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| Hagel sez US should be talking with Iran |
| 2006-02-18 |
| Sen. Chuck Hagel reasserted his differences with President Bush's foreign policy Thursday, calling in part for a more measured approach to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Speaking to about 30 journalists who cover the military, the Nebraska Republican said a diplomatic approach was vital to confronting Iran, which has been pressing for nuclear technology. "I think one thing we ought to be doing is engaging the Iranians. Why aren't we talking to them? That's the essence of good foreign policy," he said. "We must find a way to establish some relationship based on common interests." Hagel said he was not convinced that military action against Iran was currently a viable option. "You have to ask yourself what we would get in return. Would we destroy their capability to produce nuclear weapons?" Hagel said. "I don't think so." U.S. leaders should also take into account the large portion of the Iranian population below the age of 21 who are sympathetic to Western ideals, Hagel said. "We have to be careful we don't drive those people away from us, and if you attack them, they're sure . . . not going to embrace America and say, 'Thank you very much,'" he said. Hagel, a consistent critic of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, also reasserted his belief that a larger, multinational force could have helped ease Iraq's transition to democracy. "I was saying three years ago, you can't unilaterally make the decision to invade countries," he said. "We are faced with a global challenge and that's going to require a global response. The U.S. can't go it alone." Progress remains painfully slow in Iraq, as evidenced by decreased electrical output and oil production, as well as continued insurgent attacks and U.S. casualties, Hagel said. Still, he didn't agree with suggestions that U.S. forces begin withdrawing. "I think if the U.S. pulls out now, there's a real chance for a civil war in Iraq," he said. His criticisms of the war in Iraq are based on his experience as a soldier in the Vietnam War, Hagel said. "As long as I'm here, I owe it to those who died in Vietnam and their families to keep asking tough questions," he said. "Most of both parties were strangely silent during the Vietnam War. So who suffered? All those poor young guys who got chewed up every day." Hagel also got in a gibe at Vice President Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of a hunting partner last weekend. Referring to Cheney's repeated draft deferrals during the Vietnam War, Hagel said, "If he'd been in the military, he would have learned gun safety." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #14 The media selectively ignores anything that doesn't support the democratic party, which I am beginning to believe is just an extension of organized crime. Some interesting guilt by association runs through the unions. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-02-18 17:24 |
| #13 I maintain that bright people can see it, but that our media only focuses on those that can't - thus it becomes the buzz and hype that the those who aren't really paying attention parrot, thinking that it is what they are "supposed to say". What amazes me most since the advent of the internet is discovering just how much news has NOT been reported. The media selectively ignores anything that doesn't support the democratic party, which I am beginning to believe is just an extension of organized crime. I really hope that someday someone will write a book that exposes exactly who owns the media and why this is so. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-02-18 15:23 |
| #12 Talking with them would accomplish one thing: giving them time to finish. Why the hell can't these supposedly bright people see that? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-02-18 15:15 |
| #11 ..calling in part for a more measured approach to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Seems to me the current approach IS measured. "..Why aren't we talking to them?" Here's a few clues: Embassy, 444, "Great Satan", and 1979. Any light bulbs illuminated yet? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2006-02-18 15:11 |
| #10 How did 12 years of jawboning with Saddam work out, Senator? |
| Posted by: Raj 2006-02-18 13:40 |
| #9 "Praetorian Guard complex" -- wonderful summary of that attitude! |
| Posted by: Whutch Threth6418 2006-02-18 11:33 |
| #8 Article: Hagel also got in a gibe at Vice President Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of a hunting partner last weekend. Referring to Cheney's repeated draft deferrals during the Vietnam War, Hagel said, "If he'd been in the military, he would have learned gun safety." He's got what a lot of left-wing American veterans and just plain leftists have - Praetorian Guard complex (the idea that only veterans should get to talk about military matters, and then only if appeasement is the subject). Which is a really weird thing to have in a democracy. I think Hagel would really be more comfortable as a Communist Party apparatchik in Beijing. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2006-02-18 11:15 |
| #7 I agree with Hagel that we should be talking with Iran. I just disagree about the overall tone the US should take. I think something like this is more appropriate. Hey, you, with the funny hat! Try to make one of them nukes and we're gonna kick your a**. |
| Posted by: Ol Dirty American 2006-02-18 10:15 |
| #6 Talk? Only if the Iranians can't jawbone and weaponize plutonium at the same time, Chuckie. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2006-02-18 09:20 |
| #5 Hagel is blind from too much mastubation. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-02-18 09:11 |
| #4 I say we let the B-52's do the talking..... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-02-18 05:09 |
| #3 A friend of dad's is an associate of Hagel. Hagel grew up in a really really dead poor and bad family. He was the chief breadwinner and man of the house at 16. Says it gives him a different perspecitive on everything. Not sure why he became a Republican then... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-02-18 03:02 |
| #2 I think an undisclosed head injury is the only explanation...otherwise he's just a pandering jerk |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-18 02:07 |
| #1 Where has this turd been for the last 25 years in a cave? Talk with Iran? When have they wanted to talk to us ever? Maybe him being from Nebraska explains it? |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O' Doom 2006-02-18 02:00 |