Hagel chides McCain on foreign policy
Sen. Chuck Hagel has weighed in on the side of Barack Obama’s foreign policy views while expressing disappointment with John McCain.
“I’m very upset with John with some of the things he’s been saying,” Hagel said in remarks at a private gathering in Washington on Tuesday night.
“I believe that John is smarter than some of the things he is saying,” Nebraska’s Republican senator said.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has recently criticized Obama, the likely Democratic nominee, for his willingness to diplomatically engage the leadership of Iran.
Hagel’s remarks at an event hosted by Ploughshares Fund, an organization promoting peace and security, were reported in Wednesday’s Huffington Post.
“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,” Hagel said.
“I am confident that if Obama is elected president, that is the approach he will take.”
And, Hagel said, “in my opinion, it has to be done.”
Engagement is not capitulation, he said.
“If you engage a world power or a rival, it doesn’t mean you agree with them or subscribe with what they believe or you support them in any way,” Hagel said.
“What it does tell you is that you’ve got a problem you need to resolve. And you’ve got to understand the other side and the other side has got to understand you.”
As for McCain’s criticism of Obama’s views on engagement, Hagel said: “I want him to get above that and maybe when he gets into the general election, and becomes the general election candidate, he will have a higher-level discourse on these things.”
Hagel is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“I’m very upset with John with some of the things he’s been saying,” Hagel said in remarks at a private gathering in Washington on Tuesday night.
“I believe that John is smarter than some of the things he is saying,” Nebraska’s Republican senator said.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has recently criticized Obama, the likely Democratic nominee, for his willingness to diplomatically engage the leadership of Iran.
Hagel’s remarks at an event hosted by Ploughshares Fund, an organization promoting peace and security, were reported in Wednesday’s Huffington Post.
“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,” Hagel said.
“I am confident that if Obama is elected president, that is the approach he will take.”
And, Hagel said, “in my opinion, it has to be done.”
Engagement is not capitulation, he said.
“If you engage a world power or a rival, it doesn’t mean you agree with them or subscribe with what they believe or you support them in any way,” Hagel said.
“What it does tell you is that you’ve got a problem you need to resolve. And you’ve got to understand the other side and the other side has got to understand you.”
As for McCain’s criticism of Obama’s views on engagement, Hagel said: “I want him to get above that and maybe when he gets into the general election, and becomes the general election candidate, he will have a higher-level discourse on these things.”
Hagel is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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