January 28, 2010
Obama Avoids the "V" Work in Iraq
I don't have too much to say about the State of the Union Address, except for one question: has there ever been a military victory that has been so diminished in our nation's history?
As we take the fight to al Qaeda, we are responsibly leaving Iraq to its people. As a candidate, I promised that I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as President. We will have all of our combat troops out of Iraq by the end of this August. We will support the Iraqi government -- we will support the Iraqi government as they hold elections, and we will continue to partner with the Iraqi people to promote regional peace and prosperity. But make no mistake: This war is ending, and all of our troops are coming home.That's all that victory in Iraq warrants in President Obama's SOTU. Well, like most Americans, I'm glad it's ending. But why is it ending? Could we call it a "victory"? Is that too much to ask? I know the President is familiar with the term--he used the word elsewhere in his speech (albeit, only twice).
But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt.Apparently, victory is something that used to happen or that can happen in politics. Just not when it comes to Iraq. Yes, the President expressed our thanks to the troops:I didn't choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt.
Tonight, all of our men and women in uniform -- in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and around the world -- they have to know that we -- that they have our respect, our gratitude, our full support. And just as they must have the resources they need in war, we all have a responsibility to support them when they come home.But how about commending them for victory? Despite the stumbles and bumbles, which then-candidate Obama used to his political advantage during his Presidential campaign, our soldiers and sailors and marines and airmen saw it through to victory. They'd appreciate hearing that from their President, I'm sure. But I fear our President is wary of pronouncing a victory in Iraq because that could imply that he was wrong. And we can't have that, can we?
Because he knows it won't be a victory. We all know that al Qaeda is going to lay low for the next 6 months and guess what happens on September 1? Wow, the US embassy in Iraq blew up. Wow, the Iraqi Capitol building blew up. Wow, all those free women and men and now being rounded up and killed.
That's what "victory" looks like?
I hope I'm wrong on all that and everything will be as rosy as the President indicates.
Hearing that tepid graph in the speech, it was clear to me that he only said anything at all because it was required. His loathing of our military shone through.
One more despicable aspect of this unAmerican President.
Posted by: BobN at January 28, 2010 10:58 AMBobn what a stupid comment
"His loathing of our military"
When Pro-War, Draft-Dodging, Chicken-Hawk, Cowards, like Carcieri, Cheney, Bush, DeLay, DeMint, Gingrich, Thompson, Guiliani, Romney, Armey, Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Roberts have no problem sending our troops to fight and die in a completely unnecessary war
Posted by: Steve at January 28, 2010 11:25 AMObama simply doesn't believe that war is what a government does when diplomacy fails. He will try to negotiate with our enemies - NK, Iran, and our adversaries - Putin, Castros, Chavez etc for the rest of his presidency. He will continue to be an international failure. Even at the UN, Amb Rice has yet to confront a single country or representative. She is never in New York, I read yesterday.
So Steve, do you loath the military, as much as you seem to, as well?
Posted by: BobN at January 28, 2010 1:30 PMOne more despicable aspect of this unAmerican President. BobN
Why do you write that this President is unAmerican?
Phil, I have written extensively here on exactly that point and will not repeat it in this thread.
Posted by: BobN at January 28, 2010 5:54 PM
One more despicable aspect of this unAmerican President. BobN
Why do you write that this President is unAmerican?
Posted by Phil at January 28, 2010 4:48 PM
Phil, I have written extensively here on exactly that point and will not repeat it in this thread.
Posted by BobN at January 28, 2010 5:54 PM
Does anyone but me have a problem with this response? Is this the response of a coward?
Posted by: Phil at January 28, 2010 10:13 PMBobN
Come out and answer a simple question about what you wrote.
Tea Party members
Will any speak out about the label of unAmerican BobN has used to describe this President and his refusal to explain? Is he a member of your group? What kind of group are you anyway? Is this the kind of comment that Sen. Whitehouse referred to in his speech a couple of weeks ago?
Posted by: Phil at January 29, 2010 8:41 AMThe Tea Party members, most of whom support the wars from a distance and refuse to go near the front lines, demonstrate their cowardice by letting Bob N speak for them so that they may disavow themselves from his hate spewn rhetoric, and at the same time silently applaud his vitriol.
OldTimeLefty
That was a nice bit of hate-spewn rhetoric. I'm impressed.
Posted by: BobN at January 30, 2010 7:50 PMOTL/Phil:I think this President sees himself as more a "citizen of the world"than as a specifically American national leader.
This may stem from his rather unusual upbringing by a mother who was a perpetual student,and somewhat of a "bohemian" counter culturist in her day.He ws also living in Indonesia during a critical period of his childhood and the influences on him were quite different than those which shaped the outlook of any other American president.
Obama seems almost embarrassed by the US and constantly apologizes for its "trangressions".That is something no national leader should do,particularly the leader of a free country with the rule of law(more or less)in effect.
Obama appears to give too much deference to internationalism,which negatively impacts our sovreignty.
As far as the wars go,I'm not sure what he can do that will make things any easier.Afghanistan is massive problem that isn't going away.He did inherit it,but no one forced him to take on the job.
I think most of us have had relatives who it is uncomfortable to be around in public because they act out or something.Obama appears to view the country he leads that way.
When he was campaigning,many people swooned over him,but many others like myself,found him to be downright creepy.
That impression has been reinforced for me.
He seems to be all about himself and his stature in the world.It is evident in his never ending series of speeches and interviews.
Lastly,he has a number of people around him(not all by any means)who take a dim view of their own country.
He seems sort of a stranger in his own land.