SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WHO DOES NOT WANT WAR

The potential nomination of ex-senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense is a good candidate. He knows war and does not want war, therefore, he is the ideal candidate to head up the Department of Defense.

Unfortunately, he carries a Republican label, which is a brand that is not very good for a Democratic Presidential nominee. He is from Nebraska, a realistic conservative environment unlike the radicalism of Wisconsinites who are giving the Republican Party such a bad name. Had he been a Democrat he would have been Blue Dog.  The attack against his confirmations has taken three forms; he is anti gay, he is anti Semantic, and he is anti war. He was anti gay. However, he seems to have modified his position on that issue just as a lot Americans have done. He is not anti Semantic but he is against the radical Israeli government policies of Netanyahu. In respect to this latter issue, I have blogged several times about how hurtful the anti Palestinian freedom policies and confiscation of lands by the Netanyahu government are to the worlds Jewish community. President Carter’s book, Peace Not Apartheid summarizes that the issue.

The third issue, Hagel is anti war; his critics base this on him not supportive of the Iraq War. He like the president saw that war as offensive not defensive and fought for the worst of purposes, which was to advance American Business interest. As a combat veteran who fought in and was sensitized by the Vietnam War, he honored the people who fought that war but dishonored those who started it.  Most importantly, his combat experience causes him to see no honor in a war without purpose. What this country needs is a Secretary of Defense like Hagel who does not want war—that is the only thing that makes sense. Think about it; what would this country be like with a person such as McCain as Secretary of Defense (offence) and Romney as President against the background of Rumsfeld and Bush. Contrast that with our country with Hagel as Secretary of Defense and Obama as President—your response to that comparison should tell you something about inner yourself.