Hagel tells Congress he's ready to act on Iran, if needed

[No Elephants]

Hagel tells Congress he's ready to act on Iran, if needed

By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:33pm EST

(Reuters) - Chuck Hagel has told Congress that if confirmed as the next defense secretary he would ensure America's military is prepared to strike Iran if necessary but stressed the need to be "cautious and certain" when contemplating the use of force.

Hagel's views were detailed in 112 pages of written responses to wide-ranging questions by lawmakers submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing on Thursday. In them, he also voiced support for a steady U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan.

It was unclear whether his comments would help blunt what is expected to be harsh questioning by mostly Republican lawmakers following a public campaign against his nomination by critics seeking to portray him as soft on Iran and anti-Israel.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/30/us-usa-hagel-iran-idUSBRE90T1BK20130130




So much for the theory that Dems should support him because of his peaceful ways and his resistance to Bibi's charms.

{Bot to English translation: Obama nominated him, so, by gum, I am going to pretend that there is a principled reason to support the nomination.)

As if the Secretary of Defense dictates foreign policy to the Secretary of State and the POTUS, anyway.

So, now, we're left only with his awful homophobic attacks on Hormel which bots also have no trouble with.

Oh yes, I forgot. Hagel recently apologized to ....no one in particular.

So what if the apology came only after the administration floated the possiblity of his nomination and his shameful treatment of Hormel hit the fan?

So what if the apology was never to Hormel, only to the ether right above the heads of the media?

Despite all that, we somehow ust know that the apology (or whatever it was) was a heartfelt indication that he had honestly "evolved" on the issue of whether homosexuals who are not closeted have a right to represent the U.S. abroad. What on earth does that have to do with heading Defense, with the military still struggling with a mandate regarding military who are not closeted and who often find themselves abroad, whether they want to be there or not?

Hormel spoke out against Hagel initially noting that the apology had no indicia of authenticity, remorse or repentance. (My words, not Hormel's) But, it seems as though someone may then have persuaded Hormel to soften his opposition because, for no apparent reason, he put out a second statement.

The second statement was not exactly an embrace of Hagel though. Rather, it was one of those statements that seem to say something, until you try to figure out what it really says. Then, you realize it really doesn't say much of anything. Ambiguous and ambivalent. So, I don't think Hormel is okay with this. Even if he were, though, I'm not.

Someone, please remind me why I should want this homophobic Republican as Secretary of a Defense Department that is still grappling with repeal of DADT? Is he really the only person qualified for the job, or even the person who is best-qualified person for the job?

Oh yeah. Thats right. He's "a patriot." I guess there are no broadminded Democratic patriots in a population of 350 million folk, more or less.

Well, that settles it then. A patriotic head of Defense. Because all the other heads of Defense have been so blatantly treasonous. Especially the Democratic ones, no doubt. You can hardly swing a dead chickenhawk without hitting at least two treasonous Democratic former heads of defense.

Well, I know I'm sold.

[Enthusiast]

1. This is good.

"You can hardly swing a dead chickenhawk without hitting at least two treasonous Democratic former heads of defense."

If the PTB want to fake up reasons for war with Iran they will do it, Hagel or no Hagel.

Look how bold they were with false flag operation 911 and Iraq. These people have no shame. The media has no shame either. This time they probably won't even have the media discussion leading up to the war like they did leading to Iraq. They will probably just say, "Israel is in eminent danger from a nuclear Iran, something must be done." Those will be their EXACT words. The media will act like those words have great weight and credibility and the people of the nation will be out with signs that say, "Support the troops!" And we will kill millions, spend trillions and poor people will have to "share the burden."

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater."

Frank Zappa

[No Elephants]

2. Thanks Enthusiast You are so kind.

Between you and Divine Discontent, I am just going to start floating instead of walking.

Frank Zappa's comment reminds me of the movie The Truman Show.

[Enthusiast]

3. The Zappa quote

makes more sense every day. There remains little stage scenery to cover up the malfeasance of the 1% and their enablers.

[No Elephants]

4. Scenery costs time, money and energy. These days, there is little reason to bother with it.

Half of America has been conditioned to believe that their only problem is Democrats while the other half has been condititoned to believe that their only problem is Republicans.

And, when that wears thin, if ever, the right of both parties has most of the guns.