Appeared on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" Sunday, Hagel took exception to Karl Rover's recent assertion that: "Republicans have a post-9/11 view of the world. And Democrats have a pre-9/11 view of the world."

"Well, I didn't like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it's the renewal of the Patriot Act or the NSA wiretapping, in a political context," said Hagel.

He also followed up on his contention that "dark clouds" are hanging over the Republican Party.

"If you look at the environment and the atmospherics politically in this town, read any poll," he said, "the sixth year of a governing party usually ... is not good ... the country is tired, a lot of complications in these international issues, we're at war."