U.S. Sec. Of Defense Hagel: I Was Pressured By The White House To Release Guantanamo Detainees'

CNN: Hagel: Gitmo transfers caused friction with some at White House

Update: Hagel Says White House Disagreed With His Slow Pace of Releases of Guantanamo Detainees -- ABC News

WNU Editor: He is the U.S. official that must sign-off on their release .... and it looks for some of these released detainees ... especially the Taliban 5 that were released for Bergdahl .... it gave him pause. But the bottom line is that he did sign-off on their release .... instead of resigning on a matter of principle ... and it looks like he now has some doubts.

U.S. Sec. Of Defense Hagel: 'U.S. Command Troops Could Be Needed In Iraq'

Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel walks during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia, January 28, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Yuri Gripas

Reuters: U.S. ground troops could be needed in Iraq: Chuck Hagel

WNU Editor: No kidding .... White House Acknowledges 'Friction' with Hagel and Pentagon (Military.com)

More News On U.S. Sec. Of Defense Hagel Remarks That 'U.S. Command Troops Could Be Needed In Iraq'

Hagel Says US May Need to Put Ground Troops in Iraq -- Military.com
Hagel: U.S. may need ground troops in Iraq -- Al Arabiya
Hagel: Ground troops could be needed in Iraq -- The Hill
US Troops Could Find Themselves Back on Ground in Iraq Fighting IS -- Sputnik
US may send troops to Iraq as spotters, scouts - Hagel -- RT

You Serve At The Pleasure Of The President (The Resignation Of U.S. Secretary Of Defense Hagel)

My Comment: In the past few months many in the Pentagon have been brutal in their commentary and analysis on President Obama's strategy to deal with the Islamic State, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Ebola, Libya, etc.. What made matters worse was that many of these comments were being made public .... and in clear contradiction of stated White House policies and strategies. The White House had to act to assert its authority .... and not surprising they did so today. The result I predict is going to be immediate. Generals/Admirals and their staff .... if they want to continue having a job with the U.S Defense Department .... must "tow the official White House line" .... and I expect all of them will be doing just that. I now expect no more criticisms, no public disagreements, and no opposition to President Obama's war/defense/national security policies. Everyone is now going to "shut-up" .... and even when they are in strong disagreement with the White House .... will remain mute.

Will this serve America's long term national security and defense needs .... I doubt it. Discourse and debate is vital for any policy to be successful .... especially on war/defense/national security issues. Regular readers of this blog know that for the past year I have been critical on this administration's lack of leadership and focus on vital war and defense related issues .... a lack of focus that has resulted in conflicts that could have been easily managed in the past .... into conflicts that now have the potential to gravely impact U.S. national security. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel ... to his credit .... recently recognized this .... and unfortunately for him .... has paid the price for opening his mouth.

It should be noted that there will also be an impact on the international scene .... and the perception of what this resignation means.  America's adversaries now see an American foreign/national security team/policy in disarray ... and will take advantage of it. Case in point .... this resignation was announced immediately after the Iranian nuclear talks ended .... because everyone "in the know" knew that if this resignation was announced this past Friday .... the Iranians would have immediately shifted their stand in the talks. Russia, Ukraine, China, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Islamic State .... everyone is now looking at the U.S. .... and are calculating how to take advantage of the present situation. My prediction .... the next few weeks are going to be tense in some parts of the world.

Breaking News: U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Has Been Fired By President Obama

Hagel Resigns As Defense Secretary, Official Says -- Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned, the first major cabinet change after Obama's Democrats were routed in mid-term elections three weeks ago.

Obama was to announce Hagel's resignation at a White House event at 11:10 a.m. on Monday.

Hagel, who had struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing, submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.

Read more ....

More News On The Resignation/Firing Of U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to step down -- Defense News
Defense Secretary Hagel, under pressure, submits resignation -- Washington Post
Hagel Retreats from Pentagon Under Fire -- Time
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel resigning -- CBS News
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Step Down -- ABC News
Hagel to Step Down as Defense Secretary, White House Aide Says -- Bloomberg
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stepping down -- AP
Obama removing DOD's Hagel -- The Hill
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Forced to Step Down, Officials Say -- NBC
Chuck Hagel to Step Down as Defense Secretary -- WSJ
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stepping down, Fox News confirms -- FOX News
Defense Secretary Hagel will resign, sources say -- USA Today
US Defense Chief Chuck Hagel to Resign -- VOA
Chuck Hagel forced to step down as Secretary of Defense -- Washington Times
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to exit Obama administration -- CSM/AP
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Resign Under Pressure -- Newsweek
Obama finds midterm scapegoat in Hagel -- FOX News
US defence secretary Chuck Hagel 'to step down' -- BBC
Chuck Hagel forced to step down as US defense secretary -- The Guardian
US defence secretary Chuck Hagel resigns -- Al Jazeera

U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel: The Islamic State Is 'An Incredibly Dangerous New Threat'

Hagel Notes Progress Against ISIL as World Grows More Dangerous -- US Department of Defense

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2014 – The U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is showing good signs of progress, and the first of 1,500 additional U.S. troops that President Barack Obama ordered to Iraq should begin arriving there in the next few weeks, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a PBS interview broadcast last night.

