by Yaakov Ahimeir
The sound of swords
being sharpened is resounding throughout the Capitol as U.S. President
Barack Obama appoints former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as secretary
of defense in place of Leon Panetta. Senators are anticipating a great
confirmation battle.
The signs of an
impending storm are already visible. Hagel's highly critical stance
toward Israel stands out as one of the central arguments of those
senators from both parties who oppose the appointment. Another key
argument revolves around Hagel's opposition to military action against
Iran's nuclear facilities, and his preference that the U.S. negotiate
with Iran rather than bomb it.
Only last week,
President Obama publicly voiced his admiration of Hagel, a
twice-decorated soldier in the Vietnam War. The two men see eye-to-eye
on the need to make extensive cuts to the defense budget, and Obama
expects Hagel can pull off such cuts in a time of economic crisis. In
everything concerning U.S. involvement overseas, Hagel can be described
as an isolationist and dove.
Pro-Israel lobbyists in
Washington are already preparing for the big showdown over Hagel's
appointment. They have no qualms about urging senators to vote against
Hagel at the end of the critical, likely fascinating confirmation
hearing. Some Israel advocates will even judge a senator's pro-Israel
bona fides on the basis of how they vote on this appointment. The moment
of truth is approaching, and mere words of support for Israel will not
cut it.
It is no surprise that
one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Hagel's candidacy is Pat
Buchanan — a conservative media personality and politician who has run
for president in the past. Over the years, including in an interview I
conducted with him, Buchanan has opposed all American economic aid to
Israel, no matter the political stripe of the government in Jerusalem.
Buchanan also supports dialogue between the United States and Hamas or
Hezbollah.
On the other side of
the divide stands Abe Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, who
has openly opposed Hagel's appointment. At the same time, many important
American media commentators enthusiastically favor the Hagel
nomination, including Thomas Friedman of The New York Times.
Obama had to pass over
his first choice for secretary of state, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice.
Strong opposition in Congress nixed the nomination, despite Rice being
very close to the president.
Was Rice's rejection a preview of
what we can expect to see with Hagel's nomination? Unlikely. At the
beginning of his second term, Obama will not accept another defeat and
will do everything in his power to make sure Hagel is appointed.
Yaakov Ahimeir
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=3187
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
No comments:
Post a Comment