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Peter Beinart

Darn that Chuck Hagel for backing down

On Iran, Hagel could have told his GOP tormenters that, yes, “all options should be on the table,” but reminded them that “all options” means not merely military force, but also the pursuit of a diplomatic deal. And he could have explained that just because we reserve the right to take military action does not mean we should ignore the numerous former military and intelligence officials, in both America and Israel, who warn that military action could produce a horrific regional war, strengthen the Iranian regime and ultimately make an Iranian nuclear weapon more likely, not less.

Finally, when asked to provide evidence for his claim that the “Jewish lobby” intimidates members of Congress, Hagel could have pointed to the hearings themselves. If the senators questioning Hagel weren’t interested in staying on AIPAC’s good side, would the hearings really have featured 136 mentions of Israel, 135 of Iran and only 27 references to Afghanistan, the country where the United States is currently at war? And instead of robotically restating his love of the Jewish state, Hagel could have said what many Israeli top security officials do: that Israel’s policy of subsidizing West Bank settlement causes immense Palestinian suffering and existentially threatens the Jewish state, and that ignoring that fact does Israel no favors…

But that Chuck Hagel didn’t come through yesterday because instead of speaking from the gut, he said what he thought other politicians wanted to hear. That strategy failed because right-wingers like McCain, Graham and Cruz saw Hagel’s ideological incoherence and smelled his political fear. And it failed because Hagel shouldn’t have been speaking to the armed services committee. He should have been speaking over them, to the majority of Americans who voted for Obama, twice, in part because they want a leader who will break with the foreign policy thinking that has brought us a decade of endless war.

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Nothing like Beinart always offering a little appeasement.

thebrokenrattle on February 1, 2013 at 2:42 PM

Gotta have something from which to back down first.

davidk on February 1, 2013 at 2:45 PM

The “Jewish Lobby” should ask for a refund.

200 tanks to the Muslim Brotherhood is not a good return on investment.

mudskipper on February 1, 2013 at 2:45 PM

Because Americans, who favor Israel by 5:1 or whatever, aren’t afraid of AIPAC.

Seth Halpern on February 1, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Poor Baby.

You need a drink, Beinart. Perhaps a dram of Absinthe?

Del Dolemonte on February 1, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Jewish self-hatred is such a sad sight to behold.

steebo77 on February 1, 2013 at 2:50 PM


But that Chuck Hagel didn’t come through yesterday because instead of speaking from the gut, he said what he thought other politicians wanted to hear

Comedy gold

apostic on February 1, 2013 at 2:57 PM

That reminds me, where is Zacaria? Is he writing under nom de plumes now?

Beinart is so jejune. I can only smile at his ignorant hubris.

BL@KBIRD on February 1, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Hagel is for total disarmament.

I’d rather have Maxine Waters in place.

Hagel is a malicious and deceiving Obama capo.

Schadenfreude on February 1, 2013 at 3:08 PM

Darn that Chuck Hagel for backing down

It’s hard to defend oneself against a bunch of lying and deceiving GOP senators who have it in for you. Here is a good summary of the GOP deception machine:

http://mobile.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/01/31/ted_cruz_s_bogus_attack_on_hagel.html?original_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theamericanconservative.com%2Fhagel-on-the-dock%2F

New Sen. Ted Cruz brought three—count ‘em—visual aids to his interrogation of Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel. He played two clips from Hagel’s interviews on Arab-language media, attempting to prove that Hagel agreed with callers who accused Israel of “war crimes” and the United States of “bullying,” because he quickly agreed with the questions and moved on. The third aid was a chart blowing up a July 31, 2006 quote from Hagel, during Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.

“In a speech on the floor of the Senate you referred to Israel’s military campaign against the terrorist group Hezbollah as a, quote, ‘sickening slaughter,’” said Cruz. “Do you think it’s right that Israel was committing, quote, a ‘sickening slaughter,’ as you said on the floor of the Senate?”

As with so much else today, Hagel was caught short, and tried to explain why “slaughter” might occur if “war crimes” didn’t. It was another hit he should have seen coming; the Weekly Standard, in a morning cheat sheet of Hagel quotes, reported that Hagel “accused Israel of carrying out a ‘sickening slaughter’ in Lebanon.”

But it’s misleading. Hagel’s full speech is available on C-SPAN, and here’s the larger context of the quote.

