Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Monday, August 22, 2011
President Obama announces that Qaddafi regime is coming to an end.
What?
No aircraft carrier?
No flight suit?
No codpiece carefully padded to enhance image of virility?
Libya revolution: How 'leading from behind' can work
The fall of Tripoli is a foreign policy triumph for which President Barack Obama won’t hold a ticker-tape parade: no flight suit, no chest-thumping, no “Mission Accomplished” banner.
But the low-profile, inexpensive ouster of Col. Muammar Qadhafi marks an important milestone for the administration, foreign policy analysts say — perhaps the most concrete evidence that the more modest American foreign policy approach that has become Obama’s hallmark and perhaps his biggest area of contrast with his more interventionist predecessor might actually work.
One anonymous Obama adviser labeled the Libya strategy “leading from behind” in an interview with the New Yorker earlier this year, a slogan that has turned into a bludgeon for Republican critics to use to assail Obama’s leadership or lack thereof. But the scenes of celebration in Tripoli make it difficult — if not impossible, as supportive statements by Sens.John McCain and Lindsey Graham demonstrated Monday — to argue with Obama’s methods. And at a moment of fiscal obsession, Qadhafi was deposed on the cheap: the most recent figures, from earlier this summer, showed just $1.1 billion in American outlays on the mission, a virtual rounding error at the Pentagon and the equivalent of a few days of involvement in Afghanistan. U.S. warplanes flew just 16 percent of the aerial sorties over the country, according to figures compiled by the Atlantic Council of the United States.
Obama described the U.S. as a “friend and a partner” to the Libyan rebels who were consolidating their gains Monday, and addressed himself to the Libyan people.
“Your courage and character have been unbreakable in the face of a tyrant,” he said.
The seizure of control in Tripoli by rebel forces is not just a rare bit of good news for a White House that has tried to weather a bruising summer — it is vindication for an important set of ideas that Obama espoused as a candidate: that the United States can still lead while talking and walking more softly and letting allies, particularly the Europeans, take the starring role.
No "Mission Accomplished" banner????? Obama doesn't roll like that, but there are times I wish he would. This is an amazing accomplishment on his part! Of course, crickets chirping in the GOP.
As President Obama spoke today about Libya, he also laid out the differences between his foreign policy and that of George W. Bush. Those differences are why Obama has been a success where Bush was a failure.
"One anonymous Obama adviser labeled the Libya strategy “leading from behind”..(snip)... a slogan that has turned into a bludgeon for Republican critics to use to assail Obama’s leadership or lack thereof. "
Now he can turn around to those critics and tell them to Eat My Shorts! But, of course, he's wayyy too classy to ever do that. But it's still fun to imagine!
Isn't it amazing what intelligence, thought, sensible long-term strategy and cooperation can accomplish?
Anon@5.16p is unfortunately right about our amazing president. I wish he and his administration WOULD do a little bit of accounting all the good things it done in the past three years.
I know the Republicans will never give credit to Obama and his administration - and while I don't like it, I consider it part of the "game" - but when the Far Left discounts all the president and his administration have done because they're not PROGRESSIVE enough, that's when we need a little bragging. Obama and his crew have earned it!
Criticism from the rightwing nutjob camp for both showing too much aggresion by the U.S., and now for not having shown enough...typical of the blatant hypocrisy just spewing forth from them.
One can only hope that a sufficient number of reasonable, thinking individuals are watching all this crap unfold...and will vote against the array of circus clowns the Republicans are merrily parading before the populace.
I spoke with a friend this evening who claims not to be from either "side" of the national debate--however admitted to mainly watching Fox channel to hear the news.
I'm afraid that is like sleeping in a corral full of pigs, and waking up to complain about being covered in pig shit.
I asked if he'd even heard about this Libyan development (NO.)
So Fox won't even report on anything that may make President Obama look good, even if its an earthshaking event? How truly pathetic.
How many politicians were complaining that President Obama made this decision without approval of the Congress? They are bittered because they didn't have the power to make him fail.
When given the authority to decide on his own, he has made all the right calls. When he needs the cooperation from the Congress, progress is impeded.
This president is a gem. As a disabled veteran who served at NATO HDQT's, I truly believe President Obama is masterful in foreign policy. He is doing a fantastic job all around.
What?
Me, too. How reassuring that President Obama is an adult, conducting himself appropriately.
ReplyDeleteEvery once in a while, the media will play a clip of GWB and it takes days for me to stop cringing. That he was ever President is so embarrassing.
To think that Perry is trying to follow in GWB's footsteps is also cringe-worthy.
Thank goodness for President Obama.
Oh come now. It can't count if you don't thump your chest.
ReplyDeleteObama's Libya "war" is almost over.
ReplyDeleteWe're still fighting Bush II's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And we have two more Texans who want to be President.
No more Texans.
Libya revolution: How 'leading from behind' can work
ReplyDeleteThe fall of Tripoli is a foreign policy triumph for which President Barack Obama won’t hold a ticker-tape parade: no flight suit, no chest-thumping, no “Mission Accomplished” banner.
But the low-profile, inexpensive ouster of Col. Muammar Qadhafi marks an important milestone for the administration, foreign policy analysts say — perhaps the most concrete evidence that the more modest American foreign policy approach that has become Obama’s hallmark and perhaps his biggest area of contrast with his more interventionist predecessor might actually work.
