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Obama manages a photo-op, not a crisis
Toronto Sun ^ | July 19, 2014 | Ezra Levant

Posted on 07/20/2014 1:05:50 AM PDT by Squawk 8888

On Thursday, Russia’s expeditionary army in Eastern Ukraine shot a missile at what they thought was a Ukrainian jet, according to U.S. intelligence.

It wasn’t a Ukrainian jet. It was a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane, flying its normal commercial route that happened to take it over Ukraine. As per usual.

And it appears the Russians shot it down, killing 298 people. Vladimir Putin didn’t even bother denying it – he blamed the Ukrainians. “This tragedy would not have occurred if there were peace in that country, or in any case, if hostilities had not resumed in southeast Ukraine,” Putin said.

So his forces apparently shot down a Malaysian passenger plane because Ukraine didn’t surrender to Putin’s slow-motion invasion?

Like the abusive husband hitting his wife, he has an easy excuse: “You make me so mad, it’s your fault I hit you.”

This isn’t just a scandal. It’s a crisis. As Ukraine’s new president, Petro Poroshenko, said, Russia’s lawless military actions endanger the whole world. He accurately called it terrorism – and indeed its death toll eclipses that of most other terrorist attacks, such as the Libyan bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. Poroshenko, already reeling from Russian attacks, called out to the world. In other words, he called out to Barack Obama.

But Obama was too busy to help.

Obama didn’t call an emergency meeting of his national security team. He didn’t assemble his joint chiefs of staff in the White House situation room.

No, he flew to Delaware to go to a photo-op at the Charcoal Pit diner. He gave a campaign speech. By this time, the cause of the plane crash was known. But Obama said merely, “it looks like it may be a terrible tragedy.”

May be? A tragedy? He didn’t know yet if it was a tragedy? And a tragedy – not an act of terrorism or a war crime? Just a tragedy – like a tragic accident?

And, after that bloodless, token comment, he continued his campaign speech, joking, laughing.

He didn’t even call Putin. Incredibly, Putin called him, before Obama left the White House. And Obama didn't bring up the jet – Putin brought up "early reports" of the downed plane at the end of their call.

In 1983, when the Soviets shot down a Korean Air Lines flight – with a lower death toll – Ronald Reagan called it an international crisis, a crime against humanity. He made a grave, televised presentation to the country, from the Oval Office. America made an emergency presentation to the UN showing intercepted communications from Soviet commanders ordering the murder. He continued the ban on the Soviet airline, Aeroflot, from landing in the United States. He didn’t declare war on the Soviets. But he did everything diplomatically and political possible, short of attacking.

America showed more determination. America's response strengthened the free west, and gave hope to everyone that even small countries like South Korea had a great friend in America.

But Obama went to the Charcoal Pit.

As more facts came in and more news came in, Obama still didn’t deviate from his campaign-style day. He flew to New York for two more big-ticket fundraising dinners. Priorities, you see.

And at 9:30 that night, hours after a vague tweet about the crash, the State Department’s spokesman, Jen Psaki, issued a Twitter statement. It had a link to a gossip column in the Washington Post. Here is the full text of it: “Great piece by former colleague Alyssa Mastromonaco who defines smart, savvy and fashionable.”

So the sorority girl in charge of U.S. foreign policy statements thought that a shout-out to her smart and sexy colleague – on the official State Department Twitter feed – sent the most important message to the world.

And indeed it did.

America is no longer a serious country. An invasion of Ukraine, a terrorist attack on a passenger plane – that’s not enough to cancel a visit to a barbecue photo-op.

It was a teachable moment, as Obama might say. For the world now knows they cannot count on America. Vladimir Putin already knew that. Petro Poroshenko probably did too. And now the rest of us do.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: mh17
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1 posted on 07/20/2014 1:05:50 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
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To: Squawk 8888

I see the Canadians have The Clown’s number. Good.


2 posted on 07/20/2014 1:12:25 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod (Democrats are Cruz'n for a Bruisin' in 2016!)
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To: Squawk 8888

Obama called the shot down a tragedy. For most people, mass murder is a crime, not a tragedy.


3 posted on 07/20/2014 1:46:26 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: Squawk 8888

Obama didn’t just have problems with the 3 am call on this one.

