Hagel’s views cause for alarm

The nomination of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense has received much attention from the media. I’d like to add my personal experiences in dealing with Hagel when I was editor of the Omaha Jewish Press, 1996-2009. (Hagel was senator from 1996-2008.)

The attitude of both Hagel and his staff (campaign and senatorial) was dismissive at best and arrogant at worst. Whether it was to ask for a quote or solicit an ad, we rarely heard back from him or his staff; when we did, it was usually a rejection. While other members of Congress — Democrats and Republicans — were polite and interested in what concerned the Jewish community, Hagel and his staff gave the impression they didn’t care.

During my first three years as editor, I also served on the National Council of Jewish Women’s national board. During that time, we attempted to lobby Hagel on Iran sanctions, Israel and reproductive rights. Hagel appeared indifferent on all these issues as well.

His 180 degree-flip-flop on choice should alarm both pro-choice and pro-life advocates. For Hagel’s two terms, he had a perfect record on voting against abortion rights (a 100 percent rating from the Family Research Council). According to the Huffington Post, “Hagel … voted four times between 1998-2003 to uphold a ban on abortions at military hospitals, and he announced in 1995 that he had ‘tightened’ his position on abortion to oppose it in cases of rape and incest.”

Now nominated as secretary of defense3, he makes a complete about face! Which of Hagel’s “beliefs” will prevail? Is this change just political expediency? If so, what does that say about his character?

Columnist Caroline Glick sends up another red flag: Hagel is “looking to take on the U.S. military. They will slash military budgets … slash pensions and medical benefits for veterans in order to save a couple dollars and demoralize the military. They will unilaterally disarm the U.S. to the point where America’s antiquated nuclear arsenal will become a complete joke.”

It’s also frightening that Hagel sits on the board of the George Soros-funded Ploughshares Fund. WorldNetDaily’s Aaron Klein wrote that Ploughshares “has a long history of anti-war advocacy and is a partner of the Marxist-oriented Institute for Policy Studies, which has urged the defunding of the Pentagon and massive decreases in U.S. defense capabilities, including slashing the American nuclear arsenal to 292 deployed weapons.”

That Hagel is associated with Ploughshares, which “has also partnered with a who’s who of the radical left, including Code Pink, … United for Peace & Justice, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation…” should be cause for alarm. These organizations call for talks with Hamas and Hezbollah and fund enemies of Israel and the USA. That makes Hagel the wrong nominee to supervise America’s security.

Cutting waste is admirable; slashing the DoD by stripping it of the capability to defend America is deplorable. Yes, it would affect our ally Israel, but worse, it threatens the safety of American citizens abroad and here at home.

Call your senators; urge them to vote against Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense.

Carol Katzman
Overland Park, Kan.

Generous benefactors make programs happen

Last month The Jewish Chronicle published a wonderful article about our annual Bagel Bash program that provides an opportunity for “young professionals” to meet one another and socialize. In addition to publicizing last month’s program, there was a feature about two individuals who met at a Bagel Bash and subsequently decided to get married.

Although the Jewish Federation received the appropriate credit for sponsoring Bagel Bash, the program would not be possible were it not for the generosity of Alice Statland, who established a fund at the Jewish Community Foundation in memory of her late husband, Dr. Harry Statland, for the express purpose of providing monies to underwrite the cost of such gatherings. The Dr. Harry and Alice Statland Young Adult Endowment fund makes it possible for us to offer two or three programs each year where more than 150 individuals gather for a good time and, on occasion, meet their life’s partner.

It is important that members of the community be aware that programs like Bagel Bash don’t just happen by themselves. The volunteer committee consisting of Aaron Goldman, Greg Herman, Amy King, Dave Suroff and Alan Widman along with Vicky Kulikov and Carol Pfau of our professional staff as well as generous benefactors like Alice Statland provide the human and financial resources to make it possible for our young people to connect in a Jewish setting.

We are grateful for the many local leaders who step up and meet the critical needs of the community.

Alan S. Edelman
Associate Executive Director
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City