Obama slams Trump for exiting Paris climate deal

Yahoo – AFP, June 1, 2017

Former US president Barack Obama, shown here in 2015, says "bold American
ambition" helped bring about the Paris climate deal (AFP Photo/NICHOLAS KAMM)

Washington (AFP) - Barack Obama slammed his successor President Donald Trump on Thursday for pulling out of the Paris climate deal, warning that the move would see the United States "reject the future."

"The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created," Obama warned in a statement.

"Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I'm confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we've got," he added.

Before leaving office, Obama helped shepherd the landmark international pact that commits all signatory nations to limiting global warming caused by carbon emissions.

"It was bold American ambition that encouraged dozens of other nations to set their sights higher as well," Obama said.

"And what made that leadership and ambition possible was America's private innovation and public investment in growing industries like wind and solar."

But Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to cancel US participation in the deal, said he would ditch the Paris accord because it handicaps the US economy.

"The Paris accord would undermine our economy, hamstring our workers, weaken our sovereignty, impose unacceptable legal risk, and put us as a permanent disadvantage to the other countries of the world," Trump said in a speech in the White House Rose Garden.

Trump said though that he was open to renegotiating the deal, or creating a new agreement, "on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers."

Related Article:

Merkel: 'We have to protect Mother Earth' after Trump quits Paris Accord

Obama hails 'excellent' W.House talks with Trump

Yahoo – AFP, Andrew Beatty, November 10, 2016

US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the
Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC
(AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

Washington (AFP) - Barack Obama and Donald Trump put acerbic rows and profound differences aside in a 90-minute transition meeting at the White House Thursday, hoping to quell fears about the health of the world's pre-eminent democracy.

The outgoing president and his successor met one-on-one and sat in high-backed chairs before the Oval Office fireplace, for what Obama characterized as an "excellent conversation."

The meeting, which came less than 36 hours after Trump's shock election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, had the potential to be awkward. The two had traded barbs during the heated battle for the White House.

Trump -- who previously called Obama the "most ignorant president in our history" -- said it was a "great honor" meeting with the US leader, adding that he looked forward to receiving the president's counsel.

Obama -- who previously said Trump was a whiner and "uniquely unqualified" to be commander-in-chief -- vowed his support.

He told Trump that his administration would "do everything we can to help you succeed, because if you succeed, then the country succeeds."

The two men ended the improbable and historic White House encounter with a handshake and refused to take questions

"Here's a good rule. Don't answer questions when they just start yelling," Obama told Trump, referring to the press.

US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump ended the

 improbable and historic White House encounter with a handshake and refused 

to take questions (AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

Wide-ranging talks

White House officials said that the two men had discussed a range of issues including Obama's meetings with leaders from Germany, Greece and across the Asia-Pacific during foreign travel next week.

On that trip, Obama is likely to be inundated with panicked questions about America's role in world affairs.

Anger over the Republican property mogul's upset election win over Clinton spilled out onto the streets of US cities late Wednesday as chanting protesters lit bonfires and snarled traffic.

But in the days after Trump's shock election win, which virtually no poll had predicted, both sides spoke of healing the deep divisions sown in a bruising two-year campaign.

Trump's vanquished Democratic rival Clinton, holding back the bitter disappointment of not becoming America's first female president, urged the country to give Trump a chance.

"We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead," she said Wednesday in a concession speech.

Obama, addressing disconsolate staff in the White House Rose Garden, played down Trump's win as part of the messy "zig-zag" movement of a democracy.

"Sometimes you lose an argument," he said, adding that all Americans should now be "rooting" for Trump's success.

In the battle for the soul of America, those who helped elect its first black president now appear to be in retreat and pondering whether his eight years in power have come to naught.

Both Obama and Clinton issued a faint -- but clear -- warning that Trump must respect institutions and the rule of law if a modicum of goodwill is to hold.

