Hagel on the Mideast Crisis
As Israel prepares to widen ground operations and continues its air assault on southern Lebanon even during a putative 48-hour pause, and President Bush maintains his refusal to call for a cease-fire, Republican senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has broken ranks with the Administration to call for strong steps toward ending the conflict before it expands still further.
In a speech on the Senate flood yesterday, Hagel said “The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop.” The senator noted that America’s actions must be examined in context of our wider goal to achieve long-term stability in the Middle East: “How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend – the country and people of Lebanon – is going to enhance America’s image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?”
A bit more from Hagel: “Our relationship with Israel is special and historic. But it need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships. That is an irresponsible and dangerous false choice.” He urged the president to name a “statesman of global stature” as his personal envoy to assist in quelling the crisis, and called for talks with Iran and Syria, who are backing Hezbollah.
I think Hagel’s got something right here. While I entirely support Israel’s right to defend herself, and deplore the continued attacks on Israeli cities by Hezbollah’s terrorists, the world must come together and demand an end to the violence in a way that will guarantee Israel’s safety and the sidelining of Hezbollah as a military actor in the region. I agree with Senator Hagel that the punishing attacks on Lebanese infrastructure and civilian populations should be halted – we (the world community, but particularly the United States) should take steps to stabilize the legitimate Lebanese government and provide support for its people so that they don’t have to turn to Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah.
This is not going to be an easy fix. But the dismantling of Lebanon must end, and it must end soon to prevent a crisis in that country that will only send the region further into a tailspin. Hagel’s right, we’ve got to stop the madness.
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19 Responses to “Hagel on the Mideast Crisis”
Although i’m not Republican, Hagel is quickly becoming one of my favorite Senators.
He seems to be a moderate with common sense. He hasn’t been infected by the neocon virus that seems to be catching in Washington DC (afflicting both Republicans and Democrats alike).
He also sits on the Board of Directors of the University where I finished my undergrad degree. Well respected man…. and very sharp.
If I would consider supporting any Republican (which is just hard for me to imagine), it would be Charles Hagel.
He might make a great President. Seems to have a different world view than that of the majority of his colleagues. He’s a visionary…. a Progressive Republican (if there is such a thing). He’s someone that I will definitely be watching.
All indications show that he will be running.
Problem is… he would have to beat McCain…. which is just unthinkable at this point…because of the inherently crooked way that political campaigns are handled in this country. Whomever has the most money…the most name recognition, and the biggest war chest…wins. Whoever the major media annoints… wins. Whoever looks the best in a Cowboy hat…wins. And whoever can come off as being the dumbest….wins. Unfortunately…it’s not based on who is the sharpest and best qualified.
American political campaigns have never been based on that. Which is why the country is in the position that it’s in. The Dumbing down of America is finally starting to produce results.
THE MADNESS!!!
How do you see this ending peacefully Jeremy?
Is Hezbollah allowed to keep its weapons?
If not how exactly do you plan to disarm them?
Do you think the French will do it?
Unfortunately it looks like Israel’s Prime Minister has resolved himself to simply push Hezbollah back from the border and is content to allow them to continue to poison the nation of Lebanon.
It seems you and most of the world feel the same way. Just get this off of our TV screens so we can ignore the Islamofascists subjugation of Lebanon. A country that just a year ago expelled their Syrian oppressors.
Personally I don’t see how anyone other than the Islamofascists would want such an outcome.
Angry Independent–
I agree with you, Hagel has for some time now seemed like the Republicans best choice for 2008.
I don’t really see myself voting for any Republicans this year. But if by some wonderful miracle, someone sensible could start providing useful leadership, that could change.
And my mind is open for 2008. But I don’t belong to “the base.”
I have to say that I too kind of like Hagel. Every time, I have seen him, he seems to speak with thoughtful common sense. I’m sure I will be disabused of this the more I learn, but who knows.
Ugly Am., I’m pretty dumb about Lebanon, but I’m also sick of hearing about the French. How relevant is that now? The joke is old, old, old. Yes, it is sad about the country who expelled their Syrian oppressors without a bloodbath last year. I am not knowledgeable enough to shout in the face of those with whom I disagree, so I must defer to your judgement on the aerial form of expulsion.
Hagel like any sane person, has some moderation about him. In fact I wish that some of the contributors to this blog would subscribe to moderate thinking; the least little bit would be refreshing.
