Gates, Powell endorse Hagel
Two of the biggest names in Republican national security circles have quickly thrown their support behind Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be the next secretary of defense. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates promptly endorsed Hagel to run the Pentagon after President Obama made the announcement on Monday. Gates’ former spokesman Geoff Morrell sent the following statmenet ...
Two of the biggest names in Republican national security circles have quickly thrown their support behind Chuck Hagel's nomination to be the next secretary of defense. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates promptly endorsed Hagel to run the Pentagon after President Obama made the announcement on Monday. Gates' former spokesman Geoff Morrell sent the following statmenet to reporters:
Two of the biggest names in Republican national security circles have quickly thrown their support behind Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be the next secretary of defense. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates promptly endorsed Hagel to run the Pentagon after President Obama made the announcement on Monday. Gates’ former spokesman Geoff Morrell sent the following statmenet to reporters:
"I congratulate Senator Hagel on his nomination to be secretary of defense. I am grateful for his willingness to take on this responsibility at a time of great challenges for the Defense Department. While there are issues on which I have disagreed with him, such as the 2007 surge in Iraq, he is a man of complete integrity and deep patriotism. He is also the president’s choice. The country and our men and women in uniform would be well-served by his swift confirmation." – Robert M. Gates
Also, retired Gen. Colin Powell, former Joint Chiefs chairman and secretary of state to President Bush, gave his full-throated support for Hagel:
"I wholeheartedly endorse President Obama’s nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to be the next Secretary of Defense.
Chuck Hagel has been a friend and colleague of mine for over twenty years. He is a fellow infantryman who demonstrated his courage in Vietnam. He served his country as a dedicated official in the Department of Veteran Affairs and as a respected legislator. He was also a successful businessman.
Chuck displays his courage in many ways. You can always count on him to analyze a difficult situation and take a position that reflects his best judgment. I believe that more than ever we need that kind of independent and bold leader who thinks in and out of the box. He is the kind of leader needed by the Department of Defense to deal with the strategic and resource challenges it will be facing over the next several years.
He will be a splendid successor to Secretary Leon Panetta, who has done a superb job in guiding the Pentagon. I urge the Senate to hold prompt hearings and to confirm this distinguished American as soon as possible."
Kevin Baron is a national security reporter for Foreign Policy, covering defense and military issues in Washington. He is also vice president of the Pentagon Press Association. Baron previously was a national security staff writer for National Journal, covering the "business of war." Prior to that, Baron worked in the resident daily Pentagon press corps as a reporter/photographer for Stars and Stripes. For three years with Stripes, Baron covered the building and traveled overseas extensively with the secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, covering official visits to Afghanistan and Iraq, the Middle East and Europe, China, Japan and South Korea, in more than a dozen countries. From 2004 to 2009, Baron was the Boston Globe Washington bureau's investigative projects reporter, covering defense, international affairs, lobbying and other issues. Before that, he muckraked at the Center for Public Integrity. Baron has reported on assignment from Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the South Pacific. He was won two Polk Awards, among other honors. He has a B.A. in international studies from the University of Richmond and M.A. in media and public affairs from George Washington University. Originally from Orlando, Fla., Baron has lived in the Washington area since 1998 and currently resides in Northern Virginia with his wife, three sons, and the family dog, The Edge. Twitter: @FPBaron
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