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Death by platitude: Chuck Hagel's ouster hints at Obama's widening military ambitions Death by platitude: Chuck Hagel's exit hints at Obama's widening military ambitions
(35 minutes later)
When his criticism of US strategy in Syria leaked last month, defense secretary Chuck Hagel said it was important he remained “honest and direct” in his advice to the National Security Council. The long-winded but brutal response he received from the White House on Monday seems to have been anything but that. When his criticism of US strategy in Syria leaked last month, the defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, said it was important he remained “honest and direct” in his advice to the National Security Council. The long-winded but brutal response he received from the White House on Monday seems to have been anything but that.
It was clear, at least, that Hagel was being sacked, but it was death by platitude: a showering of public praise designed to make it as hard as possible for outsiders to discern precisely what he had done wrong.It was clear, at least, that Hagel was being sacked, but it was death by platitude: a showering of public praise designed to make it as hard as possible for outsiders to discern precisely what he had done wrong.
“Chuck has been an exemplary defense secretary,” said Obama in an awkward White House departure ceremony. “He is somebody who has served ably and he is somebody in whom the president has the highest respect,” added press secretary Josh Earnest in a public briefing for reporters. “Chuck has been an exemplary defense secretary,” said Obama in an awkward White House departure ceremony. “He is somebody who has served ably and he is somebody in whom the president has the highest respect,” added the press secretary, Josh Earnest, in a public briefing for reporters.
But behind the scenes, senior administration officials did nothing to counter rumours of a more troubling explanation. Hagel was forced out because his job of winding down US military engagement in the Middle East was rapidly becoming one of winding it back up again.But behind the scenes, senior administration officials did nothing to counter rumours of a more troubling explanation. Hagel was forced out because his job of winding down US military engagement in the Middle East was rapidly becoming one of winding it back up again.
“The priorities of the department, or at least of the new secretary, have changed given changes in the international community,” said Earnest in one of his more candid explanations. “It doesn’t mean that secretary Hagel hasn’t done an excellent job of managing these crises as they have cropped up but it does mean that as we consider the remaining two years of the president’s time in office that another secretary might be better suited to meet those challenges.” “The priorities of the department, or at least of the new secretary, have changed given changes in the international community,” said Earnest in one of his more candid explanations. “It doesn’t mean that Secretary Hagel hasn’t done an excellent job of managing these crises as they have cropped up but it does mean that as we consider the remaining two years of the president’s time in office that another secretary might be better suited to meet those challenges.”
Privately, one official confirmed that Hagel’s departure was all “about the politics” of national security during the final phase of the Obama presidency. Susan Rice, the national security adviser, was the recipient of Hagel’s memo criticising the Syria strategy last month and appears to have been behind the ousting.Privately, one official confirmed that Hagel’s departure was all “about the politics” of national security during the final phase of the Obama presidency. Susan Rice, the national security adviser, was the recipient of Hagel’s memo criticising the Syria strategy last month and appears to have been behind the ousting.
“It’s about the kind of NSC team they’re looking to build under Susan Rice during the final two years,” said the official.“It’s about the kind of NSC team they’re looking to build under Susan Rice during the final two years,” said the official.
Rice and other advisers on the NSC see themselves increasingly out of step with Hagel on a host of issues going forward, from Syria and troop readiness to the size of the defense budget during a war against Islamic State militants that all sides now see as lasting for years. Rice and other advisers on the NSC see themselves increasingly out of step with Hagel on a host of issues, from Syria and troop readiness to the size of the defense budget during a war against Islamic State militants that all sides now see as lasting for years.
What their alternative strategy might look like is rather less clear however. What their alternative strategy might look like is rather less clear, however.
Hagel’s memo had criticised the failure to challenge Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which he warned was encouraging moderate US allies in the country to side with Isis forces instead.Hagel’s memo had criticised the failure to challenge Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which he warned was encouraging moderate US allies in the country to side with Isis forces instead.
Yet Rice has long been thought reluctant to be dragged further into the Syrian war by opening a second front with Assad. During the dawn of his tenure at the Pentagon, so was Hagel.Yet Rice has long been thought reluctant to be dragged further into the Syrian war by opening a second front with Assad. During the dawn of his tenure at the Pentagon, so was Hagel.
Pentagon leaders have also repeatedly warned that a successful fight against Isis in both Iraq and Syria may ultimately require US combat troops, something Obama has steadfastly opposed. Hagel and joint chiefs chairman General Martin Dempsey, during several rounds of congressional testimony, have portrayed that opposition as less than airtight. Pentagon leaders have also repeatedly warned that a successful fight against Isis in both Iraq and Syria may ultimately require US combat troops, something Obama has steadfastly opposed. Hagel and the joint chiefs chairman, General Martin Dempsey, during several rounds of congressional testimony, have portrayed that opposition as less than airtight.
Dempsey, in hailing Hagel’s departure, said that the outgoing defense chief’s “insight into the nature of military service was both rare and welcome.” Dempsey, in hailing Hagel’s departure, said that the outgoing defense chief’s “insight into the nature of military service was both rare and welcome”.
Republicans on Capitol Hill were quick to brand Rice and the White House as the culprits in Hagel’s downfall.Republicans on Capitol Hill were quick to brand Rice and the White House as the culprits in Hagel’s downfall.
John McCain, the incoming Senate armed services committee leader, praised his estranged friend and blasted “excessive micro-management” from the White House hobbling Hagel and his predecessors Leon Panetta and Robert Gates.John McCain, the incoming Senate armed services committee leader, praised his estranged friend and blasted “excessive micro-management” from the White House hobbling Hagel and his predecessors Leon Panetta and Robert Gates.
House Armed Services Committee chair Buck McKeon, a California Republican who is retiring, said the “excellent” Hagel had the “cards stacked against him” as Pentagon leader, thanks to an “underfunded Defense Department, growing threats and intrusive White House micromanagement.” The House armed services committee chair, Buck McKeon, a California Republican who is retiring, said the “excellent” Hagel had the “cards stacked against him” as Pentagon leader, thanks to an “underfunded Defense Department, growing threats and intrusive White House micromanagement”.
McKeon’s replacement, Texas Republican Mac Thornberry, said the next defense secretary needed to be someone “strong enough to stand up against” the White House. McKeon’s replacement, the Texas Republican Mac Thornberry, said the next defense secretary needed to be someone “strong enough to stand up against” the White House.
Whoever does take the job faces a tricky path between a confrontational Senate confirmation hearing process and a White House seemingly not entirely clear what it wants.Whoever does take the job faces a tricky path between a confrontational Senate confirmation hearing process and a White House seemingly not entirely clear what it wants.
“[Obama & Hagel] arrived together at the determination that new leadership should take over at the Pentagon,” insisted its spokesman on Monday. Whether Obama’s fourth defense secretary can find his or her own consensus with the president remains to be seen. “[Obama and Hagel] arrived together at the determination that new leadership should take over at the Pentagon,” insisted its spokesman on Monday. Whether Obama’s fourth defense secretary can find his or her own consensus with the president remains to be seen.