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Senator Chuck Hagel (ret), a republican from Nebraska, is expected to be nominated by President Obama to the vital post of Secretary of Defense, taking the place of Leon Panetta.

Hagel is the only GOP senator to have stood up to the Israel/AIPAC lobby, the only senator to question sanctions against Iran and a rare and independent voice that is needed to bring Pentagon “adventurism” to an end.

However, Hagel is now under attack and stands accused of “anti-Semitism,” this time by infamous neocon Bill Kristol.

Few in recent history have done more to damage the US than Kristol, the “brains,” if you can call them that, behind the disasters of the Bush administration. It was Kristol, the architect of war crimes; the “master planner” of economic collapse, who is now leading the “charge” to “swift boat” Chuck Hagel.

The term “Swift Boat” stands for a group of veterans who accepted payment from extremist billionaire T. Boon Pickens to fabricate stories disparaging John Kerry’s run for the presidency in 2004.

Kerry won the 2004 election handily but “electronic vote flipping” in Ohio stole the presidency from him. Now Kerry is expected to take over from Hillary Clinton and serve as Secretary of State.

Kristol hates Kerry also, but the Republicans spent all their energy destroying potential nominee Susan Rice, lies, innuendo, insane attacks, and Kerry will be “untouchable.”

Hagel and I are both Vietnam veterans, we both served as combat infantrymen and, to me, the idea of having a real “front line” soldier running the Pentagon is exciting.







This will be the first time that has happened. Hagel opposed the Iraq invasion and actually knows war, not as a “tourist” but a real soldier.

War profiteers are unlikely to do well with Hagel “at the helm.”

Today, I was contacted by Vote Vets, an organization founded by General William Westmoreland. They are asking vets to stand up for Hagel, stand up against the scurrilous charges and allow, what is the best candidate for this vital time in history, serve his country again.

From VoteVets:

“The neocons are at it again. Bill Kristol does not like that Vietnam Veteran and potential Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has a more reasoned view on the use of force than Kristol and other neocons. So what does Kristol do? He tosses out the outrageous, false attack that Chuck Hagel is anti-Israel. By extension, of course, it’s implied that he must be anti-Semitic. This is offensive, wrong, and this kind of swift boating must stop, now. I know Chuck Hagel, and consider him a friend. I’m also Jewish. I know who Senator Hagel is, and what he stands for. I also know anti-Semitism when I see it, and for William Kristol to use this line of attack – crying wolf – against Senator Hagel seriously undermines real anti-Semitism when it arises. That’s why I’m asking you to stand up to this line of attack. If William Kristol wants to have a real debate on the real issues, let’s have it. Let’s have a debate on the neocon military policy of preemptive war, interventionism, and nation building versus a more reasoned approach, with use of the military as a last resort. That’s a debate we’d win. It’s a debate Chuck Hagel would win, should he be nominated to be Secretary of Defense. And that’s why neocons like William Kristol will do anything to keep that debate from happening.” (Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran, Chairman, VoteVets.org)

Israel “kicked to the curb”

Real or not, Netanyahu feels Israel has been abandoned by the US. Some Americans, I am certainly one of these, Hagel is one also as is Chairman of the JCOS, Martin Dempsey, see Israel as interfering in domestic affairs, American elections and an irresponsible “actor” in the Middle East.

John Kerry is known to be more sympathetic to Israel than even Hillary Clinton is. Many doubt he will have the courage to follow a truly “American” policy that will serve decency, morality and respect international law.

Kerry began his political career as a strong opponent of war. A return to those values he held to early in life, those lessons he also learned fighting in Vietnam, would serve America well.

Blackmail

Probably the biggest failure of the week is America’s refusal to support Palestine’s UN mandate and oppose illegal settlements planned by Israel for the West Bank.

Technically, Israeli “settlers,” a painfully inaccurate term for the illegal interlopers and now “stateless person” who are no more than “squatters” on Palestinian sovereign territory, can be expelled at any time.

In fact, UN Resolution 242, a “binding” resolution, requires it.

Instead, because of UN action against Israeli occupation and military operations across what are now officially recognized frontiers; Israel plans even more blatant and criminal acts.

This is meant to humiliate the vast majority of states that supported Palestine in recent votes in the UN and to blackmail the US, blackmail and humiliate.

Gutlessness of Obama

With Obama “stacking” his administration with those openly opposed to war, even sympathetic to Iran, why would Obama, who faces no further elections, kowtow to more Israeli violations of international law?

How can men like Hagel or even Kerry, or military leaders like Dempsey, serve an administration that fails to follow international law, fails to show the courage the electorate expected?

If Americans wanted an Israeli president, Mitt Romney was their man.

The people have made it clear, Romney is not only “invisible,” but as slunk into the netherworld of obscurity, primarily based on, not just his love of America’s rich, but his “Israel first” policies.

Syria and Egypt

Watching the Obama administration’s policies toward Egypt and Syria is telling. One wonders whether those policies, in Syria “lack of engagement” and “borderline adventurism” are much more “Bush league” than enlightened.

In Egypt, it is clear that America is using its weapons, its money and power to saddle the Egyptian people with a corrupt and paralyzed government.

No policies at all

In fact, though things would be far worse with Romney, Obama seems to have no clear policies at all. Currently, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association) is negotiating with Iran over inspections. The IAEA has not been independent or “fair” for many years but is showing more leadership and fairness toward Iran than Obama.

If anything, Obama is working to undermine progress toward normalizing relations with Iran and building stability in the region.

One would almost suspect tensions were being exacerbated to give reason to continue occupation of Afghanistan forever.

Could $80 billion in drug profits be influencing American policy?

New broom

The expectation, Hagel at “Defense,” Kerry at “State” and a president who has no need to play electoral games, the expectation is that real leadership, as promised four long years ago, is long overdue.

Americans voted for certain things; an equitable economy with the “criminal elite” brought to justice, new policies reflecting moral values and real leadership, not just empty promises.

No need to “mince words”

When we talk “AIPAC” or “neocon,” we are really talking drug dealers, money launderers, gunrunners and organized crime.

We are also looking at a long history of failure to investigate acts of espionage, treason and terrorism against the United States, acts one might describe as “Insider Threats.”

President Obama, himself, warned of these threats in his memo of November 21, 2012.

Simply put, the American people and the people of the world are no longer willing to give Obama “more time” to prove himself.

Being reelected is not enough. It is time for Obama to “take office” and “man up.”