The facts are however, even though more that a few of the tough conservatives aren’t going to stray too far toward the middle, more and more of them are starting to wrinkle their foreheads, scrinch their eyebrows and hold bush at arms length because of his screwball attitude and big mouth.
The conservatives in congress aren’t stupid or they wouldn’t be in the congress in the first place.
The conservatives in congress, especially the moderates among them, also know that at least from now until after November they cannot afford to walk in lockstep with bush as he continues to stupidly pop off his mouth, if they expect to retain their congressional offices after this coming November.
I do expect those in the right wing that do retain their congressional seats to revert to kine after they are re-elected.
No need for tigers to have more than the appearance of changing their stripes to fool their following into voting for them again…no need at all. But that can be said about the democrats in congress as well.
Big Chuck (nice name, btw) hit the nail RIGHT on the head. Blind support of ONLY Israel is not only insane, but also not right and ignorant (likewise, those who have blind support for Hezbollah are equally as ignorant). Someone needs to call out both sides for the bullsh*t they’ve been pulling since way too many innocents are dying and the region is being EVEN MORE polarized because of it. But yea things need to happen soon, concessions need to be made, and a compromise needs reached.
I find myself in agreement with all of you. Although, I am a moderate Democrat, a moderate Republican like Hagel who speaks out against the extremists who have dominated the White House foreign policy is very appealing. He has a tough enough exterior, is a veteran of Viet Nam and is not afraid to admit the mistakes made in that war, and could be the type of leader that would unite the country after two divisive terms of Bush.
The problem? The Republican party leadership and backing has moved sharply to the right since the days of Nixon and Ford. They purged Republican liberals like Jacob Javitts in the late ’70′s,moved further to the right with Newt’s Contract With America in the ’90′s and now seem primed to drive moderates like Lincoln Chaffee out of the party. Unless their base changes I don’t see any hope for sane, smart moderates like Chuck Hagel, which is why I may end up voting for a candidate that is a bit further to the left (Democrat) than I would like.
I particularly like this quote: “He urged the president to name a ‘statesman of global stature’ as his personal envoy to assist in quelling the crisis…”
Is it just me, or does this sound a like a subtle insult? After all, it could be read in political circles as implying that Bush II himself is less than a “statesman of global stature.”
Probably just me….
As for Hagel and other true conservatives/moderates in the GOP, it’s about damn time they all woke up and saw that Bush II isn’t even remotely conservative.
Ugly American, why does the answer have to be bombing a country and going after targets that look like blatantly civilian targets? Why not support the Lebanese government and citizens under the condition that they work with you to rid the country of Hezbollah?
The fact is that the United States held up Lebanon as a great example of spreading democracy to the region. The US, along with Israel, demanded that Lebanon rid itself of Hezbollah, knowing that the government didn’t have the power to do so on its own and without offering the necessary assistance to do so. Had the US and Israel stepped up with support instead of just demands, maybe this problem could have been averted in the first place. Regardless, this is where we now are and not much can be done about the mistakes of the past. However, why is the answer to destroy a country that was not long ago held up as a beacon of hope and kill innocent civilians as opposed to offering to work with the government of that country to rid it of the terrorists? The actions right now are creating a new generation of terrorists who will hate Israel for destroying their families and communities and hate the US for explicitly supporting Israel’s doing so. This will only ensure continuation of the violence to another generation.
Israel is like a lover who keeps asking you to prove how much you love them; and when you finally get fed up of answering the same question and get mad they say “see, I know you were lying all along!!!”
That’s Israel in a nutshell…
I disagree.
I never send emails to politicians, but I had to send you a note of thanks to Senator Hagel after seeing his statement on the situation in the middle east.
I had given up hope on all U.S. polititicans after watching statements in the past three weeks that seem to “dehumanize” the people of Lebannon with “blank check” support for isreal’s actions.
Democrats and Republicans seem to be trying to act as the “strongest” on the “war againts terrorism”. For the past few weeks its seem like “common sense” had been through out the window in the pursuit of political grandstanding in the face of obvious evidence againt the actions being undertaken. It reminds me of the run-up to the Iraq War, when every politican ignored evidence againts WMD’s in their support of the war.
