But as far as old Bill Occam and I are concerned, the most plausible explanation for why President Obama nominated Chuck Hagel is that . . . he wanted to. He thinks Chuck Hagel will be effective in administering the national-security policy of candidate Obama circa 2007 or 2008, and even of President Obama circa 2009. And that’s the policy President Obama is interested in pursuing in his second term. In other words, the reason President Obama’s defense nominee sucks is that President Obama’s defense policy sucks.
More accurately, in my opinion: Obama’s secretly-desired defense policy sucks. His public defense policy is merely incompetently administered.
Moe Lane
PS: I really don’t know how the Hagel thing will go down, at this point. I do know that expecting the White House to admit to anything being wrong if they can possibly avoid it is a mug’s game.
Moe,
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I have to admit, I love when this happens.
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You and Ace of Spades excerpted the same piece regarding Hagel (see: http://ace.mu.nu/archives/337681.php)
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The difference, far as I can tell, is in how many bread crumbs re. Obama’s “secret” foreign policy positions are dropped .. Ace goes a little heavier on the crumbs, IMO, than necessary .. your recipe is a tad light.
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The conclusion I reach, after reading both pieces, is that Hagel is just another example of Obama appointing someone who will follow the dreams of his father….
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Mew