Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Military Response to Commander in Chief - A Tale of Two Presidents

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Winston Churchill said, "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile in the futile hope that it will eat him last."

Evangelical abolitionist William Wilberforce: "Appeasement is nothing more than surrender on the installment plan."

Christian Writer C.S. Lewis: "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive."


A liberal commenter asked me about the attitude of the cadets at Obama's speech, saying: "I'd imagine you were rather chagrined to see the response from the young soldiers who will likely be actually going to war and risking their lives. They seemed to be very enthused to have the CIC speak to them."

Assuming he was being honest (that was my first mistake) I responded: "Of course a bunch of military members were excited to see him - regardless of if you agree with the president, to have the CIC speak at your academy is an honor. . . "

Then I saw the video of Obama's speech, and watched as the applause was slow to gain footing, the cadets looked like Obama was putting them to sleep, and it wasn't until he spoke of freedom that they came to life at all.

"Perhaps my eye is too subjective," I told myself, considering my disdain for all of Obama's Marxist policies, so I searched for other opinions regarding Obama's speech, and the reaction of the cadets.

Tooling around the Internet, I discovered that even Leftists were shocked by the tepid reception that President Obama got from the West Point Cadets. One column noted:
"One can hardly blame the West Point leadership. The academy commanders did their best to ensure that Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama's speech would be well-received. Before the speech the cadets were asked to respond "enthusiastically" to the speech but the reception by the cadets was cool."

Associated Content indicated the speech was "sleep-inducing," based on the heavy eyelids in the crowd.

On television, the reaction seemed to be the same: "The speech was a dud, and the cadets were less than enthused."

Consternation is rising even more so over the content of his speech. Barry Obama is asking to increase the troop level by 30,000 troops (McChrystal asked for 80,000, and indicated 40,000 at the very least), which isn't sitting well with leftists because they want the president to start bringing troops home.

I remember when Obama said regarding the Iraq surge that the surge would never work, and then when it succeeded he never admitted it worked. Now, he is conducting a surge of his own in Afghanistan - and then saying they will be gone in 18 months. . .

So he is adding troops so he can plan to take them away?

I can see the Taliban now going house to house saying, "We are watching you. You support the Americans and in 18 months when they leave we will remember your treason!"

Not very smart, Mr. President. Departure is guided by the level of success of the campaign, not by picking some arbitrary number.

Then along comes one of the most vile libtards on television, Chris Matthews, calling West Point the "enemy camp." Yes, he apologized later, but his true feelings popped out the first time, and I don't think he expected such a backlash for being truthful about how he feels.

Liberals, like Matthews, hate the military. If it was up to Obama, the military would be dismantled. He agreed to add 30,000 troops hoping to appease those in support of the military effort, but kept the number low hoping to appease those who aren't fond of our troops being in the region.

Both Ways Barack strikes again.

What is really interesting is, as I said earlier, the response by the cadets to Obama was quite tepid. And this seems to be the normal reaction of the military around Barry. However, when a real Commander in Chief spoke to the troops, specifically George W. Bush, the military responded with exuberance, and cheers.

I think the military knows that Obama doesn't like the military.



-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Chris Matthews calls West Point the "Enemy Camp" - You Tube

About the West Point speech - is the Obama magic gone? - Cave News

Obama's Afghan Plan Fails to Satisfy Left or Right - Fox News

Obama's Afghanistan Speech at West Point is Sleep-Inducing - Associated Content

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