Posted on 11/24/2014 7:51:13 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama is about to dismiss Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. The reason given? That the White House recognized that "the threat from the Islamic State would require a different kind of skills than those that Mr. Hagel was brought on to employ."
In other words: Hagel was brought on to downgrade the military radically, but now the military turns out to be necessary, after all.
Yet that cannot be the only reason, absent any sign that Obama is committing to a sudden, steep increase in the defense budget, and reversing the non-sequester cuts of recent years. Rather, there are two likely explanations: that Hagel has turned out to be as incompetent as his critics predicted; and that Hagel, always a loose cannon, proved too independent, promising tougher action against ISIS than Obama was prepared to authorize.
Hagel should never have been chosen for the post. He had no firm grasp of national security strategy, was weak on Iran, had a disturbing anti-Israel track record, and fumbled his confirmation hearing badly.
Other nominees, including Michèle Flournoy--who would have been the first woman to hold the post--would have been better, but Obama could not pass up the chance to use a Republican as a bipartisan fig leaf to slash the Pentagon.
That said, there is no immediate or urgent failure that ought to have triggered Hagel's departure. Until he began to "go rogue" on ISIS, he had faithfully carried out Obama's policies.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Hagel is an excellent example of what always happens when the GOPe tries to “cross the aisle” and aid and abet this unlawful Administration.
Either this weekend or this AM
Is Hagel involved in Benghazi? In this administration, just before hearings there seems to be a pattern of a new guy being in charge and saying “I wasn’t there, but I will try to get you that information. “ This is Newspeak for I’m going to drag this out and obfuscate as long as I can.
True, though except for ISIS, Hagel would not have been involved in any of the above issues as well, so firing him does not demonstrate any recognition of the message of the recent election either.
But Gowdy can sub-poena Gates. Maybe he will, it’s not too late.
Former Congressman Ron Dellums is a veteran and presumably available (I don’t know the state of his health). That would give Obama a two-fer: first black Secretary of Defense and someone almost as far to the left as himself.
Former Congressman Ron Dellums is a veteran and presumably available (I don’t know the state of his health). That would give Obama a two-fer: first black Secretary of Defense and someone almost as far to the left as himself.
Sounds like a typical Obama Cabinet member.
Obama knows a new Defense Secretary will not be confirmed quickly by new Senate. So the question is, who is the defacto Secretary now? What is that person willing to do for Obama and Jarrett that they want done?
Make no mistake, our country is being taken down. With only 2 years left to complete the coup, stuff will start happening and an increasing pace.
I'm sorry but I've become jaded. These hearings all turn out to be dog and pony shows. They drag on for so long that the information coming out has no impact on public awareness, even if the press were to actually report on it. I thought Gowdy would hit this hard in September when the on the ground guys were speaking up but now that impact has had about 3 months to become old news, even if the MSM never reported it as news.
Bing, bing, bing, bing.....we have a winner! Hagel recognized the dangers to the US and wanted to defend. Obama say the dangers to our enemies and wants to aid them.
I’m thinking that Bath House would shoot for the moon on the next sec def appointment, as he has no other election to win, and he’d like nothing more than sticking his thumb in the eye of the nation. As such, he could find a black transsexual to fill the spot, and since the USA is into FIRSTS these days, firsts above all else, why not!?
Shhhhh! That Cambodia mission was Top Secret.
Hagel the self-described Republican becomes the scapegoat for the massive expansion of ISIS and for carrying out Obama’s policies? Gosh, what’s Obama’s FR nick?
Rand Paul Declares War on ISISand Allows Boots on the Ground
Daily Beast | 11/24/2014 | Olivia Nuzzi
Posted on 11/24/2014, 1:26:57 PM by SeekAndFind
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3230580/posts
I’m sure the troops would appreciate that /s
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