Of course, all of this deception is performed with Hotair.com’s approval

antifederalist on February 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM

Full quote from Hagel taken out of context by the lying liar Red Cruz

How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon, is going to enhance America’s image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?

The sickening slaughter on both sides must end, and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop. The Middle East today is more combustible and complex than it has ever been. Uncertain popular support for regime legitimacy continues to weaken governments in the Middle East. Economic stagnation, persistent unemployment, deepening despair, and wider unrest enhance the ability of terrorists to recruit and succeed.

An Iran with nuclear weapons raises the specter of broader proliferation and a fundamental strategic realignment in the region, creating more regional instability. America’s approach to the Middle East must be consistent and sustained, and it must understand the history, the interests, and the perspectives of our regional friends and allies.

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.

antifederalist on February 1, 2013 at 3:30 PM

It is a real shame Hagel didn’t go full moonbat and scream that all the Senators were the tools of the Apes and Pigs.

CorporatePiggy on February 1, 2013 at 3:34 PM

If McCain and Graham are your examples of right wingers, I don’t think right winger means what you think it means.

Lonetown on February 1, 2013 at 3:42 PM

…right-wingers like McCain, Graham…

O.o

CantCureStupid on February 1, 2013 at 4:03 PM

Full quote from Hagel taken out of context by the lying liar Red Cruz

How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon, is going to enhance America’s image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?

The sickening slaughter on both sides must end, and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop. The Middle East today is more combustible and complex than it has ever been. Uncertain popular support for regime legitimacy continues to weaken governments in the Middle East. Economic stagnation, persistent unemployment, deepening despair, and wider unrest enhance the ability of terrorists to recruit and succeed.

An Iran with nuclear weapons raises the specter of broader proliferation and a fundamental strategic realignment in the region, creating more regional instability. America’s approach to the Middle East must be consistent and sustained, and it must understand the history, the interests, and the perspectives of our regional friends and allies.

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.

antifederalist on February 1, 2013 at 3:30 PM

It just gets worse and worse for Chuckles doesn’t it? Not only did he say that Israel’s defending themselves from Iranian aggression were engaged in a “sickening slaughter,” he also said they were involved in the “continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon”. What an evil, stupid, un-American, a-hole. He truly is a democrat, perfect nominee for someone like the crack smoker in chief. He disdain of Israel matches his disdain of the 30 million Iraqis liberated by Bush. At least Obama admitted he was wrong about the surge.

sheikh of thornton on February 1, 2013 at 4:29 PM

It just gets worse and worse for Chuckles doesn’t it? Not only did he say that Israel’s defending themselves from Iranian aggression were engaged in a “sickening slaughter,” he also said they were involved in the “continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon”. What an evil, stupid, un-American, a-hole. He truly is a democrat, perfect nominee for someone like the crack smoker in chief. He disdain of Israel matches his disdain of the 30 million Iraqis liberated by Bush. At least Obama admitted he was wrong about the surge.
sheikh of thornton on February 1, 2013 at 4:29 PM

Ask Iraqi Christians if they were liberated.

antifederalist on February 1, 2013 at 4:37 PM

antifederalist on February 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM

Just curious, would you refer to what our servicemen/women are doing in Afghanistan as a “sickening slaughter”? Because we’re killing them and they’re killing us it’s a pox on both of our houses – a “sickening slaughter” of sorts, right? Everyone’s at fault. There’s no such thing as a righteous war, even when Obama campaigned on exactly that premise in 2008. Moron.

crrr6 on February 1, 2013 at 4:39 PM

Rush has been hitting bulls eyes lately. He had this one down

The press and the clacks in Congress are making big noise over Hagel. Quite a contrast to the Hillary hearing. Hagel is giving them all a safe target and he pushed the real news off the radar

When the Hagel white noise isn’t needed anymore, the WH ops will move on and the MSM can put down their outrage masks

It is a different job he is ‘auditioning’ for, but would Hagel have done a worse job on Benghazi than Hillary? Not that the real reasons behind the Benghazi debacle are acknowledged at any level. but heck, maybe Hagel wouldn’t have caught on, maybe he is so brain dead, he would have sent the ambassador reinforcements.

In any case, Hagel is performing well, obfuscating the real news

entagor on February 1, 2013 at 5:53 PM