Thursday, December 10, 2009
“I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have stopped Hitler’s armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida leaders to lay down their arms.”
The speaker?
Former President George Bush, right?
Wrong.
It was President Barack Obama as he spoke to the Nobel Prize committee in Oslo Thursday when he accepted the group’s peace prize.
The always fluent Obama spent considerable time during his peace prize speech to justify the right of a nation to pursue a “just war.” There was no equivocating, no innuendoes and no excuses for America’s military buildup in Afghanistan, which was made only nine days before the speech.
It’s a different tale than the one Obama spun during his campaign for the presidency, and possibly a realization that electioneering is far easier to sell than when deciding on the defense of a nation. We can all hope so anyway. Either it was a tacit admission that governing is vastly different, and more difficult, from electioneering, or he was just saying the words without really meaning them.
Obama also said he would wage wars at a higher standard, eschewing the “mistakes” made by his predecessor, touting also that the nation has led the world in a search for lasting peace.
Another excerpt from the Oslo speech:
“Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans.”
Whether Obama has the political will to pursue these ideals is another thing. He already has suffered significant drop-off in popularity since his decision last week to increase our military presence in Afghanistan. Anti-war Democrats are leaving the Hope and Change President in droves.
So, we’ll see how the Peace Prize speech compares to the President’s actions in the coming weeks and months. Will it signal that Obama is turning into a hawk on the war? Hardly. But it had to be dismaying for those in attendance to hear a defense of U.S. actions in times of war -- while accepting a peace prize.
But then again, it’s more likely just rhetoric, part of a “nice” speech and tells no larger story at all.
Comments
ronpaper (anonymous) says...
Obama promised everything he could to get elected. Now, faced with the realities of presidential Office, he has been forced to realize that he has such responsibilities and that he has made promises the reality ofthe world situation will not allow him to keep.
Instead of the steak, he sold the sizzle and now that he's in office, he has to be a president. He cannot say things that a re nice to hear when the world is not a nice place.
It would seem he knows he must place presidential responsibility over campaign promises
December 10, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sarah (anonymous) says...
"It would seem he knows he must place presidential responsibility over campaign promises"
And that's a good thing.
December 11, 2009 at 6:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RiceCampbell (anonymous) says...
Blame the other guy. It worked as a child.
December 11, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palin4prez (anonymous) says...
Blame the other game once. Then you need to own it.
December 11, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
golfmann (anonymous) says...
I can't believe anything the man says...
Everything is crafted for convenience and to get to the next party.
December 11, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nick (anonymous) says...
golfmann: A list of those politicians you feel you can trust would be helpful at this time.
December 11, 2009 at 6 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ram (anonymous) says...
December 14, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mousekavich (anonymous) says...
A list of politicians that keep their campaign promises would be good too. Oh wait, that's an oxymoron.
They won't do anything unless we make them do it. So call, write...do whatever you have the time/energy for. This democracy will not run itself - we have to push it along.
December 15, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drmasker (anonymous) says...
Has anything not corrupt ever come out of Cook County?
December 17, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Towncar07 (anonymous) says...
Great point drmasker...You know that guns are forbidden in Cook County, and yet there are at least 50 shootings a week reported...Outlaw guns...you know the rest. There is a huge difference in the politics of northern IL v southern IL...and I am off the subject slightly, but look at the Cabal of Corruption of Obama's entire staff and you see a reflection of COOK county. THANKEW !
December 18, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )