What does supporting Hagel mean for Paul?

I am a steadfast supporter of Israel, but I supported the nomination of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.

Although Hagel has made some comments in the past that could possibly be construed as “anti-Israel,” I supported his nomination because I am tired of wars, period.

I believe the United States military needs to downsize, and believe Hagel would do a good job of this because he has served in uniform.

Hagel received support from only four Senate Republicans, including Rand Paul of Kentucky, Dick Shelby of Alabama, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, and Mike Johanns of Nebraska.

Although he didn’t announce his support for Hagel prior to voting for him, Paul’s vote makes sense.

Paul has started making himself somewhat of a Tea Party namesake with his calls for spending cuts.

He has also endeared himself with Tea Partiers and others with his recent 13-hour filibuster against the Obama administration’s use of drones, specifically in regard to any possible use of them against Americans within the United States.

Paul, who apparently will pick up his father Ron Paul’s mantle and run for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, has a head start on any competition he might face.

Which brings us back to Hagel. It will be interesting to see if Paul gets much flak for supporting Hagel when the nomination process heats up.

Others, including Patrick J. Buchanan, have called for a U.S. foreign policy that is not knee-jerk in its support of Israel’s right-wing government.

As mentioned previously, I do support Israel’s existence, and believe in the “Key of Abraham,” Genesis 12:3, where God told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.”

I believe this applies to nation of Israel today, and America will bring a curse upon herself if she ever explicitly goes against Israel.

But Israel as a nation is made up of many viewpoints, just like the United States. Although there are some on the left who favor such radical change in our country that their position could be considered “anti-American,” I would propose that varying viewpoints do not necessarily make one “anti-American.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently attempting to form a coalition government with the centrist Yesh Atid party, which would likely leave the ultra-Orthodox parties out in the cold. Throughout his career, Netanyahu has at various times seemed more moderate than he has recently. This, for example, doesn’t make him “anti-Israel” does it? It just reflects political reality, if nothing else.

Paul could benefit from the cuts Hagel will oversee, or they could become an albatross. My bet is he will benefit from them.

But Paul also could be hurt by any pro-amnesty stance he takes that would be more in line with that of his father.

Politics can make strange bedfellows, as was evidenced by Oregon Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden’s support of Paul’s recent filibuster.

Although I didn’t agree with all of his positions, I ended up voting for Ron Paul in the 2012 GOP primary in Virginia because in that state I only had two choices, Paul or Mitt Romney, and I strongly supported Paul’s calls for spending cuts.

The same question will likely be borne out over the next several years as GOP supporters and independents will decide if they support Rand Paul’s various positions.

On the other side will be those warmongers, who like John McCain, apparently never saw a war they didn’t like.