America is a resilient country. We have met every challenge and overcome every obstacle in our illustrious history. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and the end of slavery, to the great depression and two world wars we have always triumphed. Heck, we even overcame four years of Jimmy Carter but I am beginning to have serious concerns about our ability to survive Barack Obama. Domestically, BHO has us hell bent on, in the words of Friedrich von Hayek, “The Road to Serfdom.” Bad enough. But while he and his czars are busy with health care, cap & trade and nationalizing American industry, the enemy is at the gates. As Commander-in-Chief, Obama’s number one job is ensuring the security of the United States. When attacked, a leader is charged with rallying the troops and citizenry for war. How has the dear leader done in this regard? To judge BHO it is helpful to look at past leaders to provide some historical context.
On May 13, 1940 Winston Churchill, having just replaced the appeaser, Neville Chamberlain, addressed the House of Commons for the first time as Britain’s new Prime Minister. World War II was in its early stages, Germany had already divvyed up Poland with the Russkies and the invasion of several European countries was under way. Following are some excerpts from his magnificent call to arms.
I say to the House as I said to the ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.
You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air. War with all our might and all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs-Victory in spite of all terrors-Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress and the American People the following day. He said, in part:
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
After the attacks of September 11, President Bush went before a joint session of Congress. His address included the following:
Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.
Americans are asking, “How will we fight and win this war?” We will direct every resource at our command-every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence and every necessary weapon of war-to the destruction and to the defeat of the global terror network.
And tonight a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message for our military: Be ready. I have called the armed forces to alert, and there is a reason.
The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make us proud.
I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.
The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.
Fellow citizens, we’ll meet violence with patient justice, assured of the rightness of our cause and confident of the victories to come.
In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America.
On May 13, 1940 Winston Churchill, having just replaced the appeaser, Neville Chamberlain, addressed the House of Commons for the first time as Britain’s new Prime Minister. World War II was in its early stages, Germany had already divvyed up Poland with the Russkies and the invasion of several European countries was under way. Following are some excerpts from his magnificent call to arms.
I say to the House as I said to the ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.
You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air. War with all our might and all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs-Victory in spite of all terrors-Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress and the American People the following day. He said, in part:
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
After the attacks of September 11, President Bush went before a joint session of Congress. His address included the following:
Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.
Americans are asking, “How will we fight and win this war?” We will direct every resource at our command-every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence and every necessary weapon of war-to the destruction and to the defeat of the global terror network.
And tonight a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message for our military: Be ready. I have called the armed forces to alert, and there is a reason.
The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make us proud.
I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.
The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.
Fellow citizens, we’ll meet violence with patient justice, assured of the rightness of our cause and confident of the victories to come.
In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America.
Great speeches and you will notice that they have a few things in common. None of these leaders blamed their predecessor though Churchill and Bush certainly had reason to. They all state a specific goal of victory and how it will be achieved, through the perseverance of the people and the courage and commitment of a great military. They were also relatively short. Bush’s could have been shorter but he seemed to feel a need to spend ten minutes thanking liberals for pretending to love America. At least he got around to the salient points eventually.
And now the dear leader. On December 1, Obama went to the United States Military Academy at West Point to deliver the speech outlining his plan for the “Overseas Contingency Operation” in Afghanistan. He used the cadets as a prop thinking that surrounding himself with credible and courageous men and women would somehow give him an air of credibility and courage. It didn’t work. Here are some excerpts from his speech with my comments in red.
I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan-the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy that my Administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion. You ask, what is our aim? Why, it is a successful conclusion! Go get ‘em boys! Please don’t forget to knock first and identify yourselves and make sure you read them their rights.
As we know [those that attacked us] belonged to al Qaeda-a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world’s great religions…” We are not a Christian nation and we are not at war with that wonderful religion of peace.
The wrenching debate over the Iraq War is well known and need not be repeated here. It is enough to say that for the next six years, the Iraq War drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention-and that the decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world. So you see, its Bush’s fault! Before we get all full of patriotic fervor in the defense of America, we must consider the feelings of France and other great nations.
When I took office, we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war. Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive. Did I mention that this is all Bush’s fault?
And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. We will never surrender! Well, at least not for the next 18 months. Sorry Mr. Soros and other fellow lefties but I had to do something! I’m getting the feeling that people are beginning to think I’m an incompetent jackass. It’s not like I’m committing to victory, only 18 months. OK?
As president, I refuse to set goals that go beyond our responsibility, our means, or our interests. …Over the past several years, we have lost that balance, and failed to appreciate the connection between our national security and our economy. …So we simply cannot afford to ignore the price of these wars. No more Army stuff until it goes on sale. Acorn needs money too! And then there is the cost of buying votes for my health care plan. Senators don’t come cheap, you know!
All told, by the time I took office the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan approached a trillion dollars. Did I mention this is all Bush’s fault? Besides, I spent more than that in my first 8 months! Ha Ha.
And we must make it clear to every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights, and tend to the light of freedom, and justice, and opportunity, and respect for the dignity of all peoples. Just ask those young people that protested the elections in Iran. Oops. Sorry about that.
In Obama’s recent appearance on “60 Minutes” Steve Kroft brought up his West Point speech. “There were no exhortations or promises of victory. Why? Why that tone.” Obama replied, “…And one of the mistakes that was made over the last eight years is for us to have a triumphant sense about war. …[Like] this is some glorious exercise. When in fact, this is tough business.”
Like he has any f’ing clue. A man that lacks the courage and conviction to defend freedom has no business being the leader of the United States of America and a man that can send our best and bravest off to war with no call for total victory is unfit for command.
