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Politics

Report: Former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel Likely to Be Nominated Secretary of Defense

Dec. 13, 2012 2:15pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is likely to be nominated secretary of defense, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.

Hagel, who served as senator for Nebraska from 1997 to 2009, was openly critical of the war in Iraq.

According to Bloomberg, sources said Hagel met with President Barack Obama on Dec. 4 to discuss the position and has “passed the vetting process” by the White House counsel’s office.

Hagel is a Vietnam War veteran.

The White House would not confirm Bloomberg’s report and claimed no decision had been made about the post, NBC reported.

This post has been updated.

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Comments (37)

wolverine57
Posted on December 16, 2012 at 7:35pm
In the December Issue of Vietnam Magazine at page 19 Chuck Hagel refers to LTC Van Duesen, General Westmoreland’s brother-in-law. He has some confusion as to dates and locations. LTC Van Duesen was shot down on 3 July 68 and not in May. It was not a bubble helicopter but a C&C Huey. It was shot down in the Vam Co Dong River southeast of the Ben Luc Bridge and not the Saigon River. There were 10 on board with 3 survivors. I was one of the survivors. SGT Curtis Buck swam out to pull me ashore. In the interview, Chuck Hagel states his brother Tom was shot (his 3rd purple heart) trying to rescue LTC Van Duesen. I did not see another swimmer in the water. Chuck Hagel in a Veteran’s History Project says he remembers the day very well. He later refers to his fellow soldiers as drunked up, drugged up, and worthless. He has also referred to battalion leaders as invisible. He states he had little confidence in the officer corps. On a “bait” patrol he leaves his radio and claymores in the hands of the enemy. I don’t question his purple hearts. However, based on his confusion on dates and locations, I believe he was the one invisible. Based on his characterization of his fellow soldiers, he seems to see himself a hero, while calling others drunked up, drugged up, and worthless. He has been invited to the 47th Infantry reunions. He has not attended any. Could it be that his war stories just won’t hold up when faced with others who were there at the same time?

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RushEcho2
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 10:37am
Pacifism kills more than carrying a big Military stick!
Obama will say Republicans join surrender/defeat.

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Old Phart
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:30am
Hagel was run out of Nebraska for his betrayal to our Country. He may have served honorably in Viet Nam. But, what a man does in the entirety of his life dictates the character of a man. Benedict Arnold was a “Hero” of the American Revolution until he turned to support the British. Hagel is an opportunist willing to support whatever master is strongest at the moment. I have more respect for a gangbanger who is consitent with his beliefs than I have for this traitor. No true American can support the Marxist President we have now. Every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine swore an oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, Are we now to allow the appointment of this person. Notice I did not refer to Hagel as a “man”.

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hempstead1944
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:25pm
And I thought they had already scraped the bottom of the barrel with Panetta……never underestimate how low a ruthless bunch of politicians can go…..

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garbagecanlogic
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:49pm
Hell, we all but run this phony idiot out of Nebraska, the obama administration is the only place he can get a job now. He has been acting like a dummycrat now for the last 20 years.

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

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aproudinfidel
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:23pm
Another blow to America’s military is now looming on the horizon. What next? Harry Belafonte for Atty. General?

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self-reliant man
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:53pm
Some of your comments here are quite short sighted if you ask me. The man served as an infantry team leader in Vietnam, has two purple hearts and was awarded his combat infantryman badge. If you don’t understand what that means, then don’t be so quick to judge. I also am a veteran (Iraq), I served seven years as an Army Sniper and also have my combat infantryman badge. I can completely understand his sentiments. It is so funny that many individuals have opinions about something they know virtually nothing about. Please, I can’t wait to hear the backlash here.

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- MDECKER
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:09pm
  I’d question the integrity of anyone, that decided to work in this President’s Administration.
  
