Hagel, Syria, the P5+1 and Iran
The Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense as the United States announced $60 million in non-lethal aid to the Syrian Opposition Council; Israel, Iraq and Lebanon continue to be concerned about the regionalization of the war in Syria; and Iran puts Syria in play after the P5+1 meetings.
![Hagel holds his first meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a briefing room at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (2nd L) holds his first meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General John M. Paxton, Jr. (L), U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey (4th R), General of the Army Ray Odierno (3rd R), U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jon Greenert (2nd R) and U.S. Army General Frank Grass (R) in a briefing room called "The Tank" at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, March 1, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) -](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/03/1-RTR3EGNH.jpg/1-RTR3EGNH.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=kDnGDz1T)
Hagel and Syria
On Feb. 26, former Sen. Chuck Hagel was confirmed as US defense secretary. The campaign against Hagel’s confirmation was an embarrassment and a loser for those who waged it, as Akiva Eldar wrote this week. The allegation of an anti-Israel bias by Hagel continues to be revealed as the falsehood it was from the start. Former Israeli Consul General in New York Alon Pinkas, a regular contributor to Al-Monitor, wrote elsewhere this week that Hagel is “a friend in the Pentagon” for Israel. Israeli President Shimon Peres lauded Hagel’s appointment.