Speaking today to the American Legion, President Barack Obama praised what he dubbed the “9/11 generation,” insisting that they had provided an “extraordinary decade of service” in fighting several wars.
Included in those wars mentioned were toppling the Taliban in a matter of weeks, and “racing across the deserts and removing” Saddam Hussein in “less than a month.” He insisted the troops had also “learned the cultures and traditions” of the nations they attacked.
While praising the greatness of the US military and its various wars, President Obama declared that “delivering justice to Osama bin Laden” was one of the “greatest military operations in American history.”
Crashing a helicopter on the front lawn and shooting an unarmed man in his home after years of failed searching may not have the same legend-making ability as, say, the Battle of Yorktown, but it fits into the president’s overall narrative, which is that wars in general are a great unifier and outlet for “service” to the nation, and that the best way to “celebrate” the decade of brutal conflicts that has nearly bankrupted the country is to unite behind him.
It's ok. As long as he doesn't put on cowboy boots and talk with a southern accent and do all tha tmacho swagger he's still a great man of peace, worthy even of some kind of prize.
It's amazing how people judge almost totally by style rather than substance.
But look at the past – those are the types of people that get elected!! There hasn't been a President of substance easily since before the age of the TV – and definitely since that age of the 24 news cycle. We've become enamored of the 15-second sound bite upon which we base our decisions of whom to vote for. It's no wonder we get the shallow suits we do. Look at the wonderful choices we have this cycle. It's sickening – and scary because one of these choices could be the next President.
I know, it's stunning. Rick Perry??? Mitt Romney??? Two guys handpicked because one appeals to people who like tough tlaking swagger and the other appeals to effete Ivy league unemotional reasonableness. Both just empty sock puppets who's administrations would be identical to Obama or Hilary or McCain or Bush.
As a Vietnam veteran, I have no idea how ANYONE in the American Legion could keep their lunch down while listening to Obama. He, as well as the last half dozen presidents, should be tried for war crimes and treason.
That's an easy one…when they bought their first American Legion membership card, they also bought into the notion that whatever the "leaders" of the American Legion say is how they should feel. After I left the service in 1981, I briefly joined – you know, cheap liquor at the bar and organized softball – and quickly found out that contrary points of view are seriously frowned upon, especially by old salts who've been at the bar for the past 5 hours. And after an attempt to get him to explain his position failed, I realized that they're all the same. They continue in the military "tradition" of never questioning authority and a majority of them are staunchly republican – which continues to amaze me as the republicans in congress and the white house generally shit upon the military by cutting benefits and cutting funding for VA programs while spouting pro-military pablum when standing at the microphone. They are so afraid of being different. THAT's why they sat there and applauded their CIC – though most of them probably didn't vote for him and never will.
Exactly! I live in San Antonio(big military retirement town) Went to the VFW(one of the oldest around). It's sad to see so many disillusioned old farts there getting blasted. For them to really get their minds around the truth would fry their minds. Many now are dependant on SS or military retirement. They don't want the truth… just their retirement benies. They can't comprehend what we are doing is criminal. It would make all of us war criminals that participate in illegal wars for empire. That's the biggest hurdle to overcome.
The more our 'commander-in-clueless' opens his yip, the more utterly reprehensible he proves himself to be. You know, G. Bush was simply 'all hat no cattle'. The "Obama" is allegedly 'intellectually superior' and he has yet to prove that point.
Yep. Just another red team/blue team empty suit.
he and I differ GREATLY on the measures of success – but I guess killing, displacing and injuring millions, spoiling the environment., destroying America's prestige and credit (begun by GWB, then I guess heckuva job, Brownie
and you didn't deliver "justice" to Osama, you delivered vengeance. Being a smart Harvard guy, you should know this.
What comment can be made on regular lies except to pray God to punish america or give courage to face the truth and truth is Muslims have nothing to do with 9/11 which impossible as the security is too high.
There should be some interest to act so foolishfully and our interest is to live in peace with all the nations. Leave us alone and leave our region and that will happen today or tomorrow with bloodshed or peacefully.
You can not turn the history.
Traveling to poor foreign lands and killing entire families of dark-skinned folk is educational! Who knew?
the biggest success so far is finding a black guy to be 'elected' President so no one can cry racism when he goes and bombs / meddles / re-colonizes the African continent and escalates other unpopular Bush wars against other ornery brown folks.
His warmongering is more palatable than Bush's, since he says he is saving people, who are unable or unwilling to save themselves.
There are still many Obamacons out there who will go down with the ship and are no different than the neocons; however I am not one of them.
The first Afro-American president is a big disappointment – much like the first Afro-American mayor of NYC – except much more arrogant and destructive.
Can somebody PLEASE read the childrens story of THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES to Mr.Obama ?
He desperately needs a reality check
60% to 70% of the American people oppose these wars and want the troops home.
In the last election, they willingly voted for and worked for the candidate that said he was going to increase 'defense spending', keep the Iraq war going, and who called the Afghan War the "right war".
Why, I have no freakin clue. Other than a very good propaganda campaign that created the obviously false impression that Obama was anti-war, apparently all based on some comments opposing the Iraq war in 2003 when he was a state senator.
The truly bizarre part is that after four years of every rising 'defense' budgets and more and more and more and more and more and more wars from this guy, it looks like the same people who oppose the war are going to vote for this guy again. Really?
If you oppose these wars, you can't vote for Obama. And other than Ron Paul, you probably can't vote Republican either. So, better start thinking now about who is the real anti-war candidate you want to support. Or, since things look so bleak on that front, maybe thinking about help starting a decent anti-war campaign that the 60% of the American people who oppose these wars can support.
I think that I shall never see
a drone missile that learned the culture and tradition
of boys and girls it blew to pieces
But stop I must 'fore they bag me for sedition….
Like having 'Son of Sam' at your backyard party a summer evening after he has shot your brother and his girlfriend. I still say 'lobotomy in Connecticut in 1979' would explain ALOT. Sounds goofy until you research the symptoms of a frontal lobotomy, maybe with a bit of parietal occipital thrown in.