UPDATED: Will Chuck Hagel Be the Next Secretary of Defense?

At this point, I'm just relieved that it apparently will not be John Kerry.  Since Susan Rice has withdrawn her name for the running to lead the State Department, it's looking like Kerry may get that position.  As much as I dislike the man, I'd rather have him at the State Department than in charge of the Pentagon.  That would be such a slap in the face of our military.  They'll love Kerry over at the liberal State Department.

Hey, we aren't going to like ANYONE Obama appoints for any position because he has nothing but contempt for anyone whom we would see as acceptable.

But, back to the Defense Department.  Rumor has it that Hagel may be the man.  Based on his record regarding Israel, he is a man after Obama's own heart.  Should we expect otherwise?  Apparently, many Jews have.  I feel no sympathy for them in their complaints.  They should have known better; Obama's anti-Israel actions were front and center.  One would have had to be totally blind not to notice them.

Regarding Hagel, take a look at his record on Israel, via Weasel Zippers:

Report: Obama Likely To Nominate Anti-Israel RINO Chuck Hagel To Secretary Of Defense…

His nomination would send one hell of a message to Israel.
Via Bloomberg:

Former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel has emerged as the leading candidate to become Obama’s next Secretary of Defense and may be nominated as soon as this month, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Hagel, who served as an enlisted Army infantryman in Vietnam, has passed the vetting process at the White House Counsel’s office, said one of the people. The former Nebraska senator has told associates that he is awaiting final word from the president, said the other person. Both requested anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
Other contenders are Michele Flournoy, former defense undersecretary for policy, and Ashton Carter, deputy defense secretary, administration officials have said.
Obama invited Hagel to the White House on Dec. 4 to discuss the position with him, according to an administration official. The president hasn’t made a final decision, said another official. Both asked for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

A quick overview of Hagel’s record with Israel:

• In August 2006, Hagel was one of only 12 Senators who refused to write the EU asking them to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
• In October 2000, Hagel was one of only 4 Senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel.
• In November 2001, Hagel was one of only 11 Senators who refused to sign a letter urging President Bush not to meet with the late Yasir Arafat until his forces ended the violence against Israel.
• In December 2005, Hagel  was one of only 27 who refused to sign a letter to President Bush to pressure the Palestinian Authority to ban terrorist groups from participating in Palestinian legislative elections.
• In June 2004, Hagel refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to highlight Iran’s nuclear program at the G-8 summit.
• And here’s what the anti-Israel group, CAIR wrote in praise of Hagel: “Potential presidential candidates for 2008, like Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and Newt Gingrich, were falling all over themselves to express their support for Israel. The only exception to that rule was Senator Chuck Hagel…” [Council on American-Islamic Relations, 8/28/06]

UPDATE:  More on Hagel and his infatuation with Iran, via Joshua Pundit:

Just a coincidence, But Senator Hagel is apparently quite enamored of Iran. In edition to what I mentioned above, he's long been an advocate of taking Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah off the State Department's list of terrorist groups, 

In fact, while he was in the Senate, not only did he refuse to call on the EU to name Hezbollah a terrorist group, Hagel voted against designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. He also consistently voted against sanctions on Iran for their illicit pursuit of nuclear weapons.

One might almost suspect one of those cladestine lobbying contracts so well known in DC Land.

In fact..just another coincidence of course...The Washington Free Beacon reported on Thursday that Hagel is also on the board of directors of Deutsche Bank, which is now  being investigated by U.S. authorities for violations of the same Iran sanctions Hagel voted against when he was in Congress.

According to the Weekly Standard, a top senatorial aide  emailed them, saying, "Send us Hagel and we will make sure every American knows he is an anti-Semite."

Maybe. I don't know what's inside of him. But let's just say that based on his history, it looks like he at least likes the way the uniform looks on him.

There's a lot of that going around these days.