Article
Frederic Wehrey, Charles H. Johnson
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Source: Getty
In The Media
The Chuck Hagel Nomination
The nomination of Chuck Hagel for U.S. defense secretary comes at a time when promoting America’s strategic interests will frequently compete with the pressures induced by the current era of austerity.
Published on Jan 14, 2013
Source: KSA2
The nomination of Chuck Hagel for U.S. defense secretary comes at a time when promoting America’s strategic interests will frequently compete with the pressures induced by the current era of austerity. Speaking with KSA2, Carnegie's Frederic Wehrey noted that, if confirmed, Hagel would be operating under a new orientation towards military strategy that is largely reticent to commit troops to military interventions. “This is a man whose approach is guided by pragmatism and his experiences with the Vietnam war,” said Wehrey. Hagel will also have to address the challenge of how to project power in the Persian Gulf with less resources and less of a footprint. Ultimately, whether it is in regards to the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Iranian nuclear program, or projecting American power, the Hagel nomination represents the Obama administration’s commitment to a realist and pragmatic foreign policy, Wehrey concluded.
About the Author
Frederic Wehrey
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Frederic Wehrey is a senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where his research focuses on governance, conflict, and security in Libya, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf.
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- The Iran War Is a Stress Test for Gulf StatesCommentary
Frederic Wehrey, Charles H. Johnson
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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