Frank Gaffney appeared on The Janet Mefferd Show yesterday to warn that President Obama’s Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel is not only “a guy who cannot be all that concerned about the men and women in uniform” but also a “shill” for Iran. Gaffney, whose anti-Muslim activism is so extreme that it has even drawn the ire of many Republican groups, told Mefferd that Hagel is acting just like an Iranian spy.
“You couldn’t find a guy who has been more active in terms of promoting the interests of Iran at the expense of the United States than Chuck Hagel other than somebody who is actually an Iranian agent,” Gaffney said, “I’m not suggesting that he is, I don’t know, but I certainly think that’s the point of comparison here because it’s almost that full-throated.”
Mefferd: Obviously people have been talking about Chuck Hagel and his anti-Israel position; he also has a lot of interest in disarming us, doesn’t he?
Gaffney: He is a man who served in the military with distinction in Vietnam, by virtue of that I think many, including veterans groups, have been inclined to think he’ll be a formidable ally of the men and women in uniform. I think that’s anything but the case. To be frank about it, a guy who believes that you can further eviscerate the funding for the Defense Department suggests to me he’s a guy who cannot be all that concerned about the men and women in uniform because it ensures that they will not have the wherewithal that they require to protect us. That’s obviously not good for us but it isn’t going to be very safe or healthy for them either as they go into war without that kit.
Mefferd: Right and you would think that Iran getting excited about Chuck Hagel’s nomination would tip off a few people that this is probably not in the best interest of the United States to have Chuck Hagel in this job.
Gaffney: He’s earned the support of the Iranian regime. I have to say, over many years he has shilled for them it seems at just about every turn. He has objected to sanctions, I guess there have been one or two votes where he played along with it, but mostly he’s been objecting to it certainly since he left the Senate. He has categorically rejected the idea that we might have to use military force to prevent the sort of threat that I believe is now imminent in terms of a nuclear armed Iran. He has been exceedingly aggressive in promoting the idea that we need to engage with them on essentially whatever terms they demand. In other words, you couldn’t find a guy who has been more active in terms of promoting the interests of Iran at the expense of the United States than Chuck Hagel other than somebody who is actually an Iranian agent. I’m not suggesting that he is, I don’t know, but I certainly think that’s the point of comparison here because it’s almost that full-throated.
