Posted on 01/15/2013 8:08:06 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), President Obama's pick for Defense secretary, expressed regret for a past comment about the “Jewish lobby” that has threatened to derail his nomination.
In a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) released Monday, Hagel called the remark a "poor choice of words," and vowed that he would work to "expand the depth and breadth of U.S.-Israel cooperation" if confirmed for the Pentagon’s top post.
"I regret saying it," Hagel wrote. "I used that terminology only once, in an interview. I recognize that this kind of language can be construed as anti-Israel. I know the pro-Israel lobby is comprised of both Jewish and non-Jewish Americans.”
Hagel, who has been tapped to replace departing Secretary Leon Panetta, has faced intense scrutiny over the past remark, where he accused a “Jewish lobby” of intimidating lawmakers. Pro-Israel groups and many GOP senators have seized on the comment, charging that Hagel would be a weak ally to Israel.
A number of GOP senators have said they will oppose Hagel, and the nominee this week is meeting with Democrats on Capitol Hill to rally support ahead of his confirmation hearing.
In his letter, Hagel sought to reassure lawmakers that he has been a committed supporter of Israel.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
You remember the neocons---the ones who duped Bush into invading Iraq? A horrendous foreign policy decision devised by the pukeneos on the backs of the 2300 killed on 9/11.
That's in the Mideast---a place the pukes said were in search of democracy-----where trillions of US tax dollars and rivers of young blood were shed. Where the WSJ reported neocon guru Richard Perle is starting an oil company with his billions in war profits.
It took us about a decade to get out of Iraq....as the globe erupted into Mideast-centered terrorism.....and hate-filled Muslims set sail for America.
But not to worry---at the serene Four Seasons lounge, where the champagne flows, the Iraq War is still seen as a good idea......and opposition to Chuck Hagel is the strongest.
Cheers.
I'm not sure that Hagel regrets his "Jewish lobby" and other anti-Israel or pro-Iranian or pro-Islamist remarks he's made in the past. They are a double-edged sword for him. Yes, they are giving him some trouble now in his confirmation process. But on the other hand, he would never have been nominated by Obama for Secretary of Defense had he not shown himself to be what he is with respect to the Middle East. Obama is using Hagel as a pawn to claim that he wants to make his administration "bipartisan," but it's obvious that calling Hagel a "Republican" with all of Hagel's foreign policy baggage is a quite a stretch.
He’s not sorry about the remark, only that he got caught saying it.
Didn't post it, but read an interesting editorial that suggested the "Jewish" issue was a strawman. If gay and feminist groups had gone after his gay and pro life remarks, he'd be toast, but plenty of activists on the left who would have hung him out agree with the Jewish conspiracy stuff.
Senator Hagel was bad news for Israel and he’ll be just as bad as Secretary of Defense. He will say what it takes to get this position
Well said!
When people are actually sorry they say “sorry”. They never say “I regret”.
Your point is a good one, if he wasn’t a jackass he would not have been nominated.
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.