Cooperation with allies

That "likely" observance of rule of law may not suffice for Washington's partners and allies, who see an entire global political order built around US leadership cast into doubt.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quick to underscore the importance of shared democratic values.

"On the basis of these values, I offer close cooperation to the future president of the United States of America," she said.

Europe, already beset by financial and social crises and internal divisions, now faces existential questions about its own security. Trump has questioned the US-led NATO's key collective defense guarantee.

The leaders of America's neighbors, Canada and Mexico, quickly made clear their willingness to work with the new president.

President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico, a prime target of Trump's anti-immigration campaign rhetoric, reached out to congratulate the incoming leader and announced they would soon meet.

 'Help wanted'

The Republican Party leadership, too, embraced their newfound champion.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had distanced himself from Trump in the final month of the campaign, pledged to "hit the ground running" and work with him on conservative legislation.

The two, along with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, met on Capitol Hill for lunch after Trump's talks with Obama.

On Wednesday, Trump huddled at Trump Tower in New York with a group of advisers, planning a transition strategy to take over stewardship of the world's largest economy.

Team Trump unveiled a transition website -- www.greatagain.gov -- that highlights the colossal human resources challenge facing the incoming administration under the headline "Help wanted: 4,000 presidential appointees."

During a bitter campaign that tugged at America's democratic fabric, the tycoon pledged to deport illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from the country and tear up free-trade deals.

Those campaign messages were embraced by a large section of America, grown increasingly disgruntled by the scope of social and economic change under Obama.

But they were passionately rejected by Clinton supporters.

Thousands of protesters -- in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland and other cities and school campuses -- rallied Wednesday to express continued opposition to the incoming leader they accuse of racism, sexism and xenophobia.

In Los Angeles, a giant Trump head was burned in effigy.

360° photo of the Obama-Trump meeting in the Oval Office by @JimWatson_AFP https://t.co/pN0YYvUNr2 #AFP pic.twitter.com/cWnvlDzI1J

— AFP Photo Department (@AFPphoto) November 10, 2016

Related Article:

Matthew message (Channelled by Suzanne Ward, November 11, 2016)

Matthew Ward - November 11, 2016

Matthew Ward

With loving greetings from all souls at this station, this is Matthew. We are going to share with you what we have been observing in Earth’s energy field of potential and what Earth’s monitors in Nirvana report about the United States presidential election. In our last message we said that more scenarios around the election could develop, and indeed that did happen, but not in ways that could have been anticipated.

As we speak about the players involved, we ask you to please remember what we have said many times—never is our interest in our Earth family politically motivated and never do we judge any of you.

It is not only people in the United States who have the most to gain or lose by who becomes their president. The same is so for the Rockefeller faction of the Illuminati. Their heavy influence on Wall Street and in the nation’s government is due in large part to Bill and Hillary Clinton, who cooperate with that secret society; formerly among the few at its peak, when they saw its global control waning a decade or so ago, they established their own power base and funding sources. However questionable the Illuminati may deem Donald Trump’s campaign promises, they know he is “his own man,” a person they could not control.

During the weeks leading to the election, the energy of voters’ anger and distrust surrounding Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump increased to such an extent that it started drawing unto itself the streamers of all the scenarios, each of which had the potential to lead Bernie Sanders into the presidency. [The scenarios are described in the August 19, 2016 message.] What would have transpired in orderly fashion as the streamers ran their well-defined courses instead became an energy hodgepodge that could be likened to an octopus flailing in a sea of confusion. Energy is neutral, it simply flows in the direction set by intent. In this case, intent was to influence the election outcome, and the employment of various ways—some at odds with others—eventually created the octopus.

Clinton supporters in the Democratic National Committee maneuvered to Mrs. Clinton the votes in critical primaries that actually were won by Bernie Sanders; thus, it was she instead of the voters’ choice who became the Democratic party nominee.

