Chuck Hagel Steps Down as Defense Secretary - Wall Street Journal

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will step down from his position, President Barack Obama announced Monday, marking a major realignment in the administration’s senior leadership as it grapples with multiple military and foreign-policy challenges, including a new war against Islamic militants.

Officials said Mr. Hagel was asked to step down by the White House. Some said Mr. Hagel’s exit reflects frustration by administration officials with the course of the war against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

A senior U.S. official said the White House was dissatisfied with the options presented by Mr. Hagel for the war against Islamic State. White House officials felt they weren’t getting creative options from the Pentagon, instead only hearing requests to allow advisers to become more engaged in combat.  “They didn’t feel they were getting the options they were asking for,” said a senior U.S. official.

Mr. Hagel had clashed privately with White House national-security officials this year over administration strategies in Ukraine and Syria, U.S. officials have said. He complained about the slow pace of decision-making that some believe left allies and adversaries unclear about U.S. aims.

Mr. Obama, in a White House appearance Monday, said Mr. Hagel had been an ‘’exemplary’’ defense secretary and that he would stay in his job until a successor had been confirmed. Mr. Hagel, standing next to the president, thanked Mr. Obama for the “privilege’’ of serving.   Read More