Nomination of Chuck Hagel to U.S. Secretary of Defense
(Updated February 2013)
On January 7, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Charles 'Chuck' Hagel as Secretary of Defense to replace Leon Panetta. The selection of Hagel - a decorated Vietnam War veteran and former two-term Nebraska Senator - elicited major partisan debate over his views on the US-Israel relationship, sanctions against Iran and American policy in the Middle East.
After weeks of contentious debate, the Senate confirmed Hagel for the post on February 26, 2013, in the closest vote ever for a nominated secretary, 58-41, with only four Republican senators voting in support.
The following is a backgrounder on Hagel to help understand his views on Israel and the Middle East. Included is a sampling of comments and excerpted remarks from Hagel over the course of his political career as well as a selection of reactions to the Hagel nomination published by newspapers and independent political organizations
Hagel Quotes:
U.S.-Israel Relations:
"I intend to expand the depth and breadth of U.S.-Israel
cooperation ... I know the pro-Israel lobby is comprised of both Jewish
and non-Jewish Americans. In the Senate, I was a strong supporter
of Defense appropriations, which provided enduring support for Israel's
security. Most Americans, myself included, are overwhelmingly supportive
of a strong U.S.-Israel strategic and security relationship."
Letter to Sen. Barbara
Boxer [D-NY] (2013)
"The United States will remain committed to defending Israel. Our relationship with Israel is a special and historic one. But it need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships. That is an irresponsible and dangerous false choice."
Statement on Senate Floor (2006)
Iran:
"I agree that with Iran's continued rejection of diplomatic
overtures, further effective actions, both multilateral and unilateral
may be necessary, and I will support the President."
Letter to Sen. Barbara
Boxer [D-NY] (2013)
"The two options – attack Iran or live with a nuclear-armed Iran – may be eventually where we are. But I believe most people in both Israel and the United States think there's a ways to go before we get to those."
Interview with Foreign Policy (2012)
U.S. Middle East Policy:
"President
Obama has placed the Middle East conflict at the center of U.S.
strategic policy ... We all recognize that the Middle East represents an
explosive political issue for any President. The history of failure hangs
heavy over this issue with high accompanying political consequences ... I have great admiration for Members of Congress
who are willing to put aside political differences and invest their
political futures in helping shape and produce a just and lasting
peace for all people in the Middle
East."
JStreet Conference (2009)
Israeli-Palestinian
Issues:
“The Israeli-Palestinian
conflict is central, not peripheral, to U.S. vital security interests
in combating terrorism, preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon, stability
in the Middle East and U.S. and global energy security.” He
spoke of his support for the 2009
Saudi Peace Initiative that in his words would require "Israeli
withdrawal from all land occupied since 1967, a just solution to
the Palestinian refugee
problem, and acceptance of a Palestinian
state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
JStreet Conference (2009)
Hezbollah:
"I have always believed that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization
and often stated so in my 2008 book and in many public remarks."
Letter to Sen. Barbara
Boxer [D-NY] (2013)
The Obama
Administration has been a vocal leader in the campaign to encourage
the European Union to designate the Lebanese Shi'ite group a terrorist
organization. However, Hagel was among the
dozen U.S. Senators who did not sign a 2006 letter (click
here for Philadelphia Jewish Voice 2006 article on
letter) urging the EU to officially label Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Syria:
"We've got to understand great-power limitations. There are so many uncontrollable variables at play in Syria and the Middle East. You work through the multilateral institutions that are available, the U.N., the Arab League. The last thing you want is an American-led or Western-led invasion into Syria."
Interview with Foreign Policy (2012)
"Another link to comprehensive Middle
East peace is Syria. Syria is at the intersection of many challenges
for the United States in this area: Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq – and their relationships with our important longtime NATO ally, Turkey. Dealing with Syria is not easy and
it will require time, energy, and focus… like all complicated
diplomatic issues and relationships. Do we believe we can fight
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, seek to isolate Iran,
support political stability in Lebanon,
and improve Israel’s
security – by isolating Syria?
This is a bewildering notion if that’s what one believes.
It certainly hasn’t worked so far."
JStreet Conference (2009)
Reaction to Hagel Nomination:
Senators:
"A record of extreme views makes Hagel an unwise pick, and the president's decision points to more rancorous fights to come."
Roger Wicker [R-MS]
"[Hagel] told me that if there's one thing in his life that he'd like to take back, it's [criticizing the influence of the 'Jewish lobby']. And he was very devastated about it looking back ... I urge more of my colleagues to come out [and support Hagel]."
Barbara Boxer [D-CA]
"Senator Hagel realizes the situation in the Middle East has changed, with Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago. His views are genuine and reflect this new reality."