As for the FBI’s investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s hacked emails, Director James Comey bowed to pressure from Bill Clinton and other Illuminati to conclude that national security had not been compromised and using a personal server is not an indictable offense. The finger was pointed at Russia for the hacking incident.

Vladimir Putin was justified in claiming that was not Russia’s doing. Individuals in the FBI and other intelligence agencies who know the Clintons’ criminal history released the emails—they felt the public had a right to know the truth about Mrs. Clinton. But Mr. Comey had kept under wraps what the emails showed: She used her Secretary of State position to garner donations to the Clinton Foundation and issue favors in return and some Foundation funds benefitted terrorists.

When those individuals later discovered that Anthony Weiner’s computer contained evidence of the Clintons’ involvement in a pedophile ring, they insisted that Mr. Comey reopen the investigation. Once again he gave into Clinton camp pressure and stated that none of the emails pertained to Mrs. Clinton.

The aforementioned individuals then enlisted the aid of Wikileaks’ Julian Assange to have the incriminating information passed on to “whistleblower” Internet site operators. To counter the fallout from that unexpected exposure, Illuminati minions quickly set about manipulating voting mechanisms so the larger count would go to Mrs. Clinton. Perhaps the haste required is what led to the errors that caused this ploy to backfire—the larger count was mistakenly registered to Mr. Trump.

The negativity created by those whose intent was to deceive and of the deceptive acts themselves is up against the force of ever-heightening vibrations. Republicans are the majority in the House and Senate, but few are pleased that Mr. Trump is their standard-bearer. Democrats are bitter and apprehensive; many feel that if Bernie Sanders had been the party nominee, he would have won the election, and positive energy around Mr. Sanders continues to grow.

That is the “vibe” picture, you could say, of the United States. In keeping with the universal law that low and high vibrations cannot coexist, out of that energetic chaos must come a resolution. We don’t know what it will be, but we can tell you some factors that may well come into play.

The “stunning upset,” as political analysts and the media are terming the election result, has motivated crowds of impassioned citizens to take to the streets in protest and some are calling for an investigation into the vote counting. If that does materialize and it is discovered that voting machines were faulty or not all mail-in ballots were counted, the election would have to be annulled. In such case, President Obama would remain in office until another president is elected.

Mrs. Clinton was not in top physical condition when her clones were fabricated several years ago, and as vibratory levels rise, deterioration in the clone’s health and appearance will become noticeable fairly quickly. Still, if another election were to be held, that would not be the reason she wouldn’t run; it would be that information about her and the Clinton Foundation is all over the Internet.

The Republican plank contains ideological provisions that many in the party don’t embrace and they are not comfortable with some of Mr. Trump’s rhetoric; they voted for him because he represents change from the government they feel has left them behind. Mr. Sanders, too, espouses change from the Washington establishment, and professional and personal respect for him along with his popularity among Democrats would make him a natural choice as presidential nominee. Or perhaps, by popular demand, as a replacement.

Mr. Trump is avidly competitive. That is why he entered the race, was determined to win, and the world thinks he did. The protesting crowds may not bother him; however, when he learns how extensive and stressful presidential responsibilities are, that he is expected to act upon the advice of others rather than his impulses and he is not the boss of Congress, he may decide that being president wouldn’t be as satisfying as being an entrepreneur and he would welcome a respectable way out.

Parts of those factors derive from thoughts and feelings swirling in the mass consciousness, some are known far and wide, some only readers of our messages know. And, you will understand why the most vital factor of all is this: The direction in which Mr. Trump and the Republican party want to take the country is in opposition to prevailing vibrations, which will continue to heighten along Earth’s ascension pathway. That party’s direction is in conflict with Gaia’s vision, which is shared by enlightened souls and their numbers are increasing by the day. Resolution and reconciliation must and shall come to heal that painfully divided country whose influence is felt worldwide.

Beloved family, do not fear what might happen. Create what will happen by steadfastly living your light! Countless beings throughout this universe honor and support you with the unequaled power of unconditional love.

