Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Defending America Takes More Than “Hope”
Heritage Foundation ^ | 8/30/2012 | Amy Payne

Posted on 08/30/2012 7:34:27 AM PDT by IbJensen

Speaking to veterans at the American Legion conference this week, President Obama said, “Today, every American can be proud that the United States is safer, stronger and more respected in the world.”

That’s quite a statement from a President who has granted legitimacy to extremist organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood and promised the Russians he would be “flexible” toward their demands on missile defense, while slighting American allies like Poland and the Czech Republic.

Heritage defense experts call Obama’s defense strategy “a strategy of hope“: “a hope that big wars are a thing of the past; a hope that America’s allies will do more; and a hope that fewer resources do not jeopardize the lives of American soldiers.”

These are flimsy hopes in the face of hostile nations and terrorist groups that want nothing more than the destruction of America.

If we do not reverse course—strengthening our military instead of gutting it, providing true security for our allies, and getting real about the groups that want us dead—the cost will be American lives.

The Administration has made a lot of noise about “pivoting” America’s security focus toward Asia. It is a vital region, but Obama’s policies of cutting the size of the military are the opposite of what we need to secure the country’s interests around the world. Heritage’s Bruce Klingner and Dean Cheng explain:

A smaller Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps means a reduced U.S. presence overseas and, due to an even higher operational tempo, a greater strain on existing forces and equipment. Underfunding defense requirements could restrict potential U.S. policy options and increase the danger to U.S. forces during any future Asian engagements. And, ultimately, the price of such underfunding will be mission failure or American servicemen’s lives.

Though Asia is important, the American homeland is still a target for terrorists, and terrorists are still training in the Middle East. Heritage’s James Carafano has warned that “President Obama’s determination to pull out from Afghanistan means the U.S. will leave the field with the enemy still standing.” While al-Qaeda affiliates in Iraq are continuing violence daily, Carafano says that in Afghanistan, “after the American withdrawal, the Taliban may well sweep back and re-establish control of parts of Afghanistan. Al Qaeda could well follow, even as it continues to build up bases of operations elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.”

As it stands now, America faces these threats with a military that is being hollowed out. Terrorists continue to try attacking us here at home. Our leaders must make defending America a priority and commit the resources to meet its challenges both at home and abroad.

As Carafano put it, “A belligerently aggressive Iran…an anti-democratic Russia…an expansive China…a wet-behind-the-ears ‘Dear Leader’ in North Korea…enduring threats from narco-terrorists and Islamist terrorists…there is every sign that, when Obama’s four years are up, the world will be a potentially far more dangerous place than it was when he first took office.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: evilobamaregime; liar; nonamerican; phony
Hopeless, worthless, Muslim, African phony president!
1 posted on 08/30/2012 7:34:29 AM PDT by IbJensen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

Morning in America - Ronald Reagan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY&NR=11984

MOURNING In America thanks to Barry Obama, Pelosi, and Dingy Harry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YXqf_6ug54


2 posted on 08/30/2012 7:36:31 AM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
But, but, but I thought 'hope and feelings' were all that mattered? If a liberal 'feels' good about unemployment - isn't that the same - or almost the same - as getting people jobs?

Hope and feelings work the same with Arab Spring/Muslim Brotherhood takeovers too. If a liberal 'feels' happy about it, it's good. Right? Isn't that how it works in liberal land?

The New York Times buys this bull...

3 posted on 08/30/2012 7:49:47 AM PDT by GOPJ (Homeland Paranoid Insecurity: Making the country safe for liberal elites...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Of course defending america takes more than hope. It also requires change. Hope don’t wirk without change


4 posted on 08/30/2012 7:58:02 AM PDT by dsrtsage (One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

Everyone has hopes and dreams at one time or another, but to rely on “hope” as an excuse for doing nothing, is a fool’s folly

Obama convince a lot of robotic followers to rely on “hope”, and not to watch what he actually did/does. It’s the old “carrot before the horse” trick. “hope and WAIT” would been a more fitting slogan for Obama, as we’re still waiting for the (implied) “change for the better.

Like the Titanic waiting on a rescue vessel that came way too late, only a few will survive, metaphorically speaking.

Of course he wants us to look “FORWARD”, if we look backwards well see the mess his carroted horse has made of America. The truth is, only his followers either blinded, or guilt-tripped, by color, won’t look back.

Everything said and done, the Obama presidency has been four years of shuck-and-jive and straw men. His path if destruction makes Katrina and Isaac look like summer breezes...and he’s proud of it. To him, it’s “mission accomplished”.

Never has the quote from Abe Lincoln been so appropriate, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”. Hope I got that in the right order.

The curtain has been drawn back, the mask is off, and what we have exposed is not a “wizard”, but a smooth-talking con man, unqualified and undocumented.


5 posted on 08/30/2012 8:47:51 AM PDT by FrankR (They will become our ultimate masters the day we surrender the 2nd Amendment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson