Hagel's "ex-military" does not involve the same kind of strategic thinking as, say, a retired full or Lt. General, FWIW.
However, Hagel's career as viable administrator is quite broad. But he is right, that ISIS is a nucleus to precipitate a broad Moslem attack on all Christian or post-Christian societies. We have our own inner enemy of a like nature, acting out in Ferguson now.
Question is: how do we handle the ominous reaction if we try to annihilate ISIS, to a man? (Which is really what is needed)
Ex-Military as in John “I was in Vietnam” Kerry?