Hagel Calls Giuliani, Clinton `Cowboys' for Comments on Iran

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a0h8abc0d1tM&refer=home

Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton were ``recklessly irresponsible'' and acting like ``cowboys'' for rejecting calls for direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program, charged Senator Chuck Hagel, a top Republican lawmaker.

Hagel, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee who supports talks, was critical of Giuliani, the top Republican contender, and Clinton, a New York senator and leader of the Democratic field, for lambasting presidential rival Barack Obama, who proposed such discussions.

When world leaders ``hear leading presidential candidates talk like cowboys with the lowest common denominator being `I can be tougher than you, I'll go to war before you or we aren't going to talk to anybody,' that's recklessly irresponsible,'' Hagel said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt,'' scheduled to air today.

Hagel, 61, also criticized Vice President Dick Cheney, who he said in recent speeches on Iran has sounded similar to his provocative comments against Iraq in 2002. ``Some in this administration are serious about that possibility'' of military action in Iran, Hagel said.

``We're over here sounding war calls,'' Hagel said. ``That's a very dangerous thing because it leads you into a cul-de-sac of war if you're not careful.''

warmongering for a war with Iran is so fucking hilarious? :eyes:

his moral stature has dwindled.

Voting for Mukasey was unfortunately the rational thing to do for a pragmatist. I wish he would have voted differently though...

that I've ever seen--an annoying little habit for a guy who is obviously capable of thinking independently when he cares to...although Ben Nelson voted aye too (my other Senator), so he's the one I'd like to punch first. I saw the interview of this on Al Hunt, and he disagrees with withholding aid or arms to Musharraf, which Biden has called for. Don't know who's right.

an X on the ones that kick!

but he's right about this.

isn't it ironic?

while Schumer, Feinstein and their ilk - nominal Democrats - talk crap. What a long, strange trip it's been...

Names sure do change. Cowboys used to be cool.

It's a shame that this has become an epithet. Hothead, yahoo or boor would work much better, I think.