LOVE and PEACE

Suzanne Ward

Website: The Matthew Books

Email: suzy@matthewbooks.com

Obama, Clinton vow smooth transition for Trump

Yahoo – AFP, Ivan Couronne, with Andrew Beatty in Washington, November 9, 2016

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said during her concession
speech in New York November 9, 2016 that Americans owe President-elect 
Donald Trump "an open mind and the chance to lead" (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)

New York (AFP) - US President Barack Obama and his vanquished would-be successor Hillary Clinton sought Wednesday to heal the wounds opened by the most acrimonious US election in memory, as they assured President-elect Donald Trump that Americans were "rooting" for his success.

Despite the bitter rhetoric, insults and political jabs that tarnished the long campaign, the top Democrats made clear they now sought a smooth and orderly transition in the world's largest economy.

Clinton said she had congratulated the Republican overnight after the upset victory by the political novice and former reality TV star, and offered "to work with him on behalf of our country."

"I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans," she told supporters in her first public remarks since the upset result dashed her chances of becoming the country's first woman president.

"We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead."

While the real estate mogul pledged to unite the nation as a "president for all Americans," the entire global political order, which hinges on Washington's leadership, was cast into doubt by the election of a man who has questioned core US alliances.

President Obama took to the Rose Garden to assure the world that the White House would craft a successful transition for the billionaire Trump, "because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country."

"We are Americans first. We're patriots first. We all want what's best for this country," Obama said, as White House staff were seen wiping away tears.

US President Barack Obama (R) said the day after the presidential election 

he is "rooting" for the success of President-elect Donald Trump because

"we all want what's best for this country" (AFP Photo/Nicholas Kamm)

'Redemption, not recrimination'

Around the world, as Trump's victory settled in as cold reality, observers greeted the political earthquake with warnings that America had handed power to "an unstable bigot, sexual predator and compulsive liar," in the words of Britain's The Guardian.

But the leaders of America's closest hemispheric partners, Canada and Mexico, quickly made clear their willingness to work with the new president, offering a message of continuity and stability with their giant neighbor.

And US investors appeared to be shaking off the shock that initially sent global markets plunging.

The Republican Party leadership, too, embraced their newfound hero, with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had distanced himself from Trump in the final month of the campaign, pledging to "hit the ground running" and work with Trump on conservative legislation.

But Ryan also called for healing, saying the bitterly contested race must now be followed by a period "of redemption, not a time of recrimination."

Like Ryan, Trump called for national reconciliation after Clinton conceded defeat in a result that virtually no poll had dreamed of predicting.

"Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division," Trump told a crowd of jubilant supporters early Wednesday in New York, pledging to work with Democrats in office.

During a bitter two-year campaign that tugged at America's democratic fabric, the 70-year-old tycoon pledged to deport illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from the country and tear up free trade deals.

Trump's campaign message was embraced by a large section of America's white majority, grown increasingly disgruntled by the scope of social and economic change under Obama, their first black president.

US President-elect Donald Trump told the crowd during his November 9, 2016 

victory speech, "Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division"

 (AFP Photo/Timothy A. Clary)

Western partners

There was no disguising the concern of Washington's partners that Trump's victory might destroy the Western alliance they still regard as a touchstone for stability and the rule of law.

Some of the most enthusiastic support for Trump came from far-right and nationalist politicians in Europe such as French opposition figure Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini of Italy's Northern League and British euroskeptic Nigel Farage.

Russia's autocratic leader Vladimir Putin said he wanted to rebuild "full-fledged relations" with the United States, as he warmly congratulated the president-elect.

EU leaders Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, seeking reassurances about transatlantic ties, invited Trump to an EU-US summit at his "earliest convenience."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world body was counting on Trump's administration to help combat climate change and advance human rights worldwide.

And NATO head Jens Stoltenberg warned Trump, who spoke during the campaign of making US allies bear a bigger share of the Western security burden, that "US leadership is more important than ever."