“Overall, we are seeing good progress,” Hagel told Charlie Rose in a wide-ranging interview conducted at the Pentagon yesterday in describing the three months of airstrikes and Iraqi and Kurdish attacks against ISIL. “We’re not where we need to be yet, but this is a longer-term, difficult, challenging mission.”

Read more ....

Update #1: Hagel: Islamic State presents new challenge to US -- FOX News/AP
Update #2: 'Islamic State is most serious security threat US is facing' -- Israel Hayom

My Comment: Unfortunately he has no quick solutions, and his predictions for the future are sobering .... Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Get Used to Endless War (The Atlantic)

Pentagon Denies Reports That Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Is To Be Replaced

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, meets with Tunisian Defense Minister Ghazi Jeribi, right foreground, at the Pentagon, Nov. 3, 2014. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Hurt

Pentagon Denies Rumors Hagel On His Way Out -- DoD Buzz

The Pentagon on Friday sought to dispel rumors fueled by opinion columns that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had lost favor with the White House and would soon be replaced.

“The Secretary is fully committed” to serving as Pentagon chief for the remainder of President Obama’s term in office, Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said in response to a question at a Pentagon news conference.

Hagel was focused on the job ahead “and he looks forward to doing that for the remainder” of Obama’s term, Kirby said.

Read more ....

My Comment: Someone started this rumor .... you have to wonder who? My money is on the White House.

Update: This does not help his case .... Hagel Approval Rating Just 26 Percent Among National Security Workers, Troops (Defense One).

U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel Has An Approval Rating Just 26 Percent Among National Security Workers And Soldiers

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel meets with U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo (all not pictured) at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., Oct. 24, 2014. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

Hagel Approval Rating Just 26 Percent Among National Security Workers, Troops -- Defense One

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has just a 26 percent approval rating among individuals currently serving within the national security community, according to findings from a new survey commissioned by Defense One.

The findings come as scrutiny on the Obama administration’s handling of the war in Iraq and Syria grows. At the same time, a variety of media reports hint that President Barack Obama, himself trailing in the polls after a poor showing for the Democrats in Tuesday’s election, is considering a shake-up of his national security staff. That could include Hagel.

Read more ....

My Comment: This is more of a reflection of a lack of respect for the Commander in Chief .... in addition to leaders like U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel. This is not a healthy situation .... with the U.S. being involved in the number of conflicts that it is today .... we need leaders who have the respect of the troops. Unfortunately .... if this poll is accurate .... this is not the case.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel Talks About The Threats And Long Term Challenges Facing The United States

 

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Get Used to Endless War -- David A. Graham, The Atlantic 

From ISIS to climate change, the Pentagon chief says, the threats that face the United States are long-term challenges. Sometimes it feels like what's happening now, at any given moment, is bigger, more important, worse, and more dangerous than before.

Luckily, that often turns out to be incorrect: Today's news is tomorrow's hazy memory, and what once seemed like an existential threat is now nothing more than an unpleasant recollection. It sure seems like there are frightening events happening everywhere today—from ISIS to Ebola, Russian imperialism to Chinese saber-rattling, climate change to congressional dysfunction.

But is it really worse, or will this, too, pass?

Read more ....  

Update #1: Hagel Offers Perspective on ‘Historic, Defining Times’ -- US Department of Defense Update #2: Hagel: 'I Think We Are Seeing a New World Order' -- Breitbart

U.S. Secretary Of Defense Hagel Critical Of White House Syrian Policy

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the 2014 USO Gala in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2014. DoD Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Hagel Wrote Memo To White House Criticizing Syria Strategy -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Earlier this month, while on an trip to Latin America to discuss climate change, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sat down and wrote a highly private, and very blunt memo to National Security Advisor Susan Rice about U.S. policy toward Syria.

It was a detailed analysis, crafted directly by Hagel "expressing concern about overall Syria strategy," a senior U.S. official tells CNN. The official directly familiar with the contents declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The existence of the memo itself was first reported by the New York Times.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Secretary Of Defense Hagel Critical Of White House Syrian Policy

Hagel memo criticized WH Syria strategy -- The Hill
Hagel blasts White House Syria strategy in memo to Susan Rice -- Washington Times
Syria's Assad may benefit from U.S. attacks on Islamic State -Hagel -- Reuters
Syria's Assad may benefit from US attacks on Islamic State, says Pentagon chief -- Jerusalem Post

My Comment: It looks like someone in the Pentagon leaked this memo .... and it would not surprise me if there are some in the White House who are not pleased right now.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel: 'The World is Exploding All Over'

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Marines on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2014. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Hurt

Defense Secretary: 'The World is Exploding All Over' -- Weekly Standard

Fresh off a trip to India and Australia, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel addressed a group of Marines in San Diego, California Tuesday, and may have delivered a line that will show up in Republican campaign ads this election cycle. After updating the troops on some issues in the Pacific region and the Middle East, Hagel took questions from some of the Marines and gave a stark assessment of the global security situation: "The world is exploding all over." The remark came in response to a question about the Obama administration's realignment of the military towards the Asia-Pacific theater:

Q: Good afternoon, sir. My question is that, given that the administration's primary focus is on the Pacific theater, how has all of the issues popping up in the world today, Russia, Iraq, Africa, the rest of the theaters pretty much affected that current mission? And how do you foresee that affecting the mission in the future?

Read more ....

My Comment: He is saying the obvious.