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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/
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/
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Defense
Defense
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 33
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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).
- 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).
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COL (Join to see)
COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM my guess is that they would like to try to confirm someone before the new session of congress where they still have more representation. I agree timing is interesting.
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SSG John Erny
COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM sir,
I smell a Rat, dirty politics as usual. Jut don't send that guy back to Nebraska, he burned his bridges. Nebraskans tend to be very nice people but ole' Chuck was booed out of a restaurant in Omaha.
I see you are at Ft. Fort Leonard Wood sir, Graduated Basic in 88 there, C 4/10.
I smell a Rat, dirty politics as usual. Jut don't send that guy back to Nebraska, he burned his bridges. Nebraskans tend to be very nice people but ole' Chuck was booed out of a restaurant in Omaha.
I see you are at Ft. Fort Leonard Wood sir, Graduated Basic in 88 there, C 4/10.
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1SG (Join to see)
As far as timing goes, I think there can be no doubt they want to get the new nominee approved before Congress is sworn in come January.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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?
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PO2 Donald Wright
at least we should remove the Party ID from the ballots and allow open primaries. There should not be different rules for established parties entering primary elections than any independent citizen. We should return as much local control to the local governments and get the control of funding out of Washington. There should be a tax code reform that removes the political classes power to give breaks and credits to anyone. The tax system should apply to all equally without any loopholes or givebacks. The Senator elected in the States should be able to be recalled by the State Legislatures. These few things would being the process of returning the Government to the people.
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LTC (Join to see)
Who is this and what are you suggesting about this distinguished looking gentleman?
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Sgt (Join to see)
That Sir, is the greatest leader of Marines since Chesty Puller. I am certain that anyone who knows anything about General Mattis would follow him into battle no questions asked.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
If you're suggesting that Gen Mattis be selected for the next SecofDef, that went up in smoke a long time ago. Him and the POTUS do not see eye to eye and have obvious obstacles to overcome before these two can willingly work together. Ya know, sometimes you just don't like your boss, and sometimes that gets in the way of the mission. Not saying that was the case, just saying, that becomes a thought, a thought becomes an idea, and an idea becomes perception, and perception becomes reality. So, while I like your Espirit de corps, and naturally your selection is a great one, probably not going to happen on this watch.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Oh I agree entirely, I think that has been evident to anyone in uniform who has even half an eye on the political side ever since he "Retired". If anyone else had taken the last two general elections General Mattis would have probably just finished a term as Commandant of the Marine Corps and be gunning for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Job. That man understands the science and the art of war better than anyone else alive today.
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1SG Nick Baker
Three Sec Def in 6-years. The only Republican on staff. Criticized the Pres Syrian policy. More troops to Iraq and ISIS issues. Somebody had to take the blame.
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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.
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.
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SGT James Colbert
spitballs and harsh words don't cut it, when there cutting people f****g heads off..!!
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PO1 (Join to see)
Funny how liberal media treats everyone that doesn't toe the party line. The left in general seems to have the mantra, "Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter-accusations" down pat.
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SPC Richard Jackson
It seems that any effort from cabinet members is doomed from the get-go due to at best very weak or more likely no leadership from the top. The ''yes men'' appear to be thriving, whereas any opposing views are quickly squashed. Disagree with the emperor; hit the unemployment line. Only 2 more years (if we can last that long) until we can do something different. We may not do much better, but it'd be hard to imagine how we could do worse. Once rock bottom has been reached, (like now) we can only go up!
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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!"
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SSgt (Join to see)
I think he left because he had his fill of biting his tongue. General Dempsey knows what is going on as had many who dare question him.
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