Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel intends to step down

Army Times — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 09:59:40 -0500

From: Army Times

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is resigning, a senior defense official confirmed on Monday.

Hagel has submitted his letter of resignation to President Obama on Monday morning but has vowed to stay in the job until the Senate confirms his replacement, the official said. It was not immediately known who the nominee would be.

Obama and Hagel made the "mutual decision" that now was the time for Hagel to step down, the official said.

A ceremony at the White House was expected later Monday for the formal announcement of Hagel's departure.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/11/24/hagel-resigns-112414/19478351/

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 10:12 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:12:13 -0500

I am curious as to the potential nominees to succeed Hagel. Will there be some reach back? Will it just be a crony with no real idea what is going on?

Colin Powell on line 4 Mr. President...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 10:15 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:15:10 -0500

Let the Confirmation hearings Begin! Should be interesting!

Response by SGT James Elphick made Nov 24 at 2014 10:20 AM

SGT James Elphick — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:20:00 -0500

I see Congress holding up the nomination for as long as possible to try to keep Hagel on the job. Obviously the next nominee will be a crony. Hagel has done everything in his power to help troops and has been stymied from both sides (the White House and the top generals), no wonder he wants to step down.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 10:28 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:28:25 -0500

What a shame. Under two years as Secretary. First Secretary of Defense who was enlisted. He not only cared for the troops, he could empathize with them. I honestly think that he put the common Soldier, Airman, Sailor, and Marine first when he made a decision. He'll be missed.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 24 at 2014 10:47 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:47:53 -0500

The prodigal son........Petrous?

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 10:45 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:45:45 -0500

Very interested in the "reason" for his exit. Have seen nothing huge that would lead to him leaving unless he is just tired of getting no support.

Response by SGT James Colbert made Nov 24 at 2014 11:02 AM

SGT James Colbert — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:02:30 -0500

how many more SECDEF's is Obama going to wear out, he has gone through more SECDEF'S, than I wear socks...sheeeeesh

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Nov 24 at 2014 11:03 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:03:45 -0500

Is it fair to say that I am scared? Three Sec Defs in six years and this one genuinely loved the soldiers. We see much of the top brass speaking about lowering military pay instead of lowering the development of tanks and planes that we do not use.

Training and personnel should always be at the forefront of spending as they take the most amount of time to properly develop. We can outfit all the tanks or planes we could ever need fairly quickly, but personnel take time and effort.

You will be missed Sec Hagel, and I respect the job you did and tried to do.

Response by SPC Robert Walo made Nov 24 at 2014 11:08 AM

SPC Robert Walo — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:08:14 -0500

About time. I would seriously like to see Gen. Mattis in that slot. Time is coming when you will need a non- politician to seriously run the military.

Response by SGT James Colbert made Nov 24 at 2014 11:15 AM

SGT James Colbert — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:15:38 -0500

actually I think it disheartens, and not beneficial to the young military folks , not to have a SECDEF they can depend on because they change hands faster than *** t through a goose

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 11:28 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:28:10 -0500

Thrown way under the bus!

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 24 at 2014 11:30 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:30:54 -0500

A few things that are puzzling to me about this resignation:
- No prior rumblings or heads up. This is unusual in a time and in an administration that can not keep a secret.
- No specific reasons why resigned. I am not tracking any specific reasons (family, medical, lack of confidence) for this resignation.
- Timing. 19 days after a mid term election shelacking. Interesting.
- Duration of service. Resigning after less than two years as SEC DEF? Interesting.
- Politics. Some Republicans have threatened to sit on Senate confirmations of Obama appointees because of POTUS executive order on immigration except on appointees related to national security. Interesting how this came out within days of some Republicans saying this.
Put this all together and I think there is more going on behind the curtains than what is being said publicly (as is normally the case).

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 11:41 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:41:28 -0500

You know what I wish? That the same level of disgust would be shown to what President Bush endured. It was a joke that a shoe was thrown at him. Now if a person dreams something that may be perceived as against......

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Nov 24 at 2014 11:48 AM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:48:01 -0500

The rats are jumping the sinking ship!

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Nov 24 at 2014 11:49 AM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:49:09 -0500

Still needs to face any charges that happened on his watch!

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 11:51 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:51:22 -0500

Im not sorry to see the Honorable Hatchetman go. Id sure like to see a more positive attitude coming from the top other than "Run! Your jobs are all getting slashed!"

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 24 at 2014 11:55 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:55:05 -0500

Too bad so sad. I guess it is good to know when you are in over your head but the problem is who would take this job that would do a better job?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 24 at 2014 11:53 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:53:08 -0500

Too bad so sad. I guess it is good to know when you are in over your head but the problem is who would take this job that would do a better job?

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Nov 24 at 2014 12:11 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:11:07 -0500

As one of the avid news readers in the group, this came across my desk on my sifting through of Right Wing based news sites:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/11/24/Hagel-Firing-Two-Wrongs-Don-t-Make-a-Right

And the Left Wing version:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/24/chuck-hagel-steps-down_n_6211426.html
Note: The homepage has "Hagel Canned" in big red letters as the headline.

