The Economist quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on the dismissal of Chuck Hagel from his post as Secretary of Defense:
Frederic Hof, a former Syria point-man at the State Department, is equally downbeat about the post’s clout. Despite the rise of IS and the horrors facing Syria’s people and neighbours, the president “thinks he’s gotten Syria essentially right”, he says. “Chuck Hagel was not about to change that perception or the policy from the Pentagon.”
The hunt seems to be on for a caretaker defence secretary. Those planning to challenge Mr Obama’s inner circle probably need not apply.