In what is fast becoming a feature of congressional meetings on the U.S. strategy to defeat the Islamic State, an anti-war protester angrily denounced Chuck Hagel during the defense secretary’s testimony before being dragged out kicking by Capitol Hill police.
The secretary of state was in the middle of testifying in front of the House Armed Services Committee, explaining to lawmakers the supposed contributions to the anti-Islamic State coalition from regional powers such as Turkey, when he was suddenly interrupted.
“Cut the mic off! Cut the mic off!” a man shouted aggressively, rising to his feet as police officers surrounded him. “We don’t need a ten-year-long war! You’re not a friend of the United States with all this fighting! You’re going to bankrupt this country and it’ll go down by the old Soviet Union!”
“Most of you got your money from defense contractors!” he continued, as two officers grabbed him and pushed him down the aisle. “They own this government!”
Security personnel were clearly spooked. “You get up and step out too, right now,” one officer told another man dressed in pink, the trademark of anti-war group Code Pink.
“Don’t make me wait,” the officer warned, hauling the protester to his feet and escorting him out of the hearing room.
Comments