Hagel nomination cheers Iran, worries Israel
President Obama speaks alongside his nominee for Secretary of State, Chuck Hagel, at the White House, Jan. 7, 2013 in Washington. / Getty
TEHRAN, Iran Iran's Foreign Ministry says it is hopeful the appointment of former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon would improve relations between Tehran and the U.S.
Asked about Hagel's nomination, ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that Tehran was hopeful that there would be "practical changes" to U.S. foreign policy, and that nations would change their attitude towards the U.S. if it respected their rights.
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Obama's defense secretary nominee faces opposition
Chuck Hagel: "I will always do my best"
Hagel was nominated Monday and faces tough confirmation hearings. Critics have said he is hostile toward Israel and soft on Iran.
Washington and Tehran have no diplomatic relations since 1979 when Iranian militants stormed the U.S embassy and took American diplomats hostages.
Tensions have spiked over America's belief that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies.
Hagel's nomination is causing jitters in Israel, on the other hand, where some view the former Nebraska senator as unsympathetic or even hostile.
Hagel's positions on Israel's two most pressing foreign policy issues — Iran's nuclear program and relations with the Palestinians — appear to be at odds with the Israeli government, and critics here fear the appointment could increase pressure on the Jewish state to make unwanted concessions. The appointment could also signal further strains in what is already a cool relationship between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to win re-election later this month.
"Because of his statements in the past, and his stance toward Israel, we are worried," Reuven Rivlin, the speaker of the Israeli parliament and a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, told The Associated Press. But, he added, the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel is strong and "one person doesn't determine policy."
Netanyahu's office refused to comment on the appointment, as did officials in the Israeli foreign and defense ministries. But Rivlin's comments reflected what has been a common sentiment among analysts and commentators here in recent days. In their evening news broadcasts, Israel's three main TV stations on Monday all portrayed Hagel as cool toward Israel.
Known as a maverick in the Senate, Hagel has raised eyebrows in Israel with a series of comments and actions over the years that some here have deemed insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state.
Hagel once said "the Jewish lobby (in the United States) intimidates a lot of people here" and does some "dumb things" that aren't "smart for Israel." He also said that "I'm not an Israeli senator. I'm a United States senator."
"I support Israel, but my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States, not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel," he said.
Six years ago, he refused to sign a letter pressing the European Union to declare the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group a terrorist organization.
Hagel's call in a bipartisan letter in 2009 for a `pragmatic' approach toward Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, has also drawn criticism. The letter called for engaging Hamas to moderate its behavior, though it said direct U.S. engagement "may not now be practical." Critics, pointing to the letter, have accused Hagel of supporting dialogue with Hamas.
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Actually, the RWNJs want another CHICKENHAWK like the PNAC NEOCONS -- all BIG MOUTH republicans without any service to see that WAR is really hell.
Chuck Hagel has more grit and common sense than all those rabid NEOCONS!
While American pro-Israel groups sound the alarm on President Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, Israel itself seems much less concerned.
"It's none of our business, it's America's prerogative," said Naftali Bennett of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) party, whose popularity has surged in recent weeks. "Israel and America's bond goes way beyond certain relationships between individuals."
Also, if Hagel can get us out of Afghanistan earlier than expected, just like the majority of Americans prefer, then he's the best pick we can have!
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/israelis-respond-to-obamas-pick-of-chuck-hagel-its-none-of-our-business-2013-1#ixzz2HUgWxTMt
By the way, for someone who accuses others (too quickly and sometime falsely, I might add) of ad hominem accusations, your keyboard runnith to speak ill of other individuals posting here. Do reread your comments below here with a bit of objective honesty in your evaluation.
And by the way, you seem to still be unwilling to engage in the most gentlemanly of classic debate on the merits as well as in form. As such, why not drop the pretentiousness and attempts at converting sophomoric chip shots into something intellectually redeeming?
Oh, and by the way .. "Ping!"
Hagel nomination: Israelis ask 'what's the big deal?'
While American pro-Israel groups sound the alarm on President Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, Israel itself seems much less concerned.
"It's none of our business, it's America's prerogative," said Naftali Bennett of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) party, whose popularity has surged in recent weeks. "Israel and America's bond goes way beyond certain relationships between individuals."
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What a total load of KRAP! This is all RWNJ political rhetoric!
Hagel nomination: Israelis ask 'what's the big deal?'
While American pro-Israel groups sound the alarm on President Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, Israel itself seems much less concerned.
"It's none of our business, it's America's prerogative," said Naftali Bennett of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) party, whose popularity has surged in recent weeks. "Israel and America's bond goes way beyond certain relationships between individuals."
First off, there is the Pollard case and the USS Liberty business regarding Israel. Do not forget. Read and understand about those two.
Second, there is the Hostage Crisis with Iran that has never been addressed. Do not forget. Read and understand the US role in Iran before the current government and the consequences of CIA operations there.
Third, there is the nuclear question regarding Iran, but blind to the nuclear weapons and infrastructure in Israel. Do not forget. Read about Israel and its nuclear scientists disclosures of over 600 nuclear devices
and understand the politics of threatened armageddon on both sides.
Hagel will not determine what is best for Israel or Iran...as Secretary of State anymore than Hillary Clinton did. This job is for US. Thank you.
1a - Jonathan Pollard was an American, when he violated the law, was found guilty and sentenced to Federal prison, before changing his citizenship to the State of Israel. He remains in prison.
1b - US military, intelligence and government inquiries found Israel was responsible, however erroneously it may have been, for the death of 34 service personnel on the USS Liberty more than 40 years ago. In addition to apologies, Israel paid monetary compensation to the United States and families of those killed and injured.
2a - Iran has been found liable for the deaths of 241 service personnel in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. The Federal judge awarded over $2Billion in damages to the surviving families. Most recently, Iran was ordered to pay $841 Million of their obligation. Iran has made no payment or apologies for killing Americans.
3a - Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and so is bound by its provisions, which include assertive obligations of disclosure and inspection-at-will. Iran has been found to be out of compliance with its treaty obligations, making it the subject of the rest of the world's scrutiny.
3b - Israel, like India, never signed the NPT and has never had similar obligations of disclosure. There is no accurate or authoritative set of facts about Israel and whether it possesses nuclear weapons or weapon capability. The governments of Israel have deliberately pursued a policy of nuclear weapon ambiguity, under which they neither confirm nor deny any speculation of their capabilities, nor disclose any information about same. Whatever assertions purport to be known facts are nothing more or less than people's speculation.
Watch out!