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.