- Thu Jun 20, 2013 3:59 pm
#25791
Hagel stirs controversy, confusion with 'Taliban' joke about audience member. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's attempt at a joke turned controversial Wednesday when he asked a man who was a member of the audience and appeared to be from Middle East if he was part of the Taliban.
The off-hand remark might have slipped by unnoticed, except the remark was directed at an Indian professor who works at the university. Here's what happened: Hagel -- a Nebraska native -- took a series of questions from a audience following a benign speech on challenges facing the Pentagon. After answering a question on U.S. negotiations he pointed to the back of the room and said:
"OK, so who has a -- way up in the back there. You're not a member of the Taliban are you?"
The response from the audience member:
"No Mr. Secretary, I'm Robin Gandhi from India. I'm an assistant professor at UNO."
There was stunned silence from the audience at Hagel's insensitive and stupid question of the professor.
- By johnforbes