During my 18 years in uniform I have sat through countless speeches by all levels of leaders (both military and civilian). I can tell you that speeches are RARELY inturrupted with applause during the course of the speech. The President was speaking to professional military officers. Not a partisan cheering committee.
As much as I admire your stuff, you are completely wrong on this one.
See my comments to another Freeper who was present at the speech, and took part in conversations before hand about what kind of response was appropriate in such circumstances. I stand corrected on that point.
However, my point about pounding the history remains valid. Military officers know the subject. But the American press, never having served (mostly) and being poorly educated in history (almost all of them) DO need to be forced to consider that subject. And any Presidential speech CAN force the issue on them.
John / Billybob