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Senate set to haggle over Hagel nomination

20 Jan 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,” proclaims this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Isaiah. Some critics of President Barack Obama’s nominee for the post of secretary of defense, retired Sen. Chuck Hagel, are raising a fuss over alleged anti-Semitic comments Hagel made in the past. Others, including prominent Jewish leaders, are calling the charges absurd as hearings are readied on the contentious nomination.Hagel’s critics accuse him of being hostile to Israel’s interests. He has been quoted for having said in 2006, “The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here,” and “I'm not an Israeli senator. I'm a United States senator.” In addition, he broke with his party regarding the efficacy of sanctions against Iran.But on Tuesday Sens. Charles E. Schumer of New York and Barbara Boxer of California, two of the most influential Jewish Democrats in the Senate, issued lengthy testimonials to Hagel’s credentials to lead the Pentagon and accepted his assurances that he would support the Obama administration’s policy of vigorously opposing Iran’s bid to obtain nuclear weapons.The Republican former senator from Nebraska made his share of enemies during his two terms in the Senate, which now must consider his nomination as defense secretary, but he begins with two key advantages, observers said.One is traditional senatorial courtesy, which has almost always meant a relatively smooth confirmation process for any current or former senator chosen for a cabinet or ambassadorial post. More important, almost every failed nomination of the past three decades has stemmed from key defections within the president’s own party, and so far Hagel’s opposition has come almost entirely from fellow Republicans.Homily hint: The document Nostra Aetate ("In our time") from the Second Vatican Council affirmed the deep connection between Christianity and Judaism, rejecting anti-Semitism “any time and by anyone,” and marked a turning point in Catholic-Jewish relations. The document could serve as the foundation of a series of discussions in your faith community on the history of relations between the two traditions. Sources: Articles by Paul Kane for the Washington Post and Ken Rudin for National Public Radio

senate israel barbara boxer anti-semitism charles shumer chuck hagel secretary of defense
Conduct unbecoming of an officer

14 Apr 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The Sanhedrin functioned as the court where Jewish religious disputes were settled. We hear in this Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles how its members were none too happy that the apostles had ignored their wishes and “filled Jerusalem” with their teaching about Jesus. The White House and U.S. Defense Department have been hearing from lawmakers who are none too happy with an Air Force officer’s decision to set aside a guilty verdict in a sexual assault case.On Monday Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended military commanders be stripped of their ability to reverse criminal convictions of service members. Hagel will seek legislation requiring that cases go through the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. The change requires congressional action, but lawmakers have already begun looking into the matter in response to the furor over a recent Air Force sexual assault case.Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, commander of the 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, overturned the conviction against Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, a former inspector general at Aviano Air Base in Italy, who had been found guilty last November of charges of abusive sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault, and three instances of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The incident had involved a civilian employee.Wilkerson was sentenced to a year in prison and dismissal from the service, but after a review of the case Franklin overturned the conviction. His decision triggered outrage among senators and calls for a new look at the military justice system."This decision has turned the military on its ear," said Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri during a hearing last month. She added that Franklin's decision sets the Air Force "all the way back to Tailhook." The 1991 Tailhook scandal rocked the military when Navy pilots were accused of sexually abusing female officers at a Las Vegas convention.Homily hint: The letter of the law is never enough; it is the spirit of the law that must be respected, as Jesus taught many times as he both fulfilled and went beyond Jewish Law. Encourage those in attendance always to let the spirit of justice be their guide as they navigate the ethical challenges they meet and choices they must make. Source: An article by Lolita Baldor for the Associated Press

chuck hagel claire mccaskill craig franklin james wilkerson sexual assault
Cyber-warriors generate controversy

