Hagel Like a Bad Democrat

Chuck Hagel sounded for all the world like one of the Democrats the right side of the media likes to rail against in his appearance today on This Week. He made good sense about why he thinks Iraq is a mess, but offered little in terms of an alternative strategy.

He reiterated his "we're not winning position", but when asked directly about a strategy to get out he mumbled general phrases about six months, elections, police, Iraqi military without any concrete suggestions.

George Allen sounded more eloquent, without expressing an original thought, by just spouting administration mantras on standing up Iraqis and Iraq being the central front, etc.

I think the country needs a voice like Hagel's on the inside of the Republican regime, but he needs to do a better job of thinking through his position or do a better job of articulating it.