The results prompted a global market sell-off, with stocks plunging across Asia and Europe, while the Mexican peso plunged 7.64 percent to a record low against the dollar.

But the British market rebounded briefly after Trump's conciliatory victory speech and the Dow Jones Industrial Index opened higher.

Melania Trump: bringing glamour to Donald's White House ambitions https://t.co/xrNJJRQGbo #USElection2016 pic.twitter.com/ozWqo32xPA

— AFP news agency (@AFP) November 9, 2016

Related Articles:

Obama hails 'excellent' W.House talks with Trump - New

US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the

Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC

(AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

Matthew message (Channelled by Suzanne Ward, November 11, 2016)

Matthew Ward - November 11, 2016

Matthew Ward

With loving greetings from all souls at this station, this is Matthew. We are going to share with you what we have been observing in Earth’s energy field of potential and what Earth’s monitors in Nirvana report about the United States presidential election. In our last message we said that more scenarios around the election could develop, and indeed that did happen, but not in ways that could have been anticipated.

As we speak about the players involved, we ask you to please remember what we have said many times—never is our interest in our Earth family politically motivated and never do we judge any of you.

It is not only people in the United States who have the most to gain or lose by who becomes their president. The same is so for the Rockefeller faction of the Illuminati. Their heavy influence on Wall Street and in the nation’s government is due in large part to Bill and Hillary Clinton, who cooperate with that secret society; formerly among the few at its peak, when they saw its global control waning a decade or so ago, they established their own power base and funding sources. However questionable the Illuminati may deem Donald Trump’s campaign promises, they know he is “his own man,” a person they could not control.

During the weeks leading to the election, the energy of voters’ anger and distrust surrounding Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump increased to such an extent that it started drawing unto itself the streamers of all the scenarios, each of which had the potential to lead Bernie Sanders into the presidency. [The scenarios are described in the August 19, 2016 message.] What would have transpired in orderly fashion as the streamers ran their well-defined courses instead became an energy hodgepodge that could be likened to an octopus flailing in a sea of confusion. Energy is neutral, it simply flows in the direction set by intent. In this case, intent was to influence the election outcome, and the employment of various ways—some at odds with others—eventually created the octopus.

Clinton supporters in the Democratic National Committee maneuvered to Mrs. Clinton the votes in critical primaries that actually were won by Bernie Sanders; thus, it was she instead of the voters’ choice who became the Democratic party nominee.

As for the FBI’s investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s hacked emails, Director James Comey bowed to pressure from Bill Clinton and other Illuminati to conclude that national security had not been compromised and using a personal server is not an indictable offense. The finger was pointed at Russia for the hacking incident.

Vladimir Putin was justified in claiming that was not Russia’s doing. Individuals in the FBI and other intelligence agencies who know the Clintons’ criminal history released the emails—they felt the public had a right to know the truth about Mrs. Clinton. But Mr. Comey had kept under wraps what the emails showed: She used her Secretary of State position to garner donations to the Clinton Foundation and issue favors in return and some Foundation funds benefitted terrorists.

When those individuals later discovered that Anthony Weiner’s computer contained evidence of the Clintons’ involvement in a pedophile ring, they insisted that Mr. Comey reopen the investigation. Once again he gave into Clinton camp pressure and stated that none of the emails pertained to Mrs. Clinton.

The aforementioned individuals then enlisted the aid of Wikileaks’ Julian Assange to have the incriminating information passed on to “whistleblower” Internet site operators. To counter the fallout from that unexpected exposure, Illuminati minions quickly set about manipulating voting mechanisms so the larger count would go to Mrs. Clinton. Perhaps the haste required is what led to the errors that caused this ploy to backfire—the larger count was mistakenly registered to Mr. Trump.