He has flat refused to answer the red phone with the flashing alarm siren that has been ringing off the hook for three days.


4 posted on 07/20/2014 1:51:03 AM PDT by rdcbn
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To: Squawk 8888

BTTT


5 posted on 07/20/2014 2:03:17 AM PDT by Cap Huff
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To: Squawk 8888

BTTT


6 posted on 07/20/2014 2:03:24 AM PDT by Cap Huff
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To: Squawk 8888
"For Allah's sake Vlad, not during my vacation..."

Putin is responsible for Flight MH17
Obama Surfs

7 posted on 07/20/2014 2:12:21 AM PDT by Fear The People (When the government fears the people, you have LIBERTY.)
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To: Squawk 8888

Guess twice electing this worthless quota boy wasn’t the best thing for America now was it?
Hasn’t much helped the world now either.
Yo, obammy, how’s that nobel B.S. Going for ya a-hole?


8 posted on 07/20/2014 2:59:25 AM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) obammy lied and lied and lied)
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To: Squawk 8888

Guess twice electing this worthless quota boy wasn’t the best thing for America now was it?
Hasn’t much helped the world now either.
Yo, obammy, how’s that nobel B.S. Going for ya a-hole?


9 posted on 07/20/2014 2:59:39 AM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) obammy lied and lied and lied)
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To: Squawk 8888

Does anyone else remember back to the halcyon days of 2008 when, during the campaign, the foreign press could not prop brilliant Barry up enough. We just had to elect him, we were told.


10 posted on 07/20/2014 3:06:30 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: Squawk 8888
The Buffoon doesn't ever manage a photo op very well.
My apologies to buffoons everywhere.
11 posted on 07/20/2014 3:52:49 AM PDT by DeaconRed (ZERO Worst ever and still falling. Even Juan Williams now is turning on the scum. Is Combs next?)
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To: Artie
We just had to elect him, we were told.

I was thinking right along those same lines.
Foreign press was collectively wetting their drawers over this guy.

12 posted on 07/20/2014 3:58:07 AM PDT by fone (@ the breaking point!)
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To: Squawk 8888
Obama manages a photo-op, not a crisis

He couldn't manage the zipper on the front of his pants!!

13 posted on 07/20/2014 4:59:04 AM PDT by GoldenPup
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To: Squawk 8888

Obama was too busy to help.
A true democrat party member money for the party always comes first and screw the rest of the world progressives in action.


14 posted on 07/20/2014 5:21:44 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: GoldenPup
He couldn't manage the zipper on the front of his pants!!

Was that why he hired Reggie Love ?

15 posted on 07/20/2014 9:19:00 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: All
Come on, give the guy a break.....Obama's got a lot on his plate.

It's tough tallying his offshore holdings, polishing his golf clubs, begging Michell for a roll in the hay, worrying about looming midterms....he simply "forgot" he's president of these United States, and is sworn to protect its interests and its citizens.

So he's not worried about Ukraine or a shot-down plane. So what?

After all, Obama's VERY concerned about Central America and its citizens:
<><>sending our tax dollars and resources to help violate our borders,
<><>chartering buses and planes to dump them on unsuspecting towns,
<><> planning WH meetings on how to get more new Democrat voters across the border,
<><> registering the multiple identities w/ the DNC,
<><> handing out apps for riding the US gravy train, and so on.

Heck, Obama can't be a Third World flunky AND a US president both at the same time.

16 posted on 07/20/2014 10:32:37 AM PDT by Liz (Another Clinton administration? Are you nuts?)
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To: Liz
begging Michell for a roll in the hay

I think the last time was when Sharia was conceived....

17 posted on 07/20/2014 10:36:40 AM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
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To: All
"So I see you like their fries, too. Must be the peanut oil"

"Plane? What plane?"

18 posted on 07/20/2014 10:39:13 AM PDT by Liz (Another Clinton administration? Are you nuts?)
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To: nascarnation

LOL......


19 posted on 07/20/2014 10:40:12 AM PDT by Liz (Another Clinton administration? Are you nuts?)
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To: UCANSEE2; GoldenPup

When it comes to zipper management nobody will beat Clinton.


20 posted on 07/20/2014 10:58:33 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post on Twitter)
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