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Monday, August 17, 2009
President Obama's speech to the VFW
Sandy Levinson
I had intended to make my "return posting" about my summer vacation in the Great American West, which was fascinating, beautiful, and thought-provoking all at once. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, is a truly great museum, worth at least two Michelen stars (i.e., one should make a significant detour to visit it). But, alas, I am provoked instead to offer some quick comments on President Obama's speech today to the VFW, which I confess, on first reading I find appalling in several ways:
Comments:
The flip side of this is that if Obama, a man “without a day’s military experience,” is going to ask American servicemen to sacrifice their lives in two neoconservative wars with dubious connection to the national interest, the least he can do is say really nice things about them. It wouldn’t do to let on that he is our most precious national resource and that they are more like those renewable resources he likes to go on about.
Thanks for enabling comments, by the way.
I had two (2) years military experience as a draftee post-Korea, pre-Vietnam, after completing law school and passing the bar. I observed the treatment of officers and non-coms who had served in WW II and Korea who because of their years of service, sought to make the military a career, perhaps to retire with 20 years of service at a relatively young age, and then move on with civilian careers. It was a long way from Vietnam at the time and the federal budget needed trimming. The result was that many of these officers and non-coms were "forced" out of the military before accruing sufficient retirement benefits. So, yes, our servicemen are indeed a valuable resource - until we don't need them any more.
Sandy, welcome back. Hopefully comments will be civil.
Sandy:
I am provoked instead to offer some quick comments on President Obama's speech today to the VFW, which I confess, on first reading I find appalling in several ways: 1) The speech buys into what might be called the "sentimental militarization" of our society. Thus his statement "....as we protect America, our men and women in uniform must always be treated as what they are: America's most precious resource" (emphasis added). Not to worry, Sandy. Obama is simply sucking up to the military to keep the conservative Dem and Indi part of his electoral majority happy. If he genuinely thought this highly of the military, he would not have been calling for their surrender in the middle of the Surge. 2) But this would be relatively small beer if it were the only problem with his speech. Instead, consider the fact that he defends our venture in Afghanistan as a "war of necessity." Obama must do this or otherwise reveal his campaign pose as a tough wartime CiC who was only against stupid wars to be the lie it was. If it is any encouragement to you, Obama is declining to engage al Qaeda in its new sanctuary in Somalia. He does this by arguing without, frankly, a shred of evidence, that the Taliban are allied with Al Qaeda in a war against America. This is pretty much settled. Both al Qaeda and the Taliban proudly proclaim they are allied. al Qeada's Phantom Army - a brigade size force- is fighting along side the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Apart from whether he really believes it, is Obama even "President" if he is not a natural-born citizen?
arguing without, frankly, a shred of evidence, that the Taliban are allied with Al Qaeda in a war against America
That's sad. Of course he knows better. Knowingly telling untruths is not the change I voted for. We already had that; no change needed. Disappointing. Likewise it's disappointing that Obama has become an active and willing accomplice in the coverup of torture, to use Dan Froomkin's words. No change there either. And it's disappointing that Obama has caved on the public option for health care coverage. Chances are that'll lead to little change from the present system. It's not that I'm so confused that I think McCain would have been better. But I reserve the right to be disappointed when President Obama doesn't keep candidate Obama's promises.
Will someone please help me with statistics?
Is there an estimate of the number of al Queda menbers there are in the world? In Saudi Arabia?
Farris W asks:
" Will someone please help me with statistics? Is there an estimate of the number of al Queda menbers there are in the world? In Saudi Arabia?" If the late Sen. Joe McCarthy were alive, he might tell us how many are in the State Department. But a good (reasoned) estimate to answer Farris might suggest that the number of al Queda members is small. But why provide such an estimate? It might make us less scared and reduce funding for AfPak and the military-industrial complex. Each night before we go to bed here in the US, we should look under our beds to make sure no al Queda are there.
Does this not go to a further point that Why does the United States have about 850 military bases around the world?
Any medical care money there?
I too was appalled with Obama's "war of necessity" remark. That is an absurd notion on any front, by any standard; and any informed person knows it.
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