05 May 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Dissent in Antioch about the status of Gentiles was resolved through the intervention of Paul and Barnabas and the elders in Jerusalem. Dissent in the military about the status of a newly created Distinguished Warfare Medal to be awarded to cyber-warriors such as drone operators who never set foot in a combat zone was resolved this week through the intervention of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel with the counsel of Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Over the last decade of war, remotely piloted Predator and Reaper drones have become a critical weapon to gather intelligence and conduct airstrikes against terrorists or insurgents around the world. They have been used extensively on battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, and northern Africa. Over the same time cyber-attacks have become a growing national security threat, with Hagel's predecessor Leon Panetta and others warning that the next Pearl Harbor could well be a computer-based assault.Panetta had proposed the high-ranking medal for drone operators and cyber-warriors who have a major effect on a military operation, but the decision triggered broad complaints from veterans and lawmakers who said it should not be ranked higher than traditional combat medals such as the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Critics said the ranking was an injustice to those troops who risked their lives in battle.On Monday Hagel said that while the department should recognize the extraordinary achievements of cyber-warfare personnel, the award should not be a stand-alone medal. A different form of recognition will be developed.In related news suggesting that sci-fi style robot wars may soon be upon us, campaigners against “killer robots” saIid machines with the ability to attack targets without any human intervention must be banned before they are developed. The weapons, which could be ready for use within the next 20 years, would breach a moral and ethical boundary that should never be crossed, said Nobel Laureate Joy Williams of the "Campaign To Stop Killer Robots."Homily hint: It is perhaps no accident that so many blockbuster battle movies feature huge killing machines. Parishioners may be surprised to learn that militaries around the world are hard at work creating just such weapons. Do we allow “cyber stockpiling” to go the way of nuclear stockpiling or do we stop it while there is still time? Sources: Articles by Li-mei Hoang for Reuters and Lolitac C. Baldor for the Associated Press

drones leon panetta chuck hagel robot weapons joy williams cyber-warfare medals
Rage and a hail of bullets raise security concerns

22 Sep 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The prophet rages against those who wrong the poor in this Sunday’s first reading. On a mission apparently fueled by rage, troubled Navy computer services contractor Aaron Alexis, 34, went on a shooting rampage Monday at the Washington Navy Yard that left 12 dead and many seriously wounded before the police shot him to death. The central question midweek is how a documented history of violent and disturbed behavior failed to raise questions about Alexis’ security clearance.Police officers in Newport, R.I., who interviewed Alexis on Aug. 7, were concerned enough by his claims to be hearing voices sent by a “microwave machine” that they faxed their report to naval police in Newport, where Alexis was working temporarily as a contractor. The report was logged by security personnel at the station but never made it into the hands of officials who could have revoked Alexis’ security clearance to enter the navy yard.The new information about the Newport Naval Station’s failure to pass along the police report came hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel acknowledged that the process used to grant security clearances and access to military installations was in need of review, and most likely repair, in the wake of the shootings. Hagel acknowledged that “red flags” about the gunman’s past behavior were missed.“Obviously, something went wrong,” Hagel said as he announced that he had ordered reviews of physical security, access procedures, and the process for granting and renewing security clearances at Defense Department installations around the world.Alexis told Newport police in August that an unknown party following him around had been sending voices through the walls and ceiling. In their report police said they tried to find out what the voices were saying, but Alexis wouldn't elaborate.A look at Alexis' prior arrest record indicates that he had a history of mental health issues. On June 3, 2004 he was arrested in Seattle for shooting out the tires of another man's car on May 6 in what Alexis told police was an anger-fueled "blackout." It appeared Alexis may have been angry with construction workers who were using parking spaces in his neighborhood.On Sept. 4, 2010 Alexis was arrested for allegedly firing a gun inside his Texas apartment because he had been angry about his downstairs neighbor making too much noise. At the time he was a Navy reservist stationed in Fort Worth.Officials say Alexis also had bouts of insubordination, disorderly conduct, and being absent from work without authorization during his four years as a full-time reservist. He frequently complained about discrimination, and officials say his behavior led to an early but honorable discharge in 2011. His security clearance was never revoked.Less than a month before the navy yard shooting, Alexis twice visited U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers to seek treatment for insomnia but, when asked by doctors, he denied having thoughts about harming himself or others, the department said Wednesday.Homily help: The tragedy at the Navy Yard is the latest in a long string of massacres carried out by seriously troubled individuals. While fingers will be pointed in many directions, behind it all stands the mute testimony of the grief of the victim’s families and loved ones. While we may feel helpless in face of the complex problems society faces, all of us are empowered to pray and extend support to the victims. Sources: Articles by Bob Orr for CBS News, Tom Vanden Brook for USA TODAY, TomShanker for the New York Times, Nick Allen for The Telegraph (UK), and the Associated Press

shootings chuck hagel washington navy yard aaron alexis
Over and out in Afghanistan?

