The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester (Mass.), Nov. 26:

On most any other day, the resignation of the Secretary of Defense would have commanded headlines and dominated the national conversation. But with the nation’s attention focused on Ferguson, Missouri, the departure of Chuck Hagel was just another news story.

That’s unfortunate, because Hagel’s resignation ”“ under pressure, and after months of obvious friction with President Obama ”“ points to just how confused U.S. foreign policy has become during the current administration.

Is the U.S. committed to supporting the independence of Iraq or not? Supporting the Kurds? Stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Ending the murderous regime in Syria? Stopping Russia’s subversion of Ukrainian sovereignty?

Set aside personal views and ask yourself: Is there a clear U.S. policy on any of those issues?

We have given up trying to read this president, whose foreign-policy pronouncements and actions can hardly be deciphered, never mind reconciled. Hagel may be gone, but this wasn’t about any failure on his part.