WarSclerotic

So what did we have this week? Concern over chemical weapons falling into the hands of a terrorist organization such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or jihadist rebels in Syria; an extremely significant Israeli air strike in Syria (according to foreign reports); Iranian threats against the state of “Tel Aviv”; and severe rioting in Egypt that is constantly getting worse.

As if that wasn’t enough, during his Senate inquiry hearing in Washington on Thursday secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel stuttered and sounded confused, about Iran of all things. How promising …

The man responsible for the Pentagon usually receives the title of “Mr. Global Security” from the U.S. president. It’s reasonable to assume that between the allies (Israel and the U.S.), which both deal with security threats, there is a consensus on most military and defense-related issues and worldview. According to reports from the U.S., however, Hagel “slipped” yesterday precisely when touching on these most burning issues.

The first time was when he voiced his complete support for U.S. President Barack Obama’s tough stance regarding “containment” of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. This comment came after reading from a written speech in which he said he was “committed to the president’s view that the United States should take no options off the table in our efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.”

What should we believe? What he read from the page or what he said later on?

There was no smooth sailing for Hagel at the hearing. Many elected officials don’t like his past comments about Israel, Iran, and Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Hagel was on the defensive; for example, about his refusal in the past to include Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on the list of terrorist organizations. As far as he’s concerned this isn’t appropriate because representatives of a “legitimate” government can’t be categorized in such a way, and the Iranian regime is “an elected, legitimate government, whether we agree or not.”

Hagel forgot about President Obama’s “deep concerns” over Iran’s presidential elections in 2009, which were stolen by the Ayatollahs from the people and led to deadly protests in the streets. Obama was worried — but did nothing.

Hagel perhaps “slipped” at his Senate hearing — but his appointment will be a slip up for the administration.