This offers two different opinions, one in which Sec Def Hagel is trashed due to his perceived incompetence and the other where it directs the blame back up to the White House. It is interesting to see the differing opinions, but they all lead back to one thing: Weak leadership at the top.

Hagel Firing: Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right - Breitbart

Yet that cannot be the only reason, absent any sign that Obama is committing to a sudden, steep increase in the defense budget, and reversing the non-sequester cuts of recent years. Rather, there are two likely explanations: that Hagel has turned out to be as incompetent as his critics predicted; and that Hagel, always a loose cannon, proved too independent, promising tougher action against ISIS than Obama was prepared to authorize.

Response by SFC Pete Meyer made Nov 24 at 2014 12:33 PM

SFC Pete Meyer — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:33:45 -0500

He was fired ....

Response by SFC Pete Meyer made Nov 24 at 2014 12:44 PM

SFC Pete Meyer — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:44:23 -0500

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/24/heres-how-you-know-chuck-hagel-didnt-really-resign-in-1-picture/

Response by SFC Pete Meyer made Nov 24 at 2014 12:44 PM

SFC Pete Meyer — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:44:46 -0500

http://time.com/3602263/hagel-pentagon-retreat/

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 1:00 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:00:14 -0500

I'm just gonna leave this here...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 2:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:00:50 -0500

Let Soldiers elect their top representatives. This is an appointed office. It becomes too political. The house and our politicians select personnel that mirror their views. I understand why, but meanwhile, we soldiers become pawns of a perspective of a certain side. I don't like the "us or them" that claim to represent the people. They don't. They represent themselves. I believe we should disband the notion of republicans or democrats. Both sides represent their side and not the people there sworn to represent. Ever notice how lost politicians enter office middle class and exit rich?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 2:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:57:05 -0500

If anyone watched Secretary Hagel's confirmation hearings, he gave confused, sometimes contradictory answers, even to softball questions. He appeared completely unprepared to take on a position of such importance.
I thought at the time that the President just wanted someone who would see it his way and not push back on some of the changes the administrated wanted. Both Pinetta and Gates made clear after leaving the position that they did not agree, and that played a role in their resignations.
Secretary Hagel sure looks like he is being scapegoated for policy disasters that played a part in a poor election showing for the President's party.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 2:58 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:58:29 -0500

"Mr. Hagel, a respected former senator who struck a friendship with Mr. Obama when they were both critics of the Iraq war from positions on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has nonetheless had trouble penetrating the tight team of former campaign aides and advisers who form Mr. Obama’s closely knit set of loyalists."

This line from the NY Times article stood out the most to me and I dislike it. It gives me a bad impression of what's going on in the administration; it creates an impression of cronyism.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 25 at 2014 1:13 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 01:13:11 -0500

I was wondering when these great journalist would weigh-in. http://www.duffelblog.com/2014/11/review-finds-hagel-actually-still-army-specialist/?utm_content=buffer1419c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Admin Review Finds Defense Secretary Hagel Actually Still Army Specialist

Hagel, 68, has already been nicknamed "the grand old Specialist of the Army."

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Nov 26 at 2014 12:47 AM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 00:47:17 -0500

This was unexpected. It seems like every time something happens in Washington, there is a crisis to move attention away. Enter Ferguson MO. Officials knew what it was going to be like, but yet they made no preparations for it. Where is the national Guard? As long as there is unrest and bigger news, attention is diverted.

call me a conspiracy theorist, but it seems like there is something big happening (usually bad for the administration) there seems to be a totally unrelated crisis. Whether it is coincidence remains to be seen, just like the real reasons behind this unexpected resignation/firing.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 12:55 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 00:55:19 -0500

I can't say this upsets me.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 1:35 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 01:35:53 -0500

I wonder how that conversation went down; Obama: Mr. Hagel, you are either with me or against me, and we both know you are not with me, so you have to go, when can I expect a your resignation, how about next week? Any questions? Didn't think so, carry on.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 7:30 AM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:30:42 -0500

Was he ever really relevant?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 12:22 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:22:25 -0500

It's obvious to me he's been fired. I didn't have any issues with him until he stated that our biggest threat wasn't ISIS, or anything like that. No, it was %$%^$ing climate change. Then I immediately lost all respect I had for the office that wasn't required by rank/position/general military duty.

Although now I wonder if the president made him say that.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Dec 2 at 2014 1:14 PM

CPO Greg Frazho — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:14:12 -0500

I don't envy his relief, whoever he or she may be. They'll be in a lame duck status during a lame duck administration. Essentially, they'll be the caretaker, such as it is, for a DoD that's reeling from two wars, more looming cutbacks, a myriad of problems and a society that's increasingly hostile to their presence or even existence. The DoD he or she will hand off to the new SECDEF in early 2017 is in for a helluva rough ride.