The new ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee has big problems with the potential nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the next defense secretary and believes Hagel has an “endemic hostility towards Israel.”
… Engel said that Hagel’s record on Israel and Iran make him a poor choice to lead the military. In particular, Engel said he was irked by Hagel’s reference to the “Jewish lobby” in an interview with former official Aaron David Miller. (Miller supports Hagel’s nomination.)
“I think that remark is troublesome, it’s problematic. It shows at the very best a lack of sensitivity, at the very worst perhaps a prejudice. And I’m concerned about it, I’m concerned about the nomination,” Engel said. “If I were doing the appointing, I would not appoint Chuck Hagel.” (The Cable, Posted 22 Dec 12)
