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Ex-US defence chief blasts Obama on Syria Ex-US defence chief blasts Obama on Syria
(34 minutes later)
Former US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has criticised the Obama administration for lacking an overarching policy on Syria.Former US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has criticised the Obama administration for lacking an overarching policy on Syria.
In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine, Mr Hagel described long, tedious policy meetings that often concluded without decision. In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine (FP), Mr Hagel described long, tedious policy meetings that often concluded without decision.
The moderate Republican served as Mr Obama's defence chief for two tumultuous years from 2013 to 2015.The moderate Republican served as Mr Obama's defence chief for two tumultuous years from 2013 to 2015.
His tenure ended, he said, with backstabbing and character destruction.His tenure ended, he said, with backstabbing and character destruction.
Mr Hagel believes that a coherent US strategy for Syria still has not been fleshed out.Mr Hagel believes that a coherent US strategy for Syria still has not been fleshed out.
"The administration is still struggling with a political strategy, but Secretary Kerry is making some progress toward the right strategy," Mr Hagel tells the magazine, in reference to talks with Russian, Iranian and Arab leaders."The administration is still struggling with a political strategy, but Secretary Kerry is making some progress toward the right strategy," Mr Hagel tells the magazine, in reference to talks with Russian, Iranian and Arab leaders.
Mr Hagel's tenure in the Obama administration was marked by contention from the start.
The former Nebraska senator's nomination for the top defence post came at a time of tense relations between the White House and Congress, resulting in a bruising confirmation process at the hands of his fellow Republicans who questioned his positions on Iran and Israel.
Mr Hagel's presence at the White House was less than warm, he claimed in the FP interview.
While considering whether to withdraw from the nomination, Mr Hagel said he received phone calls from President Obama and other high-ranking administration figures encouraging him to proceed.
He claims, however, that some within President Obama's circle did not rally behind him and they ultimately became his nemesis within the administration.