand a different kind of focus" than he was able to provide. Hagel was originally expected to focus primarily on the winddown of the Afghanistan war and the reduction of the Pentagon budget under sequestration.
There have also been reports of high-profile clashes between Hagel and top White House officials, especially on ISIS policy.
Last month, CNN reported that Hagel wrote a memo to National Security Adviser Susan Rice sharply critical of the White House’s strategy toward Syria.
The unnamed source also indicated that Hagel was concerned that the U.S. could lose gains it made in the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) if it did not alter its strategy toward Assad.
And a story last month in the Times suggested that Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel were struggling to win favor with the White House. The story suggested that Hagel was often silent in national security meetings, and that the president preferred to solicit advice from Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at the time the president was "proud of his national security team."
“The president and his senior team at the White House are proud of the work that the president’s Cabinet are performing to represent our interests around the globe,” Earnest sad.
And Hagel himself also brushed aside suggestion of tensions.
“Because we are a significant element of this issue, we owe the president and we owe the National Security Council our best thinking on this,” Hagel said. “And it has to be honest and it has to be direct.”
Top candidates to replace Hagel could include former Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
If you believe that you probably voted for Obama twice.
Translation - Hagel wanted to DO SOMETHING - Obama doesn’t.
He got his “executive experience” ticket punched; now he can launch his campaign for POTUS.
I hope I’m kidding.
Which Black guy will Obama name to the position?
I knew Obama would be pissed when Hagel let our guys actually kill some of those ISIS people. We're supposed to be targeting trees and dogs for show, but aren't supposed to hurt any of the ISIS fellas.
I agree. He wasn’t forced out. He’s just sick of listening to Obumer’s lies.
Now Chuck can get to work on HIS book.
This timing is due to Ted Cruz’ threat, yesterday.
If Hagel had balls and a true sense of responsibility, he should have resigned and done so publicly. Not quietly. Top brass too. Are there no MEN amongst them???
No. Obama issued an Executive Order that saying anything negative about him is a Death Penalty Felony.
"......Hagel was the sole Republican on his national security team.
The Times named three people reportedly on a short list to replace him, including a woman.
Michèle Flournoy is a former under secretary of defense whose name was mentioned along with Hagel's after Panetta departed......"
Even the weak-kneed, liberal and worthless Hegel was too much for the Obama team. Hegel once asked the President, if the administration was going too far by providing the Taliban and 20 other groups, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, dates, times, coordinates and troop strengths of our retreating boys. Hegel thought it was just too much. He then sealed his fate with the Obama team by proposing the US stand up for itself regarding Putin. Obama & Co. could not believe the gall of the SOD, asking such a ridiculous question. Obama had called for the complete denuding and weakening of the entire US military and Hegel, still being a Vet just could not follow through with Obama’s plan. He had to go, not stupid enough...
That would leave nothing but Obama pansies in positions of authority.
Some arrogant thug with a chip on his shoulder who believes the ONLY REAL ENEMY is the American people?
Given this administration's record with the military, how about Jane Fonda?
The black guy will be a womsn.
I might argue that the WH background people (not the President himself), probably wanted every single target and mission of significance vetted through them prior to being carried out. Hagel probably set there and started thinking about how they’d push their ‘problems’ to the New York Times, and act like they were part of the process.
Probably a female minority of the same academic cloth as the regime already being considered, if I had to guess.
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