In 2006, when Israel was targeting Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon and trying to push them back from the Israeli/Lebanese border, then-Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) begged President George W. Bush to seek a ceasefire.
When Hagel did this, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) applauded him.
When Bush refused to acquiesce to the ceasefire request on grounds that doing so would leave Israel in a dangerous and vulnerable position, Hagel continued pushing, leading CAIR to applaud louder.
Hagel responded to Bush’s refusal by saying it “[threatened] to isolate the United States and Israel and harm chances of achieving long term peace in the region.” He even went so far as to describe Bush’s unflinching support for Israel in that instance as “madness.”
CAIR praised Hagel for his “moral courage” and his “stand on principle in a time of crisis.”
Hagel is now being considered for the role of Secretary of Defense by President Obama.