Retired top generals back Hagel

[bemildred]

Source: CNN

(CNN) – Days before Chuck Hagel sits down for Senate hearings on his nomination to be secretary of defense, the former senator received vocal support from two retired generals on Sunday.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal and former CIA director and retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden both said on CNN's "State of the Union" that they expect Hagel to work well as the Defense Department chief.

Hagel would be the first defense secretary who enlisted in the military. He volunteered to join the Army and ended up serving a yearlong tour in Vietnam in 1968 during the Tet Offensive, considered the most violent period in that war. Because of a clerical error, he served side by side with his younger brother.

He earned two Purple Hearts, one of which was for saving his brother's life. The second Purple Heart was for injuries from shrapnel he took in the chest while on patrol with his brother; his brother saved his life by patching up the wound.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/27/retired-top-generals-back-hagel/

[Ian Iam]

1. Hear hear!

Mr Hagel shall make a fine Pentagon chief.

[libdem4life]

2. Someone who knows whereof they speak? What a concept.

[bemildred]

3. Yeah, actual experienced people who have opinions too.

Probably, nobody even paid them for saying it.

[RiverNoord]

6. You're a damn Socialist!

What kind of country would we be if people simply gave away their opinions for free?!?! That's one step away from people providing assistance to others in need for free! (Goods or services just given away? - the entire economy would collapse.) That's how Hitler and Stalin did it, don't you know!?!?!

[bemildred]

7. LOL. You need one of those smiley things:

[RiverNoord]

9. Your satire/sarcasm can't be very good if...

you have to tell people that's what it is... Or maybe it's the other way around. Plus, whoever made the graphic should be getting royalties for it!

[bemildred]

10. Some people will not get it, no matter what, if you leave the smiley out.

You will find out.

Welcome to DU.

[RiverNoord]

13. Thanks for the kind welcome...

and wise words. I've read DU posts for... well, several years, and I've noticed plenty of sarcasm/satire getting slammed as though it was literally intended. Personally, I think it's a healthy thing for people to get all steamed up over something only to discover it was satire. Builds critical thinking skills. For some, at least. There's about 47% who will never understand, no matter what you do - I'm not concerned about them.

[RiverNoord]

8. In fact you owe me $5.50 for reading my post...

unless you are North Dakota, in which case it's $5.86 (friggin' government and it's friggin' taxes - someone oughta do something about that too...) Expect the invoice in a week - I don't take Mastercard or Discover but VISA's all good.

[bemildred]

11. Send me an itemized bill, c/o DU, I'll see what my accountants think. nt

[RiverNoord]

14. Checkmate

Final tilt to you - I stand defeated. . Much respect to you for your bantering skills. You should patent them, you know...

[TwilightGardener]

4. Gates, Powell, Albright, Perry, Cohen and James Jones have also endorsed him.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/former-defense-secretary-robert-gates-endorses-chuck-hagel/

[rhett o rick]

5. So if the Senate Repubs successfully block the appointment via filibuster

look to the failed reform for blame.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Harry got exactly what he wanted...

no change. Now he can sit back for two more years saying "the republicans won't let me". He has the spine of a jellyfish and is half as useful.

[bemildred]

15. +1. nt

[rhett o rick]

16. Sen Harry didnt do it on his own. To only blame Harry is to overlook the issue.

Sen Harry was elected as the leader of the Senate Democrats and speaks for them. Or at least a majority.

[awoke_in_2003]

17. Very true...

He is just the most visible symptom of the problem. I just grates me when he talks all tough then assumes the fetal position. Or is it the BOHICA position.

[rhett o rick]

18. It bothers me also. But I am getting numb to the lies of politicians on both sides. nm

[awoke_in_2003]

19. The longer i live...

the more I think the republic died on that November day in Dallas in 1963. With few exceptions everything since has been a dog and pony show.

[RC]

20. And the dirt was tamped down firmer in

in 2000. Concrete was poured on top for the monstrous tomb stone with the passing of the Patriot Act.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. +1. nt