Hagel calls U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan ‘a very real possibility,’ “Face the Nation” remembers Nelson Mandela
(CBS News) – Sunday on “Face the Nation,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned that U.S forces in Afghanistan would have to withdraw absent of a new joint security deal.
“If we don't have a bilateral security agreement, which I've noted, that means we can't protect our forces that would be here after 2014, no international partners will come, Afghanistan essentially will be alone. But we have no other options,” Hagel said in an interview with CBS News State Department Correspondent Margaret Brennan.
“Unless we have the security of an agreement to protect our forces…then we'll have no choice. We will not be able to stay,” he said.
Hagel’s comments were picked up by United Press International, The Hill, Bloomberg, Fiscal Times, and The Washington Times.Turning to our coverage of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, host Bob Schieffer interviewed poet Maya Angelou.
“He showed us also how liberating it is to forgive,” said Angelou, reflecting on the life of Mandela, whom she first met in the 1960s when she was living in Cairo.
Angelou also spoke about the way South Africa changed under Mandela’s leadership.
“It amazes me that today, there are people who actually go to South Africa for vacation,” Angelou remarked, “That is a pure act, and the great gift of Nelson Mandela.”
Read more about our conversation with Dr. Angelou Politico, The National Review, Newser, Washington Post and The New York Post. You can watch Angelou’s tribute poem for Nelson Mandela here.
Bob Schieffer also spoke with Randall Robinson, an activist who pushed Congress to put pressure on the South African government to end apartheid. Randall’s efforts later led to a sanctions bill, which was vetoed by President Reagan. Congress overrode Reagan’s veto in 1986.
James Baker, appearing after Robinson in Sunday’s broadcast, said President Reagan later regretted his veto of the anti-apartheid bill.
"I'm sure he did regret it, in fact, I'm certain that he did," said Baker, who served as Reagan’s Secretary of State. “It was after all, I think, the only time a veto of his had been overridden in two terms. Certainly, he regretted it."
Baker also remembered meeting with Nelson Mandela three weeks after his release from prison.
“He had an enduring and endearing presence of dignity that I don’t think I’ve ever seen on any other person,” Baker said.
The Washington Times, The Hill, Politico, The New York Post, have more on Bob Schieffer’s interview with the Reagan’s former aide.
