Chuck Hagel has been nominated to supervise the beginning of this generation-long process of defense cutbacks. If a Democratic president is going to slash defense, he probably wants a Republican at the Pentagon to give him political cover, and he probably wants a decorated war hero to boot.
That was my guess:
President Obama wants someone willing to buck his own party good and hard on defense.
Hagel will carry out orders to gut the Pentagon and will have that coveted "R" after his name to make sure the blame is properly cast away from the president and his party.
Yeah, Secretary Hagel will tell the Pentagon to just lie back and think of
UPDATE: If Chuck Hagel joins the Obama administration, I think we can say that his glory days of boasting of this ability to change his mind on policy matters will end abruptly. He'll be a loyalist as he guts our military--which will be bucked up beyond recognition--changing his mind only when directed by the pilot. Bucking "his" (nominal) party is the thrill--not simply changing his mind.