The negativity created by those whose intent was to deceive and of the deceptive acts themselves is up against the force of ever-heightening vibrations. Republicans are the majority in the House and Senate, but few are pleased that Mr. Trump is their standard-bearer. Democrats are bitter and apprehensive; many feel that if Bernie Sanders had been the party nominee, he would have won the election, and positive energy around Mr. Sanders continues to grow.

That is the “vibe” picture, you could say, of the United States. In keeping with the universal law that low and high vibrations cannot coexist, out of that energetic chaos must come a resolution. We don’t know what it will be, but we can tell you some factors that may well come into play.

The “stunning upset,” as political analysts and the media are terming the election result, has motivated crowds of impassioned citizens to take to the streets in protest and some are calling for an investigation into the vote counting. If that does materialize and it is discovered that voting machines were faulty or not all mail-in ballots were counted, the election would have to be annulled. In such case, President Obama would remain in office until another president is elected.

Mrs. Clinton was not in top physical condition when her clones were fabricated several years ago, and as vibratory levels rise, deterioration in the clone’s health and appearance will become noticeable fairly quickly. Still, if another election were to be held, that would not be the reason she wouldn’t run; it would be that information about her and the Clinton Foundation is all over the Internet.

The Republican plank contains ideological provisions that many in the party don’t embrace and they are not comfortable with some of Mr. Trump’s rhetoric; they voted for him because he represents change from the government they feel has left them behind. Mr. Sanders, too, espouses change from the Washington establishment, and professional and personal respect for him along with his popularity among Democrats would make him a natural choice as presidential nominee. Or perhaps, by popular demand, as a replacement.

Mr. Trump is avidly competitive. That is why he entered the race, was determined to win, and the world thinks he did. The protesting crowds may not bother him; however, when he learns how extensive and stressful presidential responsibilities are, that he is expected to act upon the advice of others rather than his impulses and he is not the boss of Congress, he may decide that being president wouldn’t be as satisfying as being an entrepreneur and he would welcome a respectable way out.

Parts of those factors derive from thoughts and feelings swirling in the mass consciousness, some are known far and wide, some only readers of our messages know. And, you will understand why the most vital factor of all is this: The direction in which Mr. Trump and the Republican party want to take the country is in opposition to prevailing vibrations, which will continue to heighten along Earth’s ascension pathway. That party’s direction is in conflict with Gaia’s vision, which is shared by enlightened souls and their numbers are increasing by the day. Resolution and reconciliation must and shall come to heal that painfully divided country whose influence is felt worldwide.

Beloved family, do not fear what might happen. Create what will happen by steadfastly living your light! Countless beings throughout this universe honor and support you with the unequaled power of unconditional love.

LOVE and PEACE

Suzanne Ward

Website: The Matthew Books

Email: suzy@matthewbooks.com

Pentagon boss Hagel out as IS war heats up

Yahoo – AFP, Dan De Luce, Jérôme Cartillier, 24 Nov 2014

US President Barack Obama announces the resignation of US Secretary

of Defense Chuck Hagel on November 24, 2014 (AFP)

President Barack Obama announced the departure of US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday, with the White House under fire over perceived fumbling in its response to the Islamic State threat.

The former Republican senator, who has been in the job for less than two years, was chosen to oversee a shift to a peacetime military with smaller defense budgets, but found the United States at war again.

Rapid advances by Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq forced the Pentagon chief into managing a complex campaign, and Obama concluded Hagel was not the man for the task.

The 68-year-old Vietnam war veteran joined Obama at the White House to confirm his departure.

US army soldiers march from the Forward

 Base Honaker Miracle at Watahpur District

 in Kunar province during a joint patrol led

 by the Afghan National Army on April 18,

2013

"When I asked Chuck to serve as secretary of defense we were entering a significant period of transition: the drawdown in Afghanistan, the need to prepare our forces for future missions and tough fiscal choices to keep our military strong and ready," Obama said.

"Last month, Chuck came to me to discuss the final quarter of my presidency and determined that, having guided the department through this transition, it was an appropriate time for him to complete his service."