There may still be hope for America to be the country other nations once looked up too once with respect as the nation that stood up againts injustice!
With the secret prisons, torture, kangaroo courts, etc. In the past few years, I felt like America was turing into one of those countries in Central America during the 1980′s that did “anything” in their fight againts communism.
DeepSpace, one thing that really concerns me is our leadership’s lack of interest these terrorist motivations. both in Iraq and in Lebonan, we don’t know their language, their culture, etc. Even though there’s been plenty of suicide bombers who grew up in the west (London, Germany) we know so little of why they seem to hate the western life they live. I haven’t heard his senate statement. (I”m sure cspan will re-air it) But this is where Hagel’s comparisson of Iraq to Vietnam rings true to me. Then as now, we don’t know or respect our enemy.
We knew alot about Hitler, his believes, his language, and even his superstitions. KNOW YOUR ENEMY.
It’s not enough for the PResident and his team to say “they hate freedom” 500 different ways.
What confuses me about the conflict in Israel/Lebonan is the election in Lebonan. Was there any assistance provided once they rejected Syra? Should we/could we have done more? Or did team Bush simply take credit for the courage of the Lebonanize people by saying their actions were motivated by the war in Iraq?
“What confuses me about the conflict in Israel/Lebonan is the election in Lebonan. Was there any assistance provided once they rejected Syria?”
I doubt very little since Hezbollah was still there. That would have given this country the chance to show those that sided with them we care about those that value real freedom, and hurt Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Should we/could we have done more? ”
Defginately, but we are talking about a government here that only values warmaking ability as diplomacy.
“Or did team Bush simply take credit for the courage of the Lebananese people by saying their actions were motivated by the war in Iraq?”
Sounds just about as simplistic an excuse as Bush would come up with, so yes.
Hagel made a speech at Brookings before the Senate speech. I haven’t compared, but my guess is that they are for the most part, one and the same. Brookings has a PDF version of Hagel speech.
Brookings
Hagel just recognizes what needs to be done….to save is Senate seat.
Maybe Hagel read “The Guns of August�.
I think Republicans and Democrats want to seem strong on national defense. Democrats know they can’t say anything that will give Rove the opportunity to exploit their statements and make them look like they are siding with the terrorists. Many are afraid of the backlash from AIPAC and Jewish voters.
I think standing up to Bush on this issue took courage and I commend Hagel for doing it. Plus I agree that this administration is long on neocon chickenhawks and short on statesmen. Hagel knows that if Syria and Iran get involved in this the whole region will become destabilized.
Ryan,
Great comment. Completely agree. If only the rest of the population was as smart and as informed as you. Our blind support for Israel at this moment is probably the dumbest and most counter-productive policy the administration could come up with. As you said, it virtually gaurantees another 9/11 not to mention a plethora of new attackts against Israel (white concomitantly strengthening Hezoballahs credibilty and reputation in the Arab World….great result there) The reputation of our great country has also reached a new nadir under this administration. For those who you who spend time abroad, you know what I’m talking about.
Most of the other comments I have read have been excellent as well. It is a shame that there aren’t more well informed people in this country. At times I feel like I’m surrounded by 250 million imbeciles who think the sun revolves around the earth and that the earth is seriously 3,000 years old. I’m a Democrat and would absolutely vote for Hagel if he ran for President. He’s probably the most straight talking politician in country and is well respected by the generals and military to boot. I don’t know if Hagel could win the Republcain nomination (as Evangelical Christians make up half the Republican primary electorate – especially as Hagel has said publicly that he would not support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage…the dearest wish of the lunatic right) Only time wil tell. I think Mccain is too old (will be 72 in 08 and don’t think his health is terrific. Lets hope the intelligent and informed Republicans nominate Hagel. I’d vote for him over any current useless Democrat. A Hagel vs. Bill Richardson 08′ race would be interesting.
I’ll sign off by leaving my favorite classic Hagel quote:
On Vice President Cheney’s accidental shooting of Harry Whittington during a quail hunt in February 2006:
“If he’d been in the military, he would have learned gun safety” — quipped Hagel, a decorated Vietnam veteran, referring to Cheney, who received five draft deferments.
PING:
TITLE: Amen
BLOG NAME: The Heretik
Yeah, what Senator Chuck Hagel said. In breaking with the President in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel, Hagel declared: “The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now,” Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hag…