The other reason Hagel wins Friedman’s endorsement is, he writes, that “The only thing standing between Israel and national suicide any more is America and its willingness to tell Israel the truth. But most U.S. senators, policy makers and Jews prefer to stick their heads in the sand, because confronting Israel is so unpleasant and politically dangerous. Hagel at least cares enough about Israel to be an exception.” So Hagel, “unlike most U.S. senators, policy makers and Jews” will seek confrontation with Israel. Is that what we want in our next defense secretary? Is that what most U.S. senators—dismissed by Friedman as “stick[ing] their heads in the sand”—want? In any case, Friedman confirms that on Israel as well, Hagel’s views place him out of the policy-making mainstream.
Tom Friedman came to praise Chuck Hagel. He may have ended up burying him. (Weekly Standard, Posted 26 Dec 12)
