A senior U.S. Army officer who works closely with high-ranking staff in the office of the Secretary of Defense told MailOnline on Wednesday that outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is 'relieved' to be leaving the Pentagon. At a coffee shop a half-mile from the Pentagon, the officer said Hagel complained regularly about having to publicly defend President Barack Obama's military policies and priorities, a job requirement he's eager to leave behind. He described Hagel as 'a good guy who ultimately looked in the mirror one day and realized he couldn’t hold his nose anymore.' 'He jumped at the chance to get out, and couldn't wait to announce it so things didn't go more to hell in Iraq and he’d get blamed for it.’
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Senior officer close to the office of the Secretary of Defense told MailOnline that the outgoing secretary was 'relieved' to part ways with the White House
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'He jumped at the chance to get out, and couldn't wait to announce it,' the well-placed source said
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Hagel was worried things would 'go more to hell in Iraq' and 'he'd get blamed for it'
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White House is close to officially nominating former Deputy Secretary Ashton Carter to replace Hagel
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Pentagon source believes Obama is 'looking for someone to rubber stamp him' as he shrinks the US military and lessens America's influence abroad
But the rank-and-file expect @placeholder to be Obama's next 'Yes-man,' he said – which worries them.