Obama the Military Leader Should Be Wary as Army Confidently Marches Off
By John Aloysius Farrell, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
I appreciated Barack Obama's reply to the question at last night's press conference about the "enchanting" aspects of his job.
I am the son of a U.S. Army major, but like many of those who came of age in the Vietnam era, I tended to blame the ideologically blinded, aging generals (and their civilian bosses) for the U.S. blunder in southeast Asia, which cost too many Americans and Vietnamese their lives. I was suitably wary when my work as a newspaper correspondent first took me into the field with the Army in the 1990s.
Like Obama, I was—well, enchanted is the wrong word—but certainly dazzled by the caliber of the young men and women in uniform I encountered: smart, brave, funny, spirited patriots all. One aches with pride to meet such kids. And that impression was reinforced when I spent a little time with them in Iraq.
Indeed, the toughest chore for a commander-in-chief who has not served in the military must be saying "No" when these gung-ho characters insist that, no matter what the mission, they will prevail. It's good that Obama has surrounded himself with former admirals and generals who, having spent a lifetime in the military, understand its limits as well as its strengths. Otherwise he might be too dazzled.
Even the greatest strategists, like Gen. Robert Lee at Gettysburg, can make that error. In July 1863, Lee could not believe that his Virginians under Gen. George Pickett would not carry the day with their dashing charge. They had done it many times before. He failed to recognize that there were equally splendid boys from Pennsylvania dug in on Cemetery Ridge, who would fight with courage, and tactical advantage, to defend their native soil.
A good thing to keep in mind, as the Army ships out for Asia once more.
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Reader Comments
You and your political correctness.....
Unlike some of you Americans, (notice I capitalized Americans?Is it ok if I do that these days?)I will never appologize for being an American.I will never appologize for deploying to another country which serves the interests of the U.S., its allies, and the host nation.I will never appologize to OUR ENEMIES for Kickin' their a!@#$ for threatening our way of life!
Its obviously in your nature to think that peace comes through appeasement and bribes.Not with my God, life, wife, family,or money you'll do it with!!
I have never,and will never shake hands and try to be friends with ANYONE who ever took a shot at me, or blew me up in a road side bomb.
I have served in the Armed Forces for 4 presidents.Nobody bribed me or tricked me into serving.I dont want your pity,or to be your political ammunition.I Obeyed each order reguardless of my personal beliefs.I took an oath to this country.Win, Lose, or Draw, I'll finish the game.My brothers in arms and I uphold ourselves to a higher standard.What oath did any of you take?Save the whales?Go Green Peace?The DNC? AL JAZEERA maybe?My free advice to you: take your political correctness and keep cowering behind the wall of freedom protesting.I'll be on the other side fighting for you.For your right to FREE SPEACH, your welcome.For your right to ASSEMBLE, your welcome.For your right to KEEP AND BEAR ARMS,your welcome.For your right to BURN THE AMERICAN FLAG,your welcome.(Which by the way my brothers in arms and I are brought home under), your welcome.And I dont appologize for any of it!!Maybe some of you can learn to spit straight.Ask the French for lessons. Riddle me this,if this country is so bad, how many boat-loads of Americans wash up on the shores and storm the boarders of other countries? Anxiously awaiting your statistics.
all star game
this is off your subject but...
Maybe Obama should have thrown up his hand in support of our troops that was at the all star game. My nephew was there because he was asked to unfold the flag on the field. He is a soldier in the US Army. As President Obama walked past them (and BTW He and his company has just returned from an 18 month tour of duty in Iraq) Obama did not even acknowledge that they were there. What a slap in the face from your Boss! He is a JOKE as commander-n-chief. Maybe no one explained to the 2 year senator that this was in the job discription. Its a crime and a shame and I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the soldiers as they were standing there anticipating his entrance and then to be completely ignored by him!!! It’s just wrong.
Grateful?
You can assure people that he wants to use them on battle fields as little as possible?
How is that possible? You are personal friends with the president? You two went to school together and go way back?
I doubt it.
No, you're probably another google eyed Obamite sucking up every little thing the guy does.
But hey, why let the reality that he is not leaving Iraq and is going to send tens of thousands more to Afghanistan get in the way of what you know, huh? Either W was right (which I personally doubt) or BO is afraid to have hundreds of thousands of basically conservative combat trained Americans returning to the US.
Sorry, but judged by actions in the region and not poetics or the pronouncements of starry eyed admirers this guy is Bush jr. plain and simple.
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