Posted on 12/03/2009 5:29:16 AM PST by izzatzo
Play Slideshow PauseSlowMedFast Photo Gallery . Tue Dec 1, 6:35 PM ET . Previous 485 of 580 Next . A U.S. Army cadet reads a book entitled "Kill Bin Laden" as he waits with other cadets for U.S. President Barack Obama to deliver an address on U.S. policy and the war in Afghanistan at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York December 1, 2009. Obama is expected to announce a plan to send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan over six months in a bid to beat back the Taliban and bring a quicker end to a costly and unpopular eight-year war. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT) Photo Tools EmailIMPrintPurchase Cart
Notice that the cadet reading the book looks like he has already been in action. He has a nice couple of honors of medals working on his left breast.
That picture was on front of the Wall Street Journal yesterday.
Notice that the cadet reading the book looks like he has already been in action. He has a nice couple of honors of medals working on his left breast. ..................................... CIB, GCM, he’s prior enlisted with combat experience, GOOD FOR HIM!
Pictures are truly worth a “thousand words.”
I was just stunned by the reaction of the Cadets to the CIC. I think they were sending a clear signal that they are smart enough to see right through his political theatrics with their lives.
The military knows when they are among those that respect them, such as President Bush, and those that would send them off to to war decided on political opportunism like President Obama.
I saw a small group of cadets crowding around Obama after the speech trying to get a hand shake or autograph. My immediate thought was that if that had been President Bush he would have been surrounded by 1,000 respectful cadets hoping to shake his hand and greet him. I know this for a fact because I saw the welcome President Bush received at the Air Force Academy graduation for the Class of 2008.
Oooops missed the ACM!
That’s not the same cadet that was sleeping during 0bama’s ‘great’ [as in ‘great God get me out of here’] speech, was it? That cadet had a row of medals on his chest, too.
Prior service enlisted.Must be one sharp troop to get selected from the ranks.The wreath with the rifle is the combat infantry badge.So yes,he has seen action in a combat theater.
Now that you mention it-is that the CIB badge also? If it is, he didn’t get in BSA.
correction to self: “...get it in BSA.”
Wonderful!!!
The cadets were told they would wait in excess of two hours for the speech to start. They were not allowed to sleep before the speech, and were allowed to bring one book. I’ve seen photos of two people reading the same Bin Laden book, so it is probably a reading assignment for a class.
I don’t think anybody was making a political statement with the book....but it makes a great photograph, in light of the speech that was made.
Try not to infer too much from the fact that some cadets were nodding off. These men already had a very long day by the time Obama's speech had begun. Grabbing 5 minutes cat nap is something you learn to do whenever you can get halfway comfortable.
The thing that shocks me is that the TV cameras actually panned the audience. I could have told them they'd see this.
Maybe. I think it more likely that it was the book that was generating some 'buzz' withing the corps. Paperbacks & music (in our days cassette tapes) get passed around. Personally I never had time for much light reading, but others seemed to.
I just finished the new Brad Thor book the one cadet is reading. It was excellent and covered a plot in Afghanistan with lots of history on the country. He should have passed it on to the president....he accepted Chavez’s book, didn’t he? Who knows, he may have learned a “little” something.
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