Posted on 10/08/2014 8:47:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has lobbed a series of damning accusations against his old boss, President Barack Obama.
In his new book, Panetta says that Benghazi was always an obvious terrorist attack. He says that Obama approaches the world like a law professor, meaning that he does not usually see reality if it does not comport with his preconceived notions. Panetta writes that Obama’s decisions on Syria and Iraq have paved the way for the rise of of the Islamic State. Panetta writes that Obama has given up on the job, rather than continue to try working with Republicans in Congress.
The merits of some of these charges, as well as Panetta’s timing in launching them, can be debated. Obama never showed any interest in working with Republicans in Congress, for instance. In his first meeting with the opposition party, then in the minority in both houses of Congress, Obama declared “I won” and shut off debate. He lurched farther left after his overreaches, including Obamacare, led to the Republicans taking over the House in 2010. It is also probable that some of Panetta’s charges, whether correct or not, are being lodged now in order to pave the way for his friend Hillary Clinton’s run for the White House. He has revised Clinton’s role in Syria and ISIS, for instance, in a way that makes her look better and Obama look worse.
All of that said, the seriousness of Panetta’s charges isn’t debatable. He writes, essentially, that Obama is unfit for the job of president for multiple reasons. That means nothing will change for the rest of Obama’s term. He might be dragged into fighting ISIS more vigorously, which Panetta supports, but only after the world’s richest terrorist group has accumulated more territory and troops, and only after it has killed even more innocent people and become even more dangerous than it already is. By the time Obama gets around to launching more than four airstrikes per day against ISIS, the group may have further destabilized the Middle East and could even have obtained weapons of mass destruction.
So Panetta’s charges are serious, and they come from a serious man who served in Congress and who led both the CIA and the Defense Department. A man who perhaps could have done more, sooner, to make the case that he is making now — but he is serious.
President Obama is not, and he sent spokesman Bill Burton out to CNN to deflect Panetta’s accusations. Not refute, just deflect.
With childish name-calling. Watch the video
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO ....
Burton, a long-time Obama loyalist, represents Obama perfectly here. He responds to serious charges by attacking the man who is levying them. He calls Panetta “sad” and “dishonorable” for going after Obama “at a time of a lot of instabilities around the world,” ignoring the fact that Obama and his poor judgement is at the root of most of those instabilities.
Burton brags that Obama “got bin Laden” — which everyone knows now he was very reluctant to do — and that he “got our troops out of Afghanistan.” Our troops are still in Afghanistan, and Obama’s decision to pull troops out of Iraq too soon has led to the rise of ISIS.
Burton finishes with one more insult: That Panetta’s criticism now is “small and petty.”
Those two words sum up the Obama administration perfectly. This is a president who came into office at a big moment in history, and he promised big hope and big things. Instead he has surrounded himself with yes-men like Burton and actively wants to wish the world away against just long enough to not lose the mid-terms.
“small and petty” which also perfectly describes obamas package according to Reggie Love.
We have An administration of children and juveniles.
Panetta is a Clinton shill and thug. All this worthless guy is doing is trying to make Hitlery’s chances of the White House better.
There’s nothing he could say or do that I’m interested in at all.
And yet this traitorous buffoon kept his mouth shut during the 2012 election when America was making an important national decision that could have avoided much pain, misery, and death.
So, now Panetta is going to profit handsomely by waiting and selling his books (mostly to Conservatives who are the only ones who read books) all while conveniently setting the stage for Hillary.
The Left essentially has no real political use for Obama any more so they are now free to knock the crap out of him. But while he remained politically useful, they all, like Panetta, fed at the Obama trough and kept their mouths shut -- the exact opposite of what a real patriot would have done.
Still feeling good about electing the kindergarten kids, America?
Saw Panetta on O’Reilly last night.
Even though he is somewhat partisan, he is very accomplished and straightforward guy. Tried not to give any outrageous sound bites to Bill, but also admitted two big things.
Obama can’t make big (or even medium) decisions.
Leon repeats the old line about how smart the guy is (you lie!) and understands the issues and wants what is best for the Country, but can’t pull the trigger.
Obama does not like politics.
Not the campaigning type and fundraising; loves those. Doesn’t like having to deal with other politicians to get anything done. Basically, ignores Congress and wonders why nothing is ever accomplished.
Came across as very earnest, sincere and trying not to trash the man, but found it impossible to deny the two major shortcomings above.
Panetta has crushed any remaining credibility Obama might have had with some. His charges are serious and credible.
This is politically devastating for Obama.
i totally agree with your assessment as I saw it as well.
This panetta guy was a go-along guy when he held positions in the Clown Car administration. His integrity is questionable since he was quiet then; however, his ability to politically maneuver apparently is intact. It is interesting what he says...but isn’t he a bit late on the uptake?
Uh oh ! Name calling by juveniles.
I'll bet the Narcissist is having a hissey-fit
I will await to see what the official orifice of the White Hut , MSNBC, has to say, along with their three other viewers.
He wants to sell books.
Did he mention he was the one who ordered the hit on OBL while Obama was at the course?
Pray America wakes
He was never a law professor. He was a lecturer.
Yep, you can question the timing, but the content is real.
So Leon, why didn’t you say or do something when it mattered?
The WH needs a sign on the front door Caution child at play.
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