I don't get into the book-telling business of conversations I have with the president. That's not my style, and I don't think that's a responsible thing to do.
Chuck HagelThere has to be a reason and objective (to air strikes). What does it do to move the effort down the road for a political conversation?
Chuck HagelI'm the first secretary of defense that's had to deal with sequestration. I've prepared two budgets that deal with sequestration. And you bring the chiefs together, the leadership of this enterprise together, to work through, how do we then take these cuts? Where do we apply those cuts? Readiness is the first thing that suffers.
Chuck Hagel