Dershowitz: Hagel Nomination was a 'Great Appointment for Tehran'

President Obama’s decision to nominate former Sen. Chuck Hagel to head DoD may have stirred more controversy in his own ranks than he anticipated. Two prominent Jewish Democrats — former NYC Mayor Ed Koch and now Alan Dershowitz — have called the appointment dangerous.

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“I think it’s a mistake,” he added, “I think it makes it more likely that Iran will persist in its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. This will send a message to the Iranian Mullahs of softness, to nominate a man who is opposed to sanctions and who is opposed to the military option.”

“Now, he may be able to change all that when he testifies in front of the Senate,” said Dershowitz optimistically, “but you know, people don’t usually change.”

“It is less important what he (Hagel) really thinks, it is what the Iranians think he thinks,” that is important, added the prominent Democrat. “The Iranians are celebrating this appointment in Tehran, this was a great appointment for Tehran, its a green light or at least a yellow light for them to pursue their nuclear program.”

“I makes it more likely that Iran will actually move towards developing a nuclear program and it makes it more likely that there will have to be a military response. This is a very bad nomination for peace.”

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