Posted on 09/11/2014 7:15:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
When it comes to foreign policy, a presidential speech is measured by two things: strategic tone and strategic substance.
On the first count, President Obamas ISIS address was largely successful. Centering in passionate emotion, the president outlined the moral abhorrence that defines ISIS. He listed the groups atrocities, in contrast with American humanitarianism. The president was also wise to draw Americas attention to the gratitude of the Yazidi civilians who were saved by U.S. naval aviators. Understandably, many Americans are irritated by what they regard as the thanklessness of many military operations abroad.
But the speech was weakened by its substance. The president was indeed right to rule out cooperation with Syrias Bashar al-Assad: Joining forces with Assad, in the face of his slaughter of over 100,000 Sunnis, would have destroyed the U.S.s credibility with moderate rebel factions and Sunnis more generally. But at a basic level, the speech lacked clarity of intent.
President Obama began by listing his assumed counterterrorism successes. This had a raw domestic political motivation that was unbefitting of the moment. It distracted rather than reinforced his message. President Obamas assertion that he had removed Syrias declared [note: declared] chemical weapons so they cannot pose a threat to the Syrian people or the world again was especially problematic. That WMD deal is a disgrace that shames America. The presidents referencing of economic issues was also absurd. A speech on ISIS shouldnt have included our businesses are in the longest uninterrupted stretch of job creation in our history. The inclusion of such a statement illustrates President Obamas obsession with his own domestic popularity. This speech should have had a single focus: destroying ISIS.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
There is _no_ moderation, IT is what IT is. Anyone saying or practicing IT another way, is lying or isn't faithful and will lose their mind+head
The pre(id)sent gave a speech last night? Funny, I missed that.
Apparently not very much was said, though. I did watch “Legends” and “The Bridge” last night, though. Plenty of blood and gore on both of them.
At the beginning of the speech when he asks for the support of friends and allies, he made it sound like allies were not friends. I guess Syria and Iran could be allies now.
Just wait until the glow wears off (another 24 hours?). An Obama speech is just like eating Cheetos. They seem to taste good, but they are garbage to your system and they leave your fingers stained orange to boot.
Was it just a speech with absolutely no Plan ?
Zero was providing cover for islam and ISIL. While islam takes root worldwide through violence he claims that is not islam. He claims we should give islam a pass. Meanwhile, the real islam, the violence, comes in from behind and sweeps up.
That has been Islam’s practice for hundreds of years.
Time for a crusade!
I think they're making it up as they go along.
Just wondering, why does Obama use the term — ISIL and almost everybody else uses the term — ISIS?
The entire political infrastructure does not understand. There is no such thing as Moderate Islam. There is simply Islam and the deceitful mask they wear to lure in outsiders.
May God (who is—given our government’s actions and inactions—our ONLY Protector) protect our country from any terrorist acts today and in the coming days.
May the memory of the first responders and others who lost their lives in 9/11/01 be eternal!!!! May God continue to be with their loved ones.
I tuned in but didn’t see anyone who looked presidential.
There was just some skinny, jug-eared black muslim using ISIS as an excuse for the USA to give the Syrian militant Islamic Jihadis taxpayer money and military weapons.
Because L = Levant and includes Israel which Obama and the Islamics want to exterminate.
Muddy the water and so his goat screwing muslim friends won’t be offended since he does not call them out by correct name.
National Review? How far they have fallen.
oops, had to stop there. My observation was that there was NO passion, he wan't believable and inspired zero confidence.
What about Putin marching West?????
Oh, I forgot, Kenyan said wait till I get reelected!
Hey, at least he used a single, centered teleprompter so that he didn't appear to be watching a game of tennis.
There was just some skinny, jug-eared black muslim using ISIS as an excuse...
He never said ISIS, only ISIL.
No joke! "passionate emotion"?!? Where the heck did the writer come up with that. Must have been a different speech. Also, "ISIL is not Islamic." We're in deep dookie!
I have no doubt that when he spews his lies and fantasies he actually believes he is telling the truth, just like so many of the other politicians who have helped destroy the country.
But the really scary thing about Obama is that the very next day, when he stands there and says the exact opposite, he also believes he is telling the truth.
And no matter how many times his story changes he believes he is telling the truth.
And whenever someone challenges him or questions his veracity he becomes indignant and insulted.
Is it the drug damage from too much dope smoking and snorting or is there another reason for his disconnect from reality?
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