By Ron Kampeas

Washington (JTA) – Ashton Carter has championed the sale to Israel of state-of-the-art combat aircraft, has aligned himself with Iran hawks and was observed becoming misty-eyed when serenaded by Israeli soldiers.

Carter, 60, President Obama’s secretary of defense nominee, has been depicted in the media as the un-Chuck Hagel.

Ashton Carter Brings Record of Friendship With Israel to Pentagon
Changes in Tone, Not Policy, Under New Defense Secretary

By Ron Kampeas

Washington (JTA) – Ashton Carter has championed the sale to Israel of state-of-the-art combat aircraft, has aligned himself with Iran hawks and was observed becoming misty-eyed when serenaded by Israeli soldiers.

Carter, 60, President Obama’s secretary of defense nominee, has been depicted in the media as the un-Chuck Hagel.

He’s assertive and a bureaucratic in-fighter where Hagel, whose two-year stint as defense secretary ended this month with his forced resignation, was seen as passive and at times at sea. He’s hawkish, where Hagel, a Vietnam vet who as a GOP senator was virtually alone in his caucus in criticizing the Iraq War, was brought in by Obama to draw down U.S. military involvement overseas.

Yet on Israel policy, Carter would represent more continuity than change should he be confirmed. That’s in part because, despite diplomatic tensions between the Obama and Netanyahu governments, the security relationship remains as solid and ever – and also because Carter, until last year a deputy defense secretary, is a loyal soldier to his boss’ agenda.

“Ash Carter is a very respected guy in Washington; he should have no trouble being confirmed,” said Michael Makovsky, the CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, who served as a senior defense official in the George W. Bush administration.

“He knows the building,” Makovsky said of Carter, using a Pentagon euphemism for an inside player.

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