Chuck Schumer [D-NY]
"My questions about [Hagel] ... are what is his views about America's role in the world? ... Why would he oppose calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization? ... these are legitimate questions that need to be asked"
John McCain [R-AZ]
"[Hagel will be] the most antagonistic secretary of Defense toward the state of Israel in our nation’s history ... I can’t wait for him to tell me why he thought the Iran Revolutionary Guard in Iran wasn’t a terrorist organization …What kind of signal does this send to Israel and Iran."
Lindsey Graham [R-SC]
Newspapers:
Wall Street Journal:
"Mr.
Obama can do better than Mr. Hagel—for example, by choosing
former Defense Under Secretary Michele Flournoy, or perhaps Colin
Powell. If he does nominate Mr. Hagel, the Senate will have to prevent the Administration’s senior security ranks
from being dominated by a flock of doves who think the world is better
off with a militarily weaker America."
Washington Post:
"Mr. Hagel’s
stated positions on critical issues, ranging from defense spending
to Iran, fall well to the
left of those pursued by Mr.
Obama during his first term — and place him near the fringe
of the Senate that
would be asked to confirm him."
Washington Times:
"There is nothing in Mr. Hagel’s record to commend him to an office that until now has been held by men of mature judgment and with the achievements to prove it ... Much of the examination of Mr. Hagel’s record will center on his view of the Middle East, and how American foreign policy should be shaped there ... Mr. Hagel has opposed the tightening of sanctions against Iran. He has said spiteful things about Israel, the loyalties of American Jews and the so-called 'Jewish lobby' in Congress."
Defense News:
"Hagel should and will survive to succeed Leon Panetta as defense secretary. He’s smart, well-versed in national security issues, knows the players at home and abroad, can be blunt or smooth and diplomatic, as necessary, and above all, is seen as a good and focused leader ... Hagel’s reluctance to use force isn’t weakness, but wisdom ... With so much work bearing down on the Pentagon, the sooner Hagel is confirmed and gets on the job, the better."
Jewish
Organizations:
American Israel Public Affairs Committee:
This primiere PAC has largely sat out from announcing its
opinion or position about the Hagel nomination, having not yet
released any official statements.
American Jewish
Committee:
Executive Director David Harris: “The first AJC encounter
with Sen. Hagel I recall was when we sought his support, in
1999, for a Senate letter to then Russian President Boris Yeltsin urging action against rising anti-Semitism. We were unsuccessful. On June 20,
1999, we published the letter as a full-page ad in The New
York Times with 99 Senate signatories. Only Sen. Hagel’s
name was absent. Our concern then has only grown since, as we
have witnessed his stance on a range of core U.S. national security
priorities."
Anti-Defamation
League:
President Abe Foxman said in December 2012 that "[Hagel's
statements on Washington's pro-Israel community] border on anti-Semitism."
“Chuck Hagel would not be the first, second, or third
choice for the American
Jewish community’s friends of Israel.
His record relating to Israel and the U.S.-Israel
relationship is, at best, disturbing, and at worst, very
troubling. The sentiments he’s expressed about the Jewish lobby border on anti-Semitism in the genre
of professors John
Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt and former president Jimmy
Carter.”
The Israel Project:
Executive Director Josh Block: “The record speaks for
itself, on issues like consistently voting against sanctions
on Iran to stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons capability,
against naming [Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] a terrorist organization,
refusing to call on the European Union to name Hezbollah — which has killed more Americans than any terrorist group
in the world except Al Qaeda — as a terrorist organization.”
National Jewish Democratic Council:
“President
Barack Obama’s unprecedented
pro-Israel credentials are unquestionable, and setting policy
starts and stops with the President. While we have expressed concerns
in the past, we trust that when confirmed, former Senator Chuck
Hagel will follow the President’s
lead of providing unrivaled support for Israel—on strategic
cooperation, missile
defense programs, and leading
the world against Iran’s nuclear program.”
Republican Jewish Coalition:
"[Hagel's nomination
is] a slap in the face for every American who is concerned about
the safety of Israel."
Sources: American Jewish Committee (January 7, 2013); The
Atlantic (December 19, 2012); Atlantic Council (October 27, 2009); Christian Science Monitor (January 13, 2013); Defense News (January 14, 2013); Emergency Committee for Israel; Huffington Post (January 9, 2013); JStreet; Los Angeles Times (January 6, 2013); Mondoweiss (January 7, 2013); National Jewish Democratic
Council (January 7, 2013); Open Zion (December
18, 2012); Reuters (February 27, 2013); USA Today (February 27, 2013); Washington Post (December 18, 2012; January 6, 2013); Washington Times (January 7, 2013); Wikipedia (Secretary of Defense; Chuck Hagel) |