One anonymous Obama adviser labeled the Libya strategy “leading from behind” in an interview with the New Yorker earlier this year, a slogan that has turned into a bludgeon for Republican critics to use to assail Obama’s leadership or lack thereof. But the scenes of celebration in Tripoli make it difficult — if not impossible, as supportive statements by Sens.John McCain and Lindsey Graham demonstrated Monday — to argue with Obama’s methods. And at a moment of fiscal obsession, Qadhafi was deposed on the cheap: the most recent figures, from earlier this summer, showed just $1.1 billion in American outlays on the mission, a virtual rounding error at the Pentagon and the equivalent of a few days of involvement in Afghanistan. U.S. warplanes flew just 16 percent of the aerial sorties over the country, according to figures compiled by the Atlantic Council of the United States.
Obama described the U.S. as a “friend and a partner” to the Libyan rebels who were consolidating their gains Monday, and addressed himself to the Libyan people.
“Your courage and character have been unbreakable in the face of a tyrant,” he said.
The seizure of control in Tripoli by rebel forces is not just a rare bit of good news for a White House that has tried to weather a bruising summer — it is vindication for an important set of ideas that Obama espoused as a candidate: that the United States can still lead while talking and walking more softly and letting allies, particularly the Europeans, take the starring role.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61849.html
Pure class. He's MY President! As a new U.S. citizen in 2010, President Obama will be my first Presidential vote. And I'm honored beyond words.
ReplyDeleteI love our president!
ReplyDeleteNo "Mission Accomplished" banner?????
ReplyDeleteObama doesn't roll like that, but there are times I wish he would. This is an amazing accomplishment on his part!
Of course, crickets chirping in the GOP.
Four More Years!
Congratualtions Mr President!
Libya Is Another Victory For The Obama Doctrine
ReplyDeleteAs President Obama spoke today about Libya, he also laid out the differences between his foreign policy and that of George W. Bush. Those differences are why Obama has been a success where Bush was a failure.
http://www.politicususa.com/en/libya-obama-doctrine
Oh my: no tie. Muslim. I knew it.
ReplyDeleteHas the Tundra Tart tweeted anything about this amazing accomplishment by this administration's foreign policy, the Obama Doctrine?
ReplyDelete'In what respect, Charlie?'...what a disaster that interview was! LOL!
Our president is a leader and scholar. Let's never ever ever have it any other way!!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Susan Rice, whose foreign policy knowledge is outstanding!
ReplyDelete(SP thinks she is an authority? lol!)
"One anonymous Obama adviser labeled the Libya strategy “leading from behind”..(snip)... a slogan that has turned into a bludgeon for Republican critics to use to assail Obama’s leadership or lack thereof. "
ReplyDeleteNow he can turn around to those critics and tell them to Eat My Shorts! But, of course, he's wayyy too classy to ever do that. But it's still fun to imagine!
Isn't it amazing what intelligence, thought, sensible long-term strategy and cooperation can accomplish?
Perfect. I love him.
ReplyDeleteAnon@5.16p is unfortunately right about our amazing president. I wish he and his administration WOULD do a little bit of accounting all the good things it done in the past three years.
ReplyDeleteI know the Republicans will never give credit to Obama and his administration - and while I don't like it, I consider it part of the "game" - but when the Far Left discounts all the president and his administration have done because they're not PROGRESSIVE enough, that's when we need a little bragging. Obama and his crew have earned it!
He's doing a damn good job.
I'm not sure that the Conservatards will even remember come 2012 without a cartoon to spell it out to them.
ReplyDeleteCriticism from the rightwing nutjob camp for both showing too much aggresion by the U.S., and now for not having shown enough...typical of the blatant hypocrisy just spewing forth from them.
ReplyDeleteOne can only hope that a sufficient number of reasonable, thinking individuals are watching all this crap unfold...and will vote against the array of circus clowns the Republicans are merrily parading before the populace.
I spoke with a friend this evening who claims not to be from either "side" of the national debate--however admitted to mainly watching Fox channel to hear the news.
I'm afraid that is like sleeping in a corral full of pigs, and waking up to complain about being covered in pig shit.
I asked if he'd even heard about this Libyan development (NO.)
So Fox won't even report on anything that may make President Obama look good, even if its an earthshaking event? How truly pathetic.
Me, I think its necessary to NEMhave steel abs, strong shoulders, intellegence to know who to trust.
ReplyDeleteIn light of everything, how can a Gallup Poll come up with a tie between most of the Republican candidates and the President? Who are they asking?
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE how he leads "behind the scenes." No glitz, no glamor, no "look at meeeee," just gets the job DONE.
ReplyDeleteTHAT, my friends, is a president! Now, compare that to the slate of GOP 2012 hopefuls, including the not-yet-declared one.
Ooooh geee, there he goes again, copying Sarah Palin by goin on teevee with nature as his backdrop, gettin off his midwest bus tour also too.
ReplyDeleteHow many politicians were complaining that President Obama made this decision without approval of the Congress? They are bittered because they didn't have the power to make him fail.
ReplyDeleteWhen given the authority to decide on his own, he has made all the right calls. When he needs the cooperation from the Congress, progress is impeded.
DKey @ 5:08:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, and welcome!
This president is a gem. As a disabled veteran who served at NATO HDQT's, I truly believe President Obama is masterful in foreign policy. He is doing a fantastic job all around.
ReplyDelete