Both Obama and Hagel presented the decision as mutually agreed, but administration officials privately suggested he had been pushed out, while Obama's critics said Hagel had become frustrated.

At the White House announcement, Hagel thanked Obama for his "friendship" and "leadership," saying he believed he had put the military and the nation on a "stronger course toward stability."

On jihadist websites and Twitter accounts, Islamic State supporters celebrated "victory" against Hagel, claiming he had been forced out by their successes against US allies on the battlefield.

'At odds' with White House

The White House did not say who might be Hagel's eventual replacement at the Pentagon, but in Washington three candidates are widely considered to be in the running.

Former under-secretary of defense Michele Flournoy, who would be the first woman to run the Pentagon, is touted as the most likely choice, followed by former deputy secretary Ashton Carter.

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island -- a former army airborne officer -- has also been cited as a plausible contender, but his spokesman told reporters that he was not interested in the job.

Confirmation hearings for whoever gets the nomination will provide Republican critics a platform to slam the Obama administration's campaign against the Islamic State group.

Islamic State militants have gained huge

 swathes of territory and established a

caliphate in Iraq and Syria

Some hawks are demanding bolder action, including the use of US ground units to help Iraqi and Kurdish forces in their battle to contain the jihadist threat.

As a senator, Hagel voted in favor of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, but later became a critic of the drawn-out conflict that ensued.

Hagel's combat experience as a non-commissioned officer who was wounded in Vietnam was seen as a strength as he took on the job.

But his public appearances have often appeared clumsy or underwhelming as the administration struggles to adapt to new conflicts and articulate its strategies.

Although administration officials indicated the defense secretary had been pressured to resign, a senior national security staff member in Congress told AFP that was not the case.

"Hagel quit," the aide said. "Hagel found himself at odds with the administration."

Hagel's experience was similar to that of his predecessors, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, who both complained after they left office of meddling by political appointees in the White House, the aide and some lawmakers said.

Senator John McCain, an outspoken critic of Obama's foreign policy, said he had spoken to Hagel by phone Monday.

"I know that he was very, very frustrated," McCain said.

"Already the White House are leaking, 'Well he wasn't up to the job.' Believe me, he was up to the job."

McCain said the Obama administration had "no strategy" to fight the Islamic State group and that Hagel had never been allowed into a White House inner circle making decisions.

Hagel had disagreed with the administration's approach to Syria, writing a two-page memo arguing for a more assertive stance towards President Bashar al-Assad, his aides recently disclosed.

US-led air strikes have prevented Islamic

 State (IS) militants from capturing the

 Syrian border town of Kobane, as seen

 from the Turkish village of Yumurtalik,

on October 23, 2014

Apart from the air war against the IS group, the White House has also come under criticism for its plans in Afghanistan, with some Republicans questioning a timeline that will have all US troops out of the country by the end of Obama's term in two years.

Calling off Vietnam trip

Speculation about Hagel's future gathered steam in October, when anonymous administration officials criticized his performance to a high-profile Washington Post columnist, David Ignatius.

Hagel was once considered a potential Republican presidential contender but in his current job, officials said he often said little at strategy sessions in the White House situation room.

Earlier this month, Hagel called off a long-planned trip to Vietnam and Myanmar at the last moment.

jca-ddl/dc/jm

Related Article:

"Revelations of Darkness" - Oct 1, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version)

“ .. Do Not Despair

There's too much information to give you in one channelling, in one sitting, so I refer to past messages for you to better understand and reference the information in order to get the bigger picture. So I wish to remind you of something I also told you in a recent channelling called Do Not Despair. You're winning! It's because you're winning that the dark consciousness on this planet is feeling it, and the humanity that represents darkness is pulling out everything it has to survive.

