Defense Secretary Hagel resigns

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has resigned from the position after questions began to surface about the United States' preparedness to deal with pressing issues of national and global security such as Ebola, Russian adventurism, and the rise of the Islamic State.

According to a statement by Hagel posted on the website of the Department of Defense, Hagel will stay in his role until his replacement can be confirmed by the Senate. While the confirmation may happen before the new year, it is exceedingly unlikely because recent Congressional elections switched control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans.

Hagel's statement read in part, "I want you to know that I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together." He then went on to list some of his accomplishments during his less than two years in the position.

Among these were the training of Afghan security forces to take control as the foreign military presence in Afghanistan is slowly reduced. For example, the last of the British forces stationed in Afghanistan left on the same day Hagel announced his resignation.

In regards to IS, Hagel said, "We have taken the fight to ISIL and, with our Iraqi and coalition partners, (and) have blunted the momentum of this barbaric enemy."

The statement also says that Hagel did not decide to retire "lightly," and that he discussed the matter in depth with President Obama.

The New York Times reports that discussions about Hagel's resignation began about two weeks ago.

The Times says two possible frontrunners in the search for a new Secretary of Defense are Michele Flournoy, and Ashton Carter. Both individuals have previously served in the Defense Department.

Criticism of Hagel began to grow after the US did not anticipate Russian interference in Ukraine, or the summer offensive by the Islamic State that saw Iraq essentially cut  in half.