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- self-reliant man
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Not arguing with you there, I am arguing about the comments individuals are making about his views on the war.
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:34pm
  Well said…..@MDECKER The action being employed here is called inclusiveness. You see most of the independent voters like myself would like to see a functioning government. Not a bunch of ideologues from both sides of the isle do nothing more than enjoy the sound of their own voice saying stupider and stupider things. Allen West was a perfect example of someone who wasted the citizens time and money doing nothing more than feeding the angry mob in a disturbed attempt at gaining popularity. And despite the florida legislature redrawing his district to hopefully secure his win, he LOST. Which is what an non-inclusive stance and approach should get you. A one way ticket out of government.
  
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barber2
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:37pm
Remember what happened to Petraeus ? I’d avoid the Chicago radicals like the plague which they are !

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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:34pm
The Marxist POS currently transforming America into Amerika doesn’t care who the secretary of defense is or any other cabinet official for that matter. They’re all just figure heads because a dictator’s in charge and he has been from day one.

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- ranepowel
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:06pm
  So?
  
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h20sue
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:28pm
Could he be any worse then what’s in there now? At least he has past military experience. More then Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and Clinton. Mercy, how will we handle this?

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hauschild
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:24pm
You must question any man’s character and motives that would serve under this regime because unless you run the entire show, you’re simply a puppet on a Marxist string. So, you’re actually aiding and abetting these criminals and directly involved with the continued destruction of this nation.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:54pm
  Most likely, he is just hoping this position will advance his political career
  
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Chromo200
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:16pm
One party system .. Welcome to Cuban/Russia/Taliban

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honor007
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:34pm
a guy who was critical of the Iraq War. How crazy is that?
gets scarier by the day.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:19pm
  is that sarcasm or do you really think Iraq was a great thing?
  
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- honor007
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:26pm
  he voted FOR it and than was against it. He is one of those in the “special” club.
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:44pm
  I see
  
  Well in similar fashion, hopefully people who voted for Romney or McCain were against their progressive ideology
  
  Report this comment
- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:16pm
  honor007
  The whole country was for the Iraq War and then against it. As I recall, it had something to do with all the reasons we were told it was necessary turning out to not be true.
  
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inexiletill2012
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:31pm
Figures……he jumped ship on the Republican party loooooong ago.

We were stunned here when he backed a failed Democrat for senate.
There is your quid pro quo, Hagel back Bob Kerry Democrat for Senate and we will make you Secretary of Defense.

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jackact
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:30pm
I guess John ‘Namm’ Kerry, debate coach extraordinaire, was skipped over?
:)
Let’s hope ‘affirmative action’ Rice follows suit….
Maybe Obama has begun to realize that he OWNS IT now?

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- DZ-015
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:49pm
  The ‘crats may have been afraid of a Brown repeat if Kerry’s seat came open in MA.
  
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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:12pm
  They were up for consideration for Secretary of State. This is for Defense.
  
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- Diane TX
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:34pm
  Susan Rice withdrew her name for Sec. of ST, just today. It looks like it’ll be John Kerry.
  
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JPDevuyst
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:28pm
Of course, the White House “vetting process” consists of them finding something dirty in your past, and saving it to use you as a scape goat when something bad happens… or if you opposed GW Bush at some point in your career you likely pass the test as well. You don’t even need to be caught up on your taxes to work in the white house now anyways…

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- GeorgieJo
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:47pm
  JPD
  I HEARD THAT
  You are correct.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:39pm
  JPD: Ironic. I hadn’t read your comment before I posted mine above. I have the same interpretation of these Chicago radicals ! Stay away from them.
  
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:26pm
HEY…. what’s there not for Liberals and isolationist alike…. NOT to like about Hagel… ??

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:20pm
  you dont know what isolationist means
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:28pm
  Sure I do Ron…
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 3:42pm
  you dont know my name either
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:10pm
  Sure I know your name SOY. “By their works we shall know them.”
  
  Obama enabler… (twice).
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:26pm
  i was remembering today how Rush Linbaugh in the 2008 primary, had his “operation chaos”. Many of his listeners voted for Obama and may have been directly responsible for putting him in power. If you are looking to blame someone – start there
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:04pm
  LOL…. SOY. What great big ears, white teeth and furry coat you have grandma…
  
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