Okay, I really don’t want to have his baby, but now that I have your attention… I’ve always liked Hagel. He’s the real “straight talker” of the Republican party. And before conservatives try and link my praise to my support for Obama let me point out that I’ve admired Hagel for quite some time. Hagel, like Obama, spoke out against the Iraq War at a time when doing so could be viewed as political suicide. But, hey, I guess talk is cheap.
But, cheap or not, Hagel’s speaking out again.
Hagel, speaking to a small gathering at the residence of the Italian ambassador, took umbrage with several positions taken by the McCain campaign, including the Arizona Senator’s criticism of Obama for pledging to engage with Iran. Engagement is not, and should not be confused for, capitulation, he argued.
“I never understand how anyone in any realm of civilized discourse could sort through the big issues and challenges and threats and figure out how to deal with those without engaging in some way….”
Sounds like the death of the appeasement argument.
And when asked to respond to rumors circulating within political circles that the Bush administration was ginning up the possibility of war with Iran, the Senator even raised the specter of impeachment.
“You’ve got the power of impeachment, now that is a very defined measure if you are willing to bring charges against the president at all. You can’t just say I disagree with him, let’s impeach him,” said Hagel. An attack on Iran without Congress’ consent, he added, “would bring with it… outstanding political consequences, including for the Republican Party.”
Did he just say impeachment?