United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned under pressure, the first cabinet-level casualty coming close on the heels of Democratic Party loosing majority in the Senate and the Obama administration's struggle in dealing with the Islamic State.
Former Republican senator Chuck Hagel was on Wednesday sworn-in as the new United States defence secretary, in the midst of a controversy over his remarks that India "financed problems" for Pakistan in Afghanistan.
United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned on Monday amid reports of differences with President Barack Obama who apparently wants to install a new leadership at the Pentagon as he enters the last two years of his presidency facing new global challenges like the rise of IS.
United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said India should be given time and space to define the nature of its relationship with the US, indicating that the Obama administration was willing to patiently wait for the new government to decide on its course of action.
Terming as "outlandish and bizarre" the statement of Chuck Hagel, the new United States defence secretary, that India has financed problems for Pakistan in Afghanistan, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday asked the government to exert diplomatic pressure on Washington for unconditional withdrawal of his statement.
Republican Senators Monday expressed concern over the views of Chuck Hagel, nominated by US President Barack Obama as his next defence secretary, on several key issues, as the White House defended him saying that he is in "sync" with the president's policies.
United States President Barack Obama on Monday named former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary, and also nominated his counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan, who was involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, as the new Central Intelligence Agency chief.
The nomination of Chuck Hagel as the next United States secretary of defence was a 'cause for concern' for Israel, with a top leader saying, 'we are worried' because of the ex-Republican Senator's stance toward the Jewish nation.
United States Secretary of Defence nominee Chuck Hagel had suggested in a previously unreleased speech that India has 'for many years been using Afghanistan to fight a proxy war against Pakistan by sponsoring terror attacks inside it'.
"Secretary Hagel is strongly committed to the US strategic partnership with India and to fostering an even closer defence relationship with India that builds upon the work of Secretary [Leon] Panetta, Deputy Secretary [Ashton] Carter, and their Indian counterparts," Pentagon spokesperson George Little told Washington Free Beacon.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday asked India and Afghanistan to make their positions clear on the alleged remarks by Chuck Hagel, the newly appointed United States Defence Secretary, that New Delhi has over the years "financed problems" for Islamabad in the war-torn country.
United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday discussed with his new Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan the emerging threat from North Korea, which has threatened to hit American bases in Hawaii and Guam.
The United States needs to maintain its military threat against Syria as such pressure forced the Assad regime to change its posture on chemical weapons, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.
A day after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces transferred security responsibilities to Afghan authorities, the United States has said will continue to work with India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to further strengthen the regional security.
Amidst growing tension in the Korean peninsula and increasing threat from North Korea, United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has spoken to his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin to review the security situation.
The United States is dealing with the Al Qaeda element on the Pakistan side of the border, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel conceded and acknowledged that its drone programme has been pretty successful.
United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will visit New Delhi next week during which he will hold talks with his counterpart Arun Jaitley and other top officials, aimed at "nurturing" ties with India after the formation of the new government, a top Pentagon official has said.
The United States has ordered a probe into reports of yet another case of sexual assault in its military, with Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel asserting that a zero tolerance policy will be adopted against such a misconduct.
United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel announced to deploy new 14 interceptors in Alaska to bolster country's missile defence system against the increasing threat from North Korea.
Asserting that the United States is ready with all its contingency plans to defend itself and its allies from any misadventure from North Korea, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has warned that the isolated nation was "skating very close to a dangerous line"."North Korea has been, with its bellicose rhetoric, with its actions, skating very close to a dangerous line," said Hagel with Army General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
US goalkeeper Tim Howard, who pulled off a record-setting 16 saves in a 1-2 World Cup loss against Belgium, was momentarily named Secretary of Defense on Wikipedia as an enthusiastic fan edited the Wikipedia entry.
'It is also a strategic decision to line up India against China,' Senator Hagel said.
The committee adopted the measure by 12-9 vote with one Republican, Senator Chuck Hagel, breaking ranks to join the 11 Democrats on the panel in approving the resolution.
India has told the United States that in view of the price increase, it cannot go ahead with the procurement of 145 ultra-light howitzers for the Army, which plans to deploy such artillery guns in mountainous terrain.
The Indo-US civil nuclear deal, climate change, and developments in Pakistan are likely to figure in the discussions that John Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel will have with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some other leaders.
Voicing concern over the deteriorating situation in Iraq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he looked forward to his summit meeting with US President Barack Obama to discuss how India and the US can build a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the world.
Senators Joseph Biden, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Wedensday, said if the deal is not taken up in the US Congress by June and the process completed during the tenure of President George W Bush, any new US administration will renegotiate the deal.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a three-day visit and is expected to discuss regional security situation, defence deals worth over Rs 20,000 crore and joint military hardware development projects with the Indian political and military leadership.
US President Barack Obama has appointed a woman for the second topmost post in the Department of Defence.
US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel has apologised after he was caught on cameras asking an Indian member of an audience if he was a member of the Taliban.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has met US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and discussed a range of issues, including the strategic Indo-US partnership and future areas of bilateral security cooperation.
The United States and China have agreed to expand military exchanges and exercises as part of efforts to build more stable bilateral ties amid tensions over cyber security.
Seven countries, including Italy, France and the United Kingdom, have joined the American effort to arm the Kurdish forces in northern Iraq against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a terrorist outfit that has gained control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
United States Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, who played a critical role in boosting Indo-US defence ties, on Friday said that he will step down in December.
Ahead of his first visit to India, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said the United States is looking for new partners and relationships in Asia Pacific region which represents both opportunities and challenges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the statue of the Father of the Nation here in the US capital.
American soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl who spent five years as a Taliban prisoner of war in Afghanistan before being controversially released recently returned home on Friday after undergoing medical treatment at a United States army base in Germany.
President Barack Obama's India visit is likely to produce "positive" results.
The United States air force nuclear command has been rocked by the worst cheating scandal in proficiency exam involving 34 officers at the inter-continental missile launch of the global strike command, the Pentagon has said.
The US will deploy an additional Army combat force of 800 soldiers to South Korea with tanks and armoured troop carrier as part of its ongoing rebalancing efforts within Asia-Pacific region.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances