U.S. Secretray of Defense Hagel Begins 5-Nation Mideast Trip In Israel

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel greets Udi Shani, center right, director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, center, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro, far left, upon his arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 21, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Hagel Starts Mideast Tour In Israel -- Daily Political

Chuck Hagel, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, started a weeklong five-country tour in the Middle East when he arrived in Israel Sunday morning. The trip for Hagel will focus on the civil war in Syria, the nuclear program in Iran and sales of weapons to allies UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Hagel will use this first visit as the Defense Secretary to underscore his opinion that Israel has to decide for itself whether or not to use military force in Iran.

Hagel told reporters during his flight to Israel from Washington that Israel had the right to defend its country and the U.S. and Israel shared the same objective of preventing a nuclear weapon to be made in Iran.

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More News On U.S. Secretray of Defense Hagel Beginning His Mideast Trip In Israel

Hagel arrives in Israel for first stop on Mideast tour -- Haaretz/AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel to Arrive for First Visit to Israel -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Hagel: United States Committed to Israel’s Security -- US Department of Defense
Hagel: Mideast arms deal ‘a very clear signal’ to Iran -- Washington Post
US-Israel arms deal sends Iran 'clear signal': Hagel -- AFP
Arms deal with Middle East allies signal to Iran: Hagel -- Reuters
Chuck Hagel: arms deal sending 'clear signal' to Iran over nuclear programme -- The Guardian
Hagel, in Israel, Presses U.S. Agenda on Iran -- New York Times
Hagel: Israel has right to decide on Iran strike -- Jerusalem Post
Hagel: Israel and US see 'exactly the same' threat from Iran -- Christian Science Monitor
Hagel's trip to emphasize arms deals to Israel, others -- USA Today
Hagel to consult with Israel and Arab allies on first Mideast trip as defense secretary -- Washington Post/AP

U.S. Secretary Of Defense Hagel In Afghanistan

President Obama And Chuck Hagel. Reuters

Hagel Makes First Afghan Trip As Defense Chief -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on Friday for his first trip abroad as defense secretary, seeking to make his own assessment about America's longest war as it enters its final stretch.

Hagel said he would meet commanders and hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whose recent orders to curtail military activity underscore an often tense relationship with the 66,000 American forces there.

"I need to better understand what's going on," Hagel told reporters as he flew to Kabul on the unannounced visit, adding his goal was to "make my own assessment and listen to our commanders".

Hagel said it was his first trip to Afghanistan since a mid-2008 visit with then-Senator Barack Obama during Obama's campaign for the presidency. Obama, a Democrat, forged a close bond with Hagel, a Republican, and remarked later that summer that the two agreed on almost "every item" of foreign policy.

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In first trip as defense secretary, Hagel lands in Afghanistan -- CNN
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Defense Secretary Hagel visits Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Hagel Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan -- Wall Street Journal
New Defense Chief Visits ‘Reality of Combat’ in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Hagel in Afghanistan to Ready ‘Responsible Transition’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Hagel arrives in Afghanistan for first visit as defense chief -- L.A. Times
In first trip as defense secretary, Hagel lands in Afghanistan -- CNN
US Defense Secretary Hagel in Kabul on surprise visit -- France24/AFP
Hagel lands in Kabul, gets firsthand look at war he is tasked to end -- Stars and Stripes