02 Mar 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

We learn this Sunday that the psalmist rests securely only in God, “my rock and my salvation, my stronghold.” In the aftermath of a decade of war and foreign military presence, many in the Afghan government as well as the Afghan public believe continued U.S. troop presence is essential to keep the country from descending into chaos and civil war.Even so, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign an agreement that would keep several thousand American troops in the country after combat operations conclude this year. As a result the Obama administration Tuesday alerted Afghanistan it has started planning for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops by the end of the year if the security agreement is not finalized.Statements by the White House and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel showed President Barack Obama's impatience with Karzai's refusal to sign. In a phone call with Karzai on Tuesday to discuss upcoming elections for a new Afghan leader, Obama made clear that time was running out to properly plan for keeping any U.S. forces in the country beyond 2014, the White House said."President Obama has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014," said the White House statement.The statement noted that a deal remained possible with a new Afghan leader even if Karzai fails to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) before the April election chooses his successor. “We will leave open the possibility of concluding a BSA with Afghanistan later this year."Meanwhile a senior Pakistani official warned that pulling out U.S. troops could have dire consequences, leading to a civil war in Afghanistan. Speaking on condition of not being identified, the official predicted that 30 percent of Afghan forces would desert if U.S. forces leave the country.Homily hint: Many Americans have been troubled from the beginning by the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Long after the troops are gone, the rebuilding and healing must continue. Consider helping via an organization with a special program for the nation, such as Oxfam.org. Source: An article by Barbara Starr and Tom Cohen for CNN

barack obama afghanistan hamid karzai chuck hagel bilateral security agreement
Bergdahl case reveals war’s murky side

15 Jun 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“Glory and praise forever!” intones this Sunday’s responsorial from the Book of Daniel as it offers repeated praise to God. What started out as praise upon the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban captivity has now turned into criticism over the wisdom of the prisoner exchange that led to his release, the failure to notify any members of Congress, and the still murky details about Bergdahl’s disappearance from his military base nearly five years ago.Bergdahl himself is physically well despite his years as a Taliban captive, but confinement in a small space and other harsh treatment has left him psychologically unstable, a senior U.S. official briefed on his medical treatment said. Bergdahl is "struggling with psychological issues" that his doctors are hoping to ease before they agree to send him from Germany, where he is being treated in a U.S. military hospital, to another facility in Texas, said the official.An initial Army investigation concluded that Bergdahl left his remote base in eastern Afghanistan without permission in June 2009. His motive remains unclear. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill the prisoner exchange set off a fierce debate about whether the White House gave up too much for Bergdahl and whether Obama should have consulted Congress before agreeing to release the detainees. Even administration allies suggest congressional leaders could have been briefed beforehand.U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday sought to ease concerns about the controversial swap of five hardened Taliban leaders for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, but under pressure from lawmakers acknowledged that the administration mishandled the announcement."We didn't handle some of this right," Hagel admitted to the House Armed Services Committee toward the end of the first public hearing on the prisoner exchange. “We could have done a better job of keeping you informed.”Explaining why the administration moved so quickly and secretly, Hagel said Qatari intermediaries warned them "time was not on our side" and said risks to the American prisoner were likely growing. "The bottom line is we don't leave people behind," Hagel said.Homily hint: A poster from the 1960s read, “War is not healthy for children and other living things.” With the rush to judgment in the Bowe Bergdahl case, it is easy to lose sight that war damages all those involved in it. No soldier returns without wounds to the psyche and the soul. Sources: Articles by David S. Cloud for the Los Angeles Times,Ed Payne and Catherine E. Shoichet for CNN, and Fox News

afghanistan war chuck hagel prisoners of war bowe bergdahl