It Has Always Been There

Let's look at it, because it's all over the news. Are you shocked at the sudden existence of the organization that will remain unnamed [for this channelling]? Where did it come from? How could it be so organized? How could it be so well funded? This organization could have its own country soon! They might as well name it, “The Old Energy Dark Country”, for that's what it will represent.

The barbaric past of humanity comes forward to show its face. It has always been there, hiding under the rocks and between the cracks of civilized humanity. It couldn't show itself until now, but now it has to. It's ugly and it's not for the faint at heart, is it, dear ones? Seeing evil personified in Human action is abhorrent. It is so ugly and so dark that you cannot look upon it with a gentle heart. God is not a part of it and this is obvious.

You're winning! Light is winning! The uprising of dark consciousness would not have shown itself with this strength, or this quickly, if this were not so. This is exactly what I told you to look for, and it is proof that those representing this dark consciousness are in trouble. Dear ones, dark consciousness has always had a tried-and-true system. It lurks in the shadows and influences all the power places of the planet - government, commerce, finance. Suddenly, it can't hide there as well anymore and it's out in the open.

Where is the funding coming from? It is coming from a storehouse that has always been there, dear ones. It uses income that has been generated from low consciousness acts, collected for a very long time. Funding didn't just appear. It has been stored, waiting to be used in order to spread fear and darkness to save what they believe is their way.

Who Will Win?

Dear ones, they haven't got a chance! But it looks like they do, doesn't it? Everything that they are doing is calculated to scare you into submission. Are they winning? Now, that's a question I want you to take from here and examine every day.

Fear is black. If you're in fear, there is no light. You can be the grandest Lightworker, or even be the channeller, but if you're in fear, it doesn't matter how many years you've done light work, or how much light you've accumulated personally. It all goes away with fear, and then they've won the battle for your mind. Do you understand this?

The Strength of the Old Soul - YOU

Old souls, Lightworkers reading this, the experiences you have had over lifetimes and lifetimes are incredible! The old soul knows fear. I don't want to be too graphic, but I want you to understand! What was it like when you put your head in the guillotine because you talked about God in a way that was inappropriate? What was it like to be bound hand and foot when they lit the match at your feet? Old soul, that's fear! You carry those experiences in your Akash.

I want to tell you they haven't got a chance to scare you! You absolutely know what fear is, and they haven't got a chance as long as you cling to that part of you that is the strength of God. You've been through it all. That means you've got the weapons of truth, wisdom and light. Don't forget it. Don't forget who you are!

Do you see how fast they assembled? It seemed like only yesterday that there was no organization at all. Where did they come from? Have you noticed a certain hesitancy to fight them? Why is it that the citizens of the lands that they are invading are hesitant to fight them? Instead, these leaders are calling on others to help. Why is it that the others are also hesitant? I want to show you that there are some anomalies of logic that are not making sense, because this is a battle you have never seen before on this planet. We've expected it, but you haven't. It's about consciousness, not land or resources.

How to Win?

We gave you the secret before of how to defeat them without taking even one life: Simply take away their funding. They cannot exist without their funding. The funding has to be organized, stored, and distributed. It has to be generated in such a way that it must also go through institutions. Did you hear that? All you have to do is stop the system. Winning won't be done with bombing. It's going to be done with intelligence, clever thinking and financial forensics. It's time to get smart on some of these things and not to be afraid to look at this puzzle differently than you have before. Do not apply the energy they are using in order to fight them, because you won't win. Figure it out. It's the last bastion of organized darkness and evil thinking on this planet coming together to try to survive the assault of your light. Don't be afraid to look at the funding trail, no matter where it takes you.

Fear is Their Weapon

I want you to know something as you look at your news. It may appear that you are unable to stop them. In many places, they will gain strength as they create fear. The fear is easily created in those who are not old souls and who don't know fear like you do and who don't have the armor of your spiritual experiences. This puts you in the front line, dear one. Did you realize that? But you don't have to go fight them on their terms. All you have to do is broadcast light. High consciousness will beat fear any day.. .”