Senator Hagel offers a clear headed and candid assessment of where America stands today and where it needs to go, particularly on the international front. Readers may find his analysis jolting in comparison to the timidity of other officials, but those who know Hagel will find his remarks as standard.

In listening to an interview of author Stephen Covey recently, I noted Covey’s assessment that those who come from an agrarian experience are more likely to face the reality of people and events. That fits with Hagel and his upbringing in Nebraska.

While many of Hagel’s assessments parallel my own (Congress has failed in its responsibility to be a co-equal branch of government, the use of mercenaries in Iraq is unacceptable, we need a universal service program to instill interest in our duties as citizens) he stops short of making the hard recommendation that what we really need to accomplish those things is to go back to a lottery Draft (or to threaten President Bush with Impeachment).

Hagel also offers a blunt critique of the difficulties our political process is inflicting on the ability of government to function efficiently and confront the large scale problems of our nation. The Senator strongly hints that a revision of that political process is near with either the creation of a third party or the re-constitution of an existing party.

Would that more of our Federal elected officials operate with his perspective that his oath is to “. . .America, not to a President or a political party or a policy.”

His absence from the Senate will be a loss from that organization, but I expect his presence in a new administration, regardless of which party gains the Presidency in 2008.

I strongly recommend his book for its unique insider perspectives and unflinching assessment of the reality of our circumstances.

www.TheCenterStrikesBack.com