 Sir Herbert Samuel. |
This century-old history comes to mind in watching the first months in office of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. During his confirmation hearings, Hagel denounced many of his prior statements about Israel and Iran and then, as I have noted elsewhere, he chose to have his first face-to-face meeting in March with a foreign counterpart with Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Despite major cuts to the American defense budget, Hagel promised in his meeting with Barak his intent to ensure continued funding for the Iron Dome and Arrow missile defense systems. Pentagon press secretary George Little explained that "during the meeting, Hagel expressed his strong commitment to Israel's security, including maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge and continued U.S. support for missile and rocket defense systems in spite of fiscal constraints." Little also reported Hagel's saying that he and Barak have had an outstanding working relationship.
Hagel also had warm words for Israel: "I appreciate the strategic relationship between our two nations and look forward to strengthening cooperation between the two defense establishments."
Hagel has now gone to Israel – his first visit to a foreign country other than Afghanistan, where he focused on U.S. troops – and met with the leadership. He both did things and said things that please Israel. Here is the New York Times account, "Hagel, in Israel, Presses U.S. Agenda on Deterring Iran":
Mr. Hagel, who was subject to intense, even hostile scrutiny during his confirmation process over whether he was sufficiently supportive of Israel, hailed the "very special relationship" between the United States and Israel. He also repeatedly emphasized Israel's right to defend itself "in a very dangerous, combustible region of the world." ...
Mr. Hagel acknowledged that there might be "minor" differences between the United States and Israel on the timeline in which Iran might develop nuclear weapons. "I think it's important that we all keep our eye focused on the objective," he said. "And there is no daylight there at all — that Iran is prevented from acquiring that nuclear capacity." ...
During his travels, Mr. Hagel will be pushing forward with a $10 billion arms package intended to further increase Israel's military edge over other powers in the region while also bolstering the armed forces of two important Persian Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Included in the weapons deal for Israel are tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which can be used for transporting troops and patrolling borders and nearby seas, as well as advanced radars for Israeli warplanes. ...
And two systems to be sold to Israel — a new generation of aerial refueling tankers and advanced missiles that home in on radar signals to destroy air-defense sites — would be important in any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Mr. Hagel said the weapons sales served as "another very clear signal to Iran."
Here is Hagel's statement before a meeting with Netanyahu (I bolded some words that bear special attention):
I've always appreciate this country, the people, the leadership and the courage that you represent and what has been produced in Israel. It is a model for the world, and the relationship between our two countries, just as you have noted, is as strong as it's ever been, not only measured by the military-to-military, all the other metrics that apply to relationships, but as you also noted, Prime Minister, it is based on common values and respect for others, and that is the foundation of any relationship. ...
Binyamin Netanyahu and Chuck Hagel, best of friends.
This is a time when friends and allies must remain close, closer than ever. I'm committed to continue to strengthen this relationship, secure this relationship, and as you know, one of the main reasons I'm here is to do that. ... I was able to take a long tour up in the north and the eastern borders here, and once again it reminds me of the dangers and difficulties and challenges. But I believe together, working with our allies and our friends, we will be able to do what is right for your country, my country, and make this region a better region and a more secure region, and make Israel more secure.
Hagel then answered press questions and became buddies with the IDF. Israel Hayom reports:
On Monday, Hagel was asked whether he believed it would be advisable for Israel to attack Iran on its own. "That calculation has to be made by Israel," he replied after noting, "Israel is a sovereign nation; every sovereign nation has a right to defend itself." Hagel did not mention a concern that U.S. officials have voiced in the past—that an Israeli strike would run the risk of igniting a wider war that could draw in the U.S.
Hagel wrapped up his three-day trip to Israel by visiting a special forces unit that trains military dogs to find hidden explosives and weapons. He mingled with the soldiers and watched a brief demonstration of the dogs' skills.
We're likely to hear more friendly words for Israel when Hagel addresses the Washington Institute for Near Eastern Policy on May 9 in a speech titled "U.S. Defense Policy in the Middle East." (Historically, American politicians make pro-Israel pronouncements before pro-Israel organizations.)
Comments:
(1) Henry Kissinger also fit the Samuel pattern, leaning more against Israel to offset perceptions of him as pro-Israel.
(2) As the Samuel and Hagel trajectories suggest, politics is an ironic business.
(3) Sometimes one is better off when an opponent feels compelled to prove his bona fides.
(4) It's a very good idea severely to criticize someone for his views if one does not like them; the criticism might cause him effectively to abandon them. (April 25, 2013)
July 18, 2013 update: It's déjà vu all over again, what with Samantha Powers (Obama's nominee for ambassador to the United Nations) pulling a Chuck Hagel, renouncing her prior anti-Israel statements in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "The United States has no greater friend in the world than the State of Israel. ... Israel's legitimacy should be beyond dispute, and its security must be beyond doubt. ... Unilateral Palestinian statehood measures just won't work." Will she follow Hagel and also pull a Samuel?
 Samantha Powers at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. |
Oct. 31, 2013 update: Hagel annouonced, in a speech to the Anti-Defamation League no less, that Israel will be the first foreign country to have access to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft, purchasing six of the advanced tilt-rotor plane, the only one in the world that can land and take off vertically by tilting its two propellers, then bring them down and fly as a turbo plane. Hagel noted that the V-22 "will greatly enhance the range and effectiveness of Israeli special forces" and promised that the Israeli shipment would be part "of the next order to go on the assembly line."
 The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft. |
Nov. 5, 2013 update: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week, in what was widely understood as criticism of Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, that the U.S. government would "not succumb to fear tactics" concerning its negotiations with Tehran. Now comes along Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel praising Netanyahu for those same tactics:
It's true that sanctions—not just U.S. sanctions but U.N. sanctions, multilateral sanctions—have done tremendous economic damage," Hagel told Bloomberg. "Even many of Iran's leaders have acknowledged that. And I think that Iran is responding to the constant pressure from Israel, knowing that Israel believes them to be an existential threat. I think all of this, combined, probably brought the Iranians to where we are today.
Hagel went further, and absolved Netanyahu of Kerry's charge: "I don't think he's intentionally trying to derail negotiations. ... I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is legitimately concerned, as any prime minister of Israel has been, about the future security needs of their country."
Nov. 14, 2014 update: Hagel today resigned as secretary of defense.
