John Avlon : We targeted him since he was nominated for secretary of state . Bush : Hagel wrongly called anti - gay , anti - war , but it 's really about opposing Iraq War . Hagel is a social conservative and Vietnam vet , wary of going to war , he says . Avlon : Unfounded attacks show ` ` you 're with us or against us '' neoconservative view .
John Avlon : Critics targeted Hagel since he was nominated for secretary of defense . Avlon : Hagel wrongly called anti-gay , anti-Israel , but it 's really about opposing Iraq war . Hagel is a mainstream conservative and Vietnam vet , wary of calls to war , he says . Avlon : Unfounded attacks show `` you 're with us or against us '' neoconservative view .