tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226095252024-03-14T06:44:53.176-05:00Chuck Hagel for President in 2008An UNOFFICIAL blog that was at the center of a grassroots movement to encourage support for a Hagel candidacy in 2008.<p>
On 9/10/2007 Senator Hagel announced: "I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate, nor do I intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008."Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.comBlogger513125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-59715064099799669782012-12-19T16:22:00.001-06:002012-12-19T16:22:37.333-06:00Chuck Hagel for Secretary of DefenseIf you're following the news you have likely heard that former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is likely to be President Obama's nominee to be the next Secretary of Defense. The old draft Hagel network is getting back together to support this nomination. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chuck-Hagel-for-Secretary-of-Defense/485366244839574">Please visit and like our new Facebook page to that end</a>.<br /><br />Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-58779837407129895222010-11-09T09:42:00.001-06:002010-11-09T09:44:25.173-06:00Breakfast with BidenToday Chuck Hagel is having breakfast with Vice President Biden. <a href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/1110/breakfast_with_biden_67fadf3d-82bb-4523-8181-6bcf71fb219a.html">Politico reports</a>:<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(40, 39, 39); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><blockquote>"Vice President Biden will have breakfast on Tuesday with former Sen. Chuck Hagel, the White House says.<br /><br />Hagel, a co-chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, was scheduled to meet with Biden at the Naval Observatory at 8 a.m. The White House didn’t say what they would talk about."</blockquote></span></div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-71959853081111837332010-10-26T12:37:00.002-05:002010-10-26T12:49:23.855-05:00Chuck Hagel on Public Service<a href="http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/10/26/informed-engaged-voters-lead-to-quality-public-leadership.html">U.S. News and World Report</a> has a new issue out and it focuses on Public Service. Chuck Hagel was invited to contribute on his experience and views on the subject. <a href="http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/10/26/informed-engaged-voters-lead-to-quality-public-leadership.html">It is a short essay that is well worth the read</a>.<div><blockquote>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; ">Public service is the essence of a free people, an open society, and a vital democracy. It is the centerpiece of a generous and caring culture. And there are so many wonderful ways to engage oneself in the employment of humanity, including elective office. Public service defines us, and it takes many forms. It is more than anything else the privilege of helping make a better world for all mankind. What is more important in life, more fulfilling, and more compelling?"</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; "></span></div><div>Thank you to those that serve our communities, in so many different capacities. </div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-8664058761847728202010-09-27T10:50:00.002-05:002010-09-27T10:54:25.969-05:00Chuck Hagel pays tribute to Senator Lugar"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Former Senator Chuck Hagel delivers remarks about Senator Richard Lugar during the 2010 CRDF George Brown Award for International Scientific Cooperation event, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, September 16, 2010."</span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OAZM8N8FHCk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OAZM8N8FHCk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-88780355352577577172010-09-04T11:28:00.002-05:002010-09-04T11:32:54.356-05:00Interview with Senator Hagel - The Washington DiplomatChuck Hagel has given <a href="http://www.washdiplomat.com/September%202010/a1_09_10.html">an interview to the Washington Diplomat</a> discussing politics (Iraq, Afghanistan, the Republican Party, and more) and his post-Senate work.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-61055609316742415802010-08-19T12:21:00.003-05:002010-08-19T12:23:58.630-05:00How right they wereI ran across an old article (The Washington Times, January 7, 1997) and wanted to share an astute prediction. <div> <p style="margin-top: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></p></div><blockquote><div><p style="margin-top: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;">Chuck Hagel raised eyebrows in Washington by winning the Republican primary in Nebraska, where he was given little hope. He impressed more skeptics by overcoming odds and winning the general election over Democrat Ben Nelson to take the seat left by retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Exon.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;">"If he runs his office half as well as he did his campaign, he's going to be a player to watch," Mr. Marr said.</span></span></p> </div><div></div></blockquote><div>Mr. Hagel has proven himself as one to watch, and we continue to expect to see great things.</div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-52129001637741457782010-08-17T14:46:00.003-05:002010-08-17T14:58:36.037-05:00Secretary of Defense Gates to step down in 2011<a href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/13/gates_to_leave_in_2011">Foreign Policy</a> reports that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates plans to leave the administration in 2011, indeed he has stayed quite a bit longer than he originally planned. Secretary Gates told FP, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; ">"I just think this is not the kind of job you want to fill in the spring of a presidential election. So I think sometime in 2011 sounds pretty good." </span>With this news, the speculation as to who would replace him picks up.