Secretary of Defense Hagel unexpectedly resigned Monday.  While not a noteworthy Secretary of Defense he wasn’t doing an exceptionally bad job as he executed the administration’s policies.  The administration and Pentagon downplayed Hagel’s departure as a personal decision by Hagel but the evidence points otherwise.  Hagel clashed with the administration over its evaluation of ISIS and lately been pushing for a concrete change in our position on Syria’s Assad.

Mediate reports two of the frontrunners for the position have already bowed out of the position.  Michele Flournoy who would have been the first female Secretary of Defense cited personal reasons while Senator Webb says he’s very happy as a Senator.  Ashton Carter is the next most commonly mentioned name but characterized as a defense hawk it’s doubtful he would be any different than the last three Secretaries, two of which have written very critical books about the administrations timidity and micromanagement of the Pentagon.

The recent elections were disastrous for the administration’s party.  Key staff positions shakeups are common after elections like the last one but they are typically accompanied by a shift in policy e.g. the firing of Rumsfeld.  This doesn’t seem to be the case with Hagel’s departure but Hagel’s propensity for being a thorn in the side made him an easy target for the ax.