Defense News: Hagel: Iraq 'Squandered' 5 Years, Paving Way for ISIS
WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said he believes the government of Iraq “squandered” the five-year stretch from 2008 to 2013, paving the way for the rise of the Islamic State group and the chaos of the last two years.
Speaking Monday in Washington, Hagel, who served in that role from 2013 to 2015, also hinted at dissatisfaction with how the Obama administration dealt with the Pentagon during his tenure, indicating that future administrations should lean more on the opinions of the uniformed personnel when weighing foreign policy decisions.
Asked to reflect on the situation in Iraq, Hagel showed disappointment and frustration with what happened once the US President George W. Bush signed a Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq in December 2008, which set off the clock for US forces to leave Iraq in the hands of the local government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Update: Chuck Hagel to the next president: 'Listen' (The Hill)
WNU Editor: There is a lot of blame to go around on what has happened in Iraq. And while it is easy to blame the U.S. government, President Bush, President Obama, etc. .... the majority of the blame must still fall on the Iraqis themselves, and their inability to find compromise and reconciliation.