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/30/who_will_be_the_next_secretary_of_defense">Foreign Policy</a> goes through the short list for the next Secretary of Defense, which includes Chuck Hagel:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.7em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></b></p></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.7em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Always the bridesmaid: Chuck Hagel</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.7em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><i style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Former Nebraska senator</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.7em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Obama administration has been trying to give Hagel a prime posting for a while. He's reported to have turned down several sweet offers, including ambassador to China and director of national intelligence. He does serve as a co-chair of Obama's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In Hagel's favor, he's a Republican who won't bend to the GOP talking points of the moment and he's high-profile enough to fill the chair. The fear is that his independence and his penchant for veering off message in a Biden-esque way make him too risky to entrust with such a prominent perch. Moreover, if Obama chooses another Republican to lead DOD, many will begin to question whether the Democratic national- security bench is too thin or if Obama is wary of putting someone in his own party in charge of the wars.</p></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Leslie Gelb of the Wall Street Journal agues that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should be shifted over to replace Bob Gates at Defense and Chuck Hagel should take her place as Secretary of State. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Her position at State could be readily filled by Chuck Hagel. The former Republican senator from Nebraska is generally aligned on foreign policy with Mr. Obama, perhaps more so than Mrs. Clinton herself. His confirmation would be easy."</span></span></div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-86269082776340715432010-08-17T14:42:00.004-05:002010-08-17T14:44:48.489-05:00Atlantic Council President Chuck Hagel on STARTChuck Hagel speaks on the progress and future of the new START agreement between the U.S. and Russia:<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOabYPs9eB0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOabYPs9eB0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-21570804130750119342010-08-17T14:42:00.001-05:002010-08-17T14:42:51.891-05:00Joe Sestak picks the Senator he most admires: Chuck Hagel<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BsggjdVcVbk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BsggjdVcVbk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-29979989075946021312010-01-26T22:35:00.003-06:002010-01-26T22:39:12.836-06:00OWH: "Hagel speaks up for vets"The Omaha-World Herald has a piece out, "<a href="http://www.omaha.com/article/20100126/NEWS01/701269929">Hagel speaks up for vets</a>."<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "></p><blockquote><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Hagel praised the At Ease program as a potential national model, saying local public-private partnerships could be the quickest and most compassionate way to get veterans the help they need.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">The government is spending billions of dollars annually trying to help veterans, he said, but “our circuits are overloaded” after nine years of war and a crippling recession.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Nonprofits, religious groups and businesses must step up, he said, ignoring old assumptions that only veterans wearing a sling or a bandage are in need of serious help.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">“We can't let (returning veterans) just drift,” Hagel said. “We don't say, ‘Well, it looks like you don't have a problem. You look fine.'”</p></blockquote><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "></p></span></div><div>Former Senator Hagel has continued to be a leading voice on veterans issues, particularly those facing the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. </div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1041772292533733532009-07-10T16:56:00.001-05:002009-07-10T16:58:07.582-05:00Hagel Named to Defense Policy BoardThe <a href="http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/07/02/news/local/doc4a4bee702916f301616517.txt">Lincoln Journal Star reports</a> that former Senator Chuck Hagel has been named to the Defense Policy Board by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-52963218968453213022009-06-15T10:42:00.001-05:002009-06-15T10:46:08.414-05:00"A Republican Looks at His Party"There is an interview with Hagel titled "<a href="http://blog.cagle.com/2009/06/15/a-republican-looks-at-his-party/">A Republican Looks at His Party</a>" that is worth a read. It gives Chuck Hagel's take on a recent Republican fundraiser and the state of the Republican party.<br /><blockquote>In the wake of the big Republican fund-raising dinner keynoted by Newt Gingrich with Sarah Palin as an off-again, on-again attendee and distraction, the shambles in which the party finds itself is painfully apparent. <p>Rather than trotting out a prominent figure who might bring a fresh and forward-looking message to the assembled faithful, the dinner spotlighted a veteran of Democratic vilification and a defeated vice-presidential nominee diminished by her transparent shortcomings in national and foreign policy international matters.</p></blockquote><p></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-4024405662148643582009-04-29T23:25:00.001-05:002009-04-29T23:27:31.108-05:00KPTM: "Former Senator Chuck Hagel Staying Busy with Role as Professor"KTPM 42 has<a href="http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=10171175&nav=menu606_2"> a nice story and video</a> with Chuck Hagel catching up with him on life after the U.S. Senate.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-88125830724625753442009-04-29T23:22:00.002-05:002009-04-29T23:25:32.056-05:00US-Saudi RelationsChuck Hagel was a panelist at a recent event sponsored by the New America Foundation. The panel was titled "<strong style="font-weight: normal;">A Forward Projection of What the Saudi-US Relationship Should Look Like and Needs to Achieve."</strong> For more details, see <a href="http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/04/live_stream_maj/">The Washington Note</a>.<br /><br /><embed flashvars="autoplay=false" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/1438359" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="320"></embed>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-51877247468624660142009-03-19T21:42:00.001-05:002009-03-19T21:43:48.896-05:00Q&A with Chuck HagelThe National Journal has a good Q&A with Chuck Hagel: "<a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/print_friendly.php?ID=ii_20090305_5213">Knitting Together an Unraveling World</a>."Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-81317858167870652172009-02-12T09:53:00.002-06:002009-02-12T10:07:28.358-06:00What's next for Chuck HagelIn the last week Chuck Hagel's post-Senate plans have begun to be announced. First, Chuck Hagel will be joining the faculty at Georgetown University (<a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/02/hagel_to_teach_at_georgetown.html">see the story at the Washington Post</a>). Senator Hagel will also become the new Chairman of the Atlantic Council (<a href="http://www.acus.org/new_atlanticist/council-welcomes-senator-chuck-hagel-new-chairman">see their announcement</a>). Their previous chairman, retired General Jim Jones, stepped down to be President Obama's National Security Advisor. In addition to his foreign policy portfolio, Senator Hagel will also be active in the financial sector, taking on two positions. One is as a member of the Board of Advisers for Corsair Capital, a private equity firm (<a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/us-senator-chuck-hagel-named-to-corsair-capital-advisory-board,709308.shtml">see the press release</a>). The other is as a senior adviser with McCarthy Capital Corp. (<a href="http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/doc4992d188cf22d472241754.txt">see the story at the Lincoln Journal Star</a>).Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-49071741079862968852008-07-22T10:36:00.005-05:002008-12-08T18:02:32.794-06:00Photo - Senator Hagel in Iraq<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225864473664796194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="214" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I4wUVMlisrMKfi5rVKZJrGAn2EZrxXSGnN9bFhmmWaT46nQlEMSODj4VYiVTSthkzNsJr4kh1tHtMnolsgKZIT7x5VXlMnOuaQ2_PFQrVyXL_OJV8AJGcwS0Mfk9k2T4tucrOQ/s320/OPH.jpg" width="320" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Senator Obama, General David Petraeus, and Senator Hagel in Iraq</div><div><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/photos-of-obama.html">Photo from ABCnews</a></div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-77604930010311591882008-07-14T08:54:00.004-05:002008-07-14T09:01:46.848-05:00Press Release - Hagel to join Obama on trip to Iraq and AfghanistanYesterday <a href="http://hagel.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=3ef4b143-fbea-454f-89e3-3262bc43933d&Month=7&Year=2008">Senator Hagel's office released this statement</a>:<br /><blockquote><strong>Hagel and Reed Announce Plans to Join Obama for Bipartisan CODEL to Iraq and Afghanistan Later This Summer<br /><br />July 13th, 2008 -</strong> WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) today announced plans to join U.S. Senator Barack Obama in traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan later this summer to get a firsthand look at the security and political situation in these two important countries for American national security. The bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) plans to meet with top U.S. military commanders and civilians, and senior Iraqi and Afghan leaders. They will also thank our troops, civilians, and coalition partners for their heroic work in extremely difficult circumstances.<br /><br />In Iraq, the senators will examine whether the tactical buildup of U.S. troops has resulted in the progress necessary to resolve Iraq’s political differences, provide basic services to the Iraqi people, and create long-term stability. In Afghanistan, the senators will assess the U.S.-led efforts to combat the Taliban and expand security in light of the recent rise in violence, while also assessing the political and economic situation.<br /><br />Senator Reed is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and will be arranging the logistics for this trip. Senators Obama and Hagel serve on the Foreign Relations Committee.<br /><br />“I look forward to joining Senators Obama and Reed on this important trip,” said Senator Hagel. “U.S. policies in Iraq and Afghanistan are at the center of America’s national security. These critical issues must be addressed in a bipartisan manner that builds consensus for a bipartisan American foreign policy.”<br /><br />“This CODEL is a good opportunity to look, listen, and assess recent developments in the region. I am pleased to join Senators Obama and Hagel on this bipartisan fact finding mission. Our troops are performing heroically in Afghanistan and Iraq and doing everything they can to stem the violence. They deserve a policy that is worthy of their sacrifice,” said Senator Reed. “Economic rebuilding and political stability are key components of our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. We will carefully examine our non-military efforts to bring stability to these places.”<br /></blockquote>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-43742091683177256982008-06-29T14:50:00.001-05:002008-06-29T14:53:37.295-05:00Senator Hagel on Bloomberg TV<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BPd54pXLZdU&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BPd54pXLZdU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-48502561924511495372008-06-26T13:05:00.005-05:002008-06-26T13:18:20.744-05:00Senator Hagel's speech at the Brookings InstitutionToday Senator Hagel delivered a speech to The <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/events/2008/0626_hagel.aspx">Brookings Institution</a>, an event described as<br /><blockquote>"a discussion of U.S. foreign policy in the context of the 2008 presidential campaign. Senator Hagel examined the inventory of global challenges that the next president will inherit and the responsibilities of the presidential candidates to address these challenges."</blockquote>The speech was titled "Memo to the Candidates." You can read <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2008/0626_hagel/0626_hagel_speech.pdf">the full text here as a pdf</a>.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-29465549626592830592008-06-09T17:11:00.004-05:002008-06-20T15:52:58.752-05:00What do you think?Many people have been talking about possible roles for Chuck Hagel in the next administration. Some ideas include Chuck Hagel as either <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Secretary of State</span> or <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Secretary of Defense</span> in a McCain or in an Obama administration. The idea of an <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Obama/Hagel</span> ticket has been widely discussed as well.<br /><br />What are <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">your thoughts</span> on these suggestions?<br /><br />UPDATE: There have been a number of news stories out there about a possible Obama/Hagel pairing, and <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080620/ap_on_el_pr/obama_hagel">this one from the AP ("Hagel says he'd consider VP offer from Obama")</a> focuses on Senator Hagel's reaction to the possibility.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-84461416996346925202008-06-09T17:07:00.003-05:002008-06-09T17:11:34.026-05:00The Global Wire<a href="http://www.usglobalengagement.org/Portals/16/ftp/index.html">The Global Wire</a>'s first episode is an interview with Senator Chuck Hagel. Take a look.<br /><br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2F&file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F933825&brandlink=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2F&brandname=cusge" allowfullscreen="true" id="showplayer" height="255" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2F&file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F933825&brandlink=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2F&brandname=cusge"><param name="quality" value="best"><embed src="http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2F&file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F933825&brandlink=http%3A%2F%2Fcusge%2Eblip%2Etv%2F&brandname=cusge" quality="best" name="showplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="255" width="400"></embed></object>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-35083765579067225542008-05-22T14:04:00.002-05:002008-05-22T14:07:37.499-05:00Press Release: "Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI Bill "The following statement was released today by <a href="http://hagel.senate.gov/">Senator Hagel's office</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI Bill<br /><br />May 22nd, 2008 - The United States Senate today passed, by an overwhelming margin of 75-22, the FY08 Emergency Supplemental bill that included the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act” sponsored by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jim Webb (D-VA). The legislation modernizes educational benefits for members of our Armed Forces who have served since the attacks of September 11, 2001.<br /><br />“This bill is about giving the men and women of our military the same education benefits that all of America’s veterans have received since WWII. What this bill does is rotate forward the earned benefits into the 21st century so they are relevant to the realities of the cost of education today. We are fulfilling a commitment that we have all made to our veterans. By investing in education we are investing in America’s future and continuing to build a society worthy of the sacrifices of our veterans. This was the right thing to do for our service men and women and their families,” Hagel said.<br /><br />The Webb-Hagel GI bill modernizes education benefits by funding the full cost of tuition at public universities in each state. It would also pay $1,000 a year for fees and books and provide a housing stipend. The Webb-Hagel GI bill covers any member of the United States military, including active duty National Guard and Reserve components. Like the current GI bill, a service member would qualify for the full benefit after serving at least three years. </blockquote>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-37948238977942812302008-04-20T18:09:00.002-05:002008-04-20T18:18:47.573-05:00"Whither Hagel"Robert Novak has a brief discussion of Senator Hagel in <a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26109">his piece from yesterday</a>. <br /><blockquote>Friends of Sen. Chuck Hagel, the Senate's sharpest critic of President Bush's Iraq policy, say there is no chance he will endorse a Democrat for president this year.<br /><br />That does not mean, however, that Hagel necessarily will back the Republican candidate, his friend John McCain. That could depend on whether McCain devises an Iraq exit strategy. Hagel and McCain, who occupy offices in the same second floor corridor of the Russell Senate Office Building, have been spotted conferring on two recent occasions.<br /><br />A footnote: Although the conservative Hagel is an unlikely running mate for either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, he conceivably could end up as secretary of defense for either Democrat.</blockquote>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1610391261073056792008-04-02T14:13:00.001-05:002008-04-02T14:16:29.822-05:00Chuck Hagel on "Morning Joe" from April 1Senator Chuck Hagel was on “Morning Joe” on MSNBC yesterday morning speaking about current events, his new book, and the Presidential election. Take a look.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23900941#23900941" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="339"></iframe>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.com0