Filed under: Election 2012, Military, News the Media Doesn't Want You to Hear, Terrorism, The United States | Tags: Bagram AFB Afghanistan, President Barack Obama, Shoring Up Hawkish Credentials?
The news is full of discussion about the”anniversary” of the Osama bin Laden killing. President Obama is getting very bad advice, and it makes him appear completely classless. When the raid on bin Laden’s hideout comfortable residence in Pakistan was announced, the mainstream media said in unison “gutsy call”. I don’t know who comes up with the talking points, undoubtedly the Center for American Progress, the Soros-funded policy generator; but when the mainstream media all says the same thing in the same words at the same time— it’s fairly obvious that they are just pre-determined talking points.
In the first place, it was not a “gutsy call.” It is the kind of decision that presidents are expected to make. That’s his primary job— commander in chief.. Bill Clinton, who avoided two chances to get Bin Laden, was excoriated for not making the decision to get him. And it was Bill Clinton who narrated the unfortunate campaign video celebrating Obama’s “gutsy call” to kill bin Laden. Any president would have made the call.
Celebrating the anniversary of a killing is tacky. If anyone brings it up, it should be the media, but all this hoo-haw is classless. The president’s decision was the smallest part of the operation. A lot of people put their lives at risk to make it happen — and they deserve our gratitude.
The trip to Afghanistan and the campaign speech from Afghanistan are just another campaign event, trying to emphasize that Obama once made a “gutsy call.” Sad. It really was a dreadful speech. He needs new speechwriters.
Obama wanted out of Afghanistan, which he believes his supporters demand. The generals and Ambassador Ryan Crocker have said that victory is within reach and the withdrawal is ill-advised.
George W. Bush saw victory in Iraq, and Obama threw that away. Now he is throwing away our efforts in Afghanistan, as a result of dreadful diplomacy. The Afghans are poorly prepared to take over, and any idea that “the Taliban have expressed interest in reconciliation” is laughable. Or if they have “expressed interest” reconciliation is not on the menu. Obama has regularly announced our intentions, what we are doing and when we will do it — not exactly how you run a military campaign.
This is an effort to shore up Obama’s hawkish credentials. There was no news in the speech. He’s trying to claim credit for winning a war that is not won. He’s bringing the troops home in about 2 ½ years. There is no news, and no real reason for the speech, and no reason for his appearance in Afghanistan.
John Podhoretz noticed that Obama was celebrating winning the war against al Qaeda, but our troops in Afghanistan have been fighting a war against the Taliban. Bad day for Obama, bad speech, bad trip.
