Our shrinking president "Fallability on big questions (assuming now that Bush erred in invading Iraq) should not forever preclude one from being praised. Obama himself was wrong about the surge. If his prescription had been followed in 2007, Iraq would probably have suffered a monumental bloodbath, and al Qaeda might well control Anbar province. But that shouldn't bar Obama from receiving praise if he helps navigate Iraq through its current (much less severe) difficulties."
Restored Link: Defining The Obama Doctrine, Its Pitfalls And How To Avoid Them "Doctrines by themselves are not legally binding declarations. Nor are they always ideas embraced as such by the Presidents in whose names they are declared. Rather, they are clearly expressed principles and policies, often deduced by consensus, which set the tone for how each Administration intends to act on the world stage. Doctrines clarify how a President views America’s role in the world and his strategy for relations with other nations."
Missed Opportunities in the Oval Office "In other words, he came across as more committed to withdrawing troops next July than prevailing over the Taliban. This is not how a Commander-in-Chief should lead his troops in war.
"For those who hoped President Obama had finally seen the light about the ill-conceived July 2011 deadline and would use tonight’s speech to walk it back, they have been sorely disappointed."
Obama Has Learned Nothing About Being Commander in Chief "...There was not a single moment in his speech where he spoke to the troops about their mission. He spoke about them in reverent tones, but he never articulated what we were fighting and why it really mattered. There is a reason for that, he has absolutely no rapport with them, he doesn’t understand them, and he has absolutely no clue how to lead them. Hell he really wishes he didn’t have to."... The mayor of Las Vegas thinks this president is a very slow learner
This opinion from a newspaper in China: "...Following the withdrawal of the last group of combat troops from Iraq, it looks as though America's seven-year-long struggle has come to an end; but its work in Iraq has not finished, and the withdrawal seems sudden and awkward." Via Watching America
William Kristol: It wasn't a bad speech. "And at the end: "Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead." Not a bad tribute to the troops, and not a bad statement of the importance and indispensability of hard power.
"And, on the whole, not a bad speech by the president." In a consider-the-source kinda way.
Oval Office Ambivalence "Mr. Obama won the White House in part through his ability to inspire with his speeches. The irony of his war leadership is that his policies toward Afghanistan and Pakistan and in pursuing al Qaeda are better than his inconstant trumpet." From the Wall Street Journal.
The Speech: Why Didn’t They Call Rewrite? "Right. We have to “jumpstart industries that create jobs” but your policies on energy, taxation, government regulation and government spending, Mr. President, have assured that no industries will be jumpstarted and that job creation will stagnate. “We must unleash innovation,” you say, but your policies have made it all-but-impossible for businesses or individuals to innovate. You talk about nurturing entrepreneurs, but your war on Wall Street, your fiscal incontinence, and expansion of intrusive government bureaucracy assures that entrepreneurs will be stymied at every turn." Roger Kimball, Pajamas Media
Deadlines "Deadlines, especially in wars against ideologically minded foes, are nearly always a bad idea. It is why George W. Bush, who understood well the nature of the war against jihadists, took such a firm stance against them. He was right, as are Crocker, Wolfowitz, and the Kagans: we should, in fact, be leaving the door open to the the extension of our military presence.
"Presidential statements carry immense weight and we should be candid about what is said and why it is problematic. Those who root for success in Iraq owe the president the benefit of their counsel on the danger of deadlines." Jennifer Rubin
Some Thoughts About Last Night’s Speech "In Barack Obama, we have someone very different — a president who is at times more eager to apologize for America than to defend her. He is a man not yet comfortable with his role as commander in chief. Obama views war not in terms of victory; he is above all committed to finding exit ramps.
"President Obama has already inflicted enormous damage to our nation; last night he added to the wreckage." Peter Wehner
Max Boot: The Speech: About As Good As We Could Expect "However good the words, the hard part is still ahead of us in Iraq, where no government has yet been formed and everyone is nervous about the American troop withdrawal. Obama will have to get more involved in managing Iraq’s future than he has been to date."
Crazed MSNBC Leftist Hosts Bash Obama For “Letting Bush Off Easy” (Video) "Apparently, these radicals are still reeling that we won the war…The anti-military, antiwar hosts at MSNBC howled last night after Barack Obama let President Bush “off easy” during his lackluster speech on the Iraq War. Via Breitbart TV"
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