Hagel Forced To Sing Israeli Lobby’s Tune For Now

[Purveyor]

It’s worth taking a moment to review the fall and rise of Chuck Hagel’s nomination as US secretary of defence. It is a welcome, if overdue, sign that ‘daylight’ between American and Israeli policies may be becoming more politically acceptable in Washington. When rumours of the nomination first arose in December, there was a flurry of attacks against the former Republican senator from Nebraska, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion that his nomination was doomed.

Jewish advocacy groups like the Anti-Defamation League claimed Hagel might be anti-Semitic, based mostly on his injudicious use of the term ‘Jewish lobby’. Elliott Abrams, the Republican foreign affairs official of Iran-contra infamy, outright levelled the charge. But the real fear of many Jewish advocacy organisations was actually Hagel’s independent positions on Israel-related issues from Iran to the Palestinians. All the substantial weight of a long list of Jewish institutions was brought against the nomination.

It has been essentially unacceptable in Washington to acknowledge that the US may at times have different priorities than Israel. Remember, for instance, the October presidential debate, when Mitt Romney criticised President Barack Obama by saying, “The president said he was going to create daylight between ourselves and Israel”.

But when even Jon Stewart joked this month about the absurdity of the no-daylight requirement, it’s clear that Americans — or at least the younger generation — are getting tired of such an unquestioning close relationship.

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http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/hagel-forced-to-sing-israeli-lobby-s-tune-for-now-1.1143348

[Bluenorthwest]

1. So when he 'apologized' for his anti gay tirade, was that also forced upon him and thus less than

sincere? What that just Chuckie singing the tune? That seems to be the gist of this piece, that Hagel is mitigating his old 'injudicious' rants under duress. Interesting. Illuminating, even.

[davidpdx]

2. The idea they are pushing is if you are a Democrat or serve in a Democratic Administration

then you must not support Israel. The same charges have been lobbed at Obama in both campaigns and most people didn't buy it.