Posted on 05/23/2010 8:41:58 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
President Barack Obama on Saturday used a speech to West Point cadets to defend his escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
Obama also placed a heavy emphasis on winning international cooperation and bolstering non-military sources of American power.
Obama’s remarks to the graduating class revealed both continuity with former President Bush’s hard stance against violent extremists and a break with the unilateralism that Bush critics called a defining feature of his presidency.
“America has not succeeded by stepping outside the currents of cooperation, we have succeeded by steering those currents in the direction of liberty and justice – so nations thrive by meeting their responsibilities, and face consequences when they don’t,” Obama said.
He called for an “international order that can meet the challenges of our generation” that range from nuclear proliferation to climate change.
Speaking before about 1,000 cadets -- many of whom will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan -- Obama cited continuing threats to the U.S. by violent extremists while proclaiming that American intervention has “brought hope” to the Afghan people.
“The war began only because our own cities and civilians were attacked by violent extremists who plotted from that distant place, and it continues only because that plotting persists to this day,” Obama said in prepared remarks at the military academy in upstate New York.
Obama also told the West Point cadets that the U.S. faces a suite of challenges that cannot be met solely with military power.
“We will be steadfast in strengthening those old alliances that have served us so well, including those who will serve by your side in Afghanistan and around the globe. As influence extends to more countries and capitals, we must also build new partnerships, and shape stronger international standards and institutions,” Obama said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
It was tough to tell if he was channeling Woodrow Wilson or George Bush. I’m thinking it was Mussolini, but don’t quote me.
What I think is funny is that the same O-bots that said Bush wanted the Afghanistan war for an oil pipe line are now content with the very same war.
Mao. It was Mao.
He does have the Mussolini “pose” down pretty good.
I find it interesting that we have a guy talking to the troops, some of the most educated people in our country, when he couldn’t go through the Acadamey on a bet. Then he starts talking to them about the New World order. Does he actually believe they are stupid?
I expect some folks to chime in with Hugo Chavez too.
He’s definitely pulling from that side of the isle anyway.
Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, Chavez, Marx, he’s got some interesting company there.
Just imagine having to sit through that teleprompted speech....
I’d say Bush counter-punched global terror of radical Islam; Obama doesn’t recognize the notion of “radical Islam,” so what he’s doing there is anybody’s guess. Unless he’s an adherent of an Islamic sect that is fighting for preeminence over the Taliban.
Bush “counterpunched” us into two trillion dollar wars. One o them made Sadr a kingmaker, the other put a corrupt Islamist in power. By doing so, he effectively let Bin Laden bleed us dry through rope a dope.
You have a unique read on it which I respect and reject; to each his own.
I’m glad to have your respect but why is my take “unique?” It seems to obviously fit the facts. Perhaps I am missing something. If so, I’d appreciate your guidance. Do you disagree that Obama (contrary to to the likes of Cindy Sheenan and Dennis Kucinich) has “escalated” the war both in terms of troops and money?
We shouldn’t forget, of course, that the Afghan War was generally popular with the left at the beginning. Obama always “talked tough” on that issue....so this is one example of when he kept a campaign promise.
It was popular but then they turned on it for the 04 election. Then flopped back around for the 08 election.
The left has flipped-flopped on Iraq and Afghan.
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