Head over to PolicyMic today for my take on Hagel and the a few of the broader implications of his nomination.
And in case you missed it, be sure to see this piece on the next fiscal cliff that appeared in the San Antonio Express on January 16.
A few quick clips…
As two major wars come to a close, the next secretary of defense will be responsible for shepherding the military’s spending through a period of change. Most experts agree that the Pentagon’s budget has already begun to decrease slowly and will continue to do so. But the tough decisions have just begun.
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While Hagel has been criticized for his reluctance to go to war with Iran, he’s far from the only one. The president, Joint Chiefs of Staff and, according to polls, the majority of American people are also skeptical of the wisdom of a war.
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Republican opposition to Hagel’s appointment largely boils down to one fact: He agrees with the president. Over months of partisan bickering since his nomination was announced, Hagel has come to represent the potential for change in the ongoing stalemate that is Capitol Hill. He is the ever more elusive moderate Republican unicorn, and in an era where few believe that the GOP of today would support even Ronald Reagan, he represents a threat to the extremes.
