‘But unless the commitment is there and the president stands fully behind it, his words alone will not be enough.’
Ron, where has this guy EVER lived up to this observation? Maybe in his pursuit of the presidency?
I enjoy reading you very much but this article is just a tad bit annoying. I listened @ prime time and was really eager to feel as evidently you did. But a problem developed after listening to Krathhammer and Stephen Hays – after which I listened again to the speech a couple of hours later. Fox was smart to give me the oppertunity to do so without surfing to do it.
At first I too wanted to see Obama give a presidential response. I wanted to leave dissent at the waters edge – and agree that all his deliberations were just that – deep thought given to finding the best answer for a difficult war we must win.
I didn’t want to be tempted to react like liberals did when they savaged Bush when Iraq became a disaster. So for certainly the first time in my life I wanted Obama to be righteous & dynamic & most of all show wise leadership.
And you know what? On the first time I was somewhat calm and ok with it. But after listening, as mentioned, to a few keen minds pick at it, I wasn’t so ok with it.
Then I listened again – and utimately I was peeved. Because I didn’t let the ceremony – where he was giving it – the fact he actaully LOOKED AT THE AUDIENCE FOR ONCE – all of the trimmings – I ignored that.
And then I found Stephen Hays in particular was right. It was a muddled and crappy speech – given the dramatic context – and the importance of the decision. In gods name how is it either appropriate guidence or inspiring leadership to mention Dover and Walter Reed to West Point cadets looking to their commandeer in chief for both – when about to lay their lives on the line for us?
And thats just one of a dozen Ron! To drudge up Gitmo yet again? And then veer off into yet another campagin speech about employment?
Are you kidding me? I had a half dozen serious cringe moments on the second viewing.
As I recall there was a very muted two times that his speaking was interrupted by spontaneous applause.
Yes you can attribute that to gravitas of the situation. But I found it spooky watching such a weak performance by a weak leader – and on second look that was what I also saw mirrored moreso in those cadets. I didn’t see inspiration or awe in those young people – but a more cautionary concern. Maybe it was gravitas – but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was the lonely feeling of devoted young men and women who know now that they head to defend us serving a president who doesn’t get it and isn’t up to it.
Not a good place to start.
I don’t believe they are either afraid nor underestimate the adversaries they may face. Like all before them they are gonna serve this president. But I can’t believe last night helped any.
Because the message I got was fiddle faddle half part this and half part that but is best summed up in a very shaky version of:
‘I don’t like war, and I really hate this one. I don’t really want to send you, but you know what, I gotta. No choice. So heres what I want you all to do. Make sure Pakistan doesn’t fall to a coup – what with their nukes and all – and build up as much roads and sewage and semblance of 20th century like infrastructure as you can in a year or so in Afganistan without getting yourself killed. Then I’ll do my best to get us all the hell out of there.’
And I do believe my view is much kinder than what some folks on the left had to say about Bush once Cheney’s famous qip about the insurgents was both premature and dead wrong.
By the way, just as a post-script. Our president claimed an impressive coilition. I don’t really agree with that either – since we are carring like 99% of the cost in blood and tresure.
How about this for a constructive suggestion. He and the state dept could act presidential in Trumans mode – and actually put together a profitable solution to how the Taliban funds itself – just by getting NATO allies alone to commit to 1% of their farm imports to subsidize replacing Opium production in Afganistan.
Ron that could be done – just like Truman did – using our farmers prodigious crop produtionc as a blunt instrument to fight Soviet agression – and EVERYONE – not just as American Farmers did under Truman – could profit.
Why not?
