Posted on 01/13/2014 9:21:56 PM PST by robowombat
Our Contemptible Commander in Chief Peter Wehner 01.09.2014 - 10:05 AM
The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward wrote a front-page story that includes excerpts from former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s new book, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War.
According to Woodward, Gates “unleashes harsh judgments about President Obama’s leadership and his commitment to the Afghanistan war… It is rare for a former Cabinet member, let alone a defense secretary occupying a central position in the chain of command, to publish such an antagonistic portrait of a sitting president.”
But one begins to understand what underlies Secretary Gates’s judgment after learning about his thoughts during a meeting he attended. “As I sat there,” Gates writes, “I thought: the president doesn’t trust his commander, can’t stand [Afghanistan President Hamid] Karzai, doesn’t believe in his own strategy, and doesn’t consider the war to be his. For him, it’s all about getting out.”
Bear in mind that Mr. Obama was interested in getting out even as he gave the order to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. It was evident to some people at the time, and evident to everyone now, that President Obama had little interest in winning the war in Afghanistan. His aim was to check the box on the way to ending our involvement there.
Secretary Gates also writes about an exchange between Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:
Hillary told the president that her opposition to the [2007] surge in Iraq had been political because she was facing him in the Iowa primary. . . . The president conceded vaguely that opposition to the Iraq surge had been political. To hear the two of them making these admissions, and in front of me, was as surprising as it was dismaying.
These are an extraordinary series of revelations. The commander in chief (a) sent troops to fight and die in