Ken Blackwell & Bob Morrison Op-Ed: Hagel

Bob Morrison

Ken Blackwell

Ken Blackwell and Bob Morrison, senior fellows at the conservative Family Research Council, opine about for U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel's bid to become the U.S. Secretary of Defense: "After yesterday’s hearings, we have an entirely new set of concerns. Sen. Hagel has never administered any large organization — in private industry or in government. The Pentagon is a huge bureaucracy. He seems to be telling us it isn’t a problem all the wild things I’ve said because I will not be in a policy-making position. If he is confirmed and not making policy, that fact would speak volumes about this administration’s lack of seriousness on national defense."

They continue their commentary: "Throughout the decades since, some Secretaries of Defense have been deeply controversial — like Robert Strange MacNamara during the Vietnam War. Some have been great and capable leaders — like Caspar Weinberger during the highly successful Reagan years. But we have never had a Secretary of Defense who promises on entering office to be inconsequential."

More: "Yesterday’s hearing makes clear why the Iranians might want Chuck Hagel leading the Pentagon; it does not make clear why most Americans should. It seems the president chose an old Senate chum who could be relied upon to rubber stamp the administration’s social engineering of the military. The first duty of the President of the United States is to safeguard the American people and our Constitution. If he goes forward with this flawed nomination, President Obama will be saying loudly on national defense: Whatever. Mr. President: Now is the time to prevent future grief for our nation and our all-volunteer military. Now is the time to withdraw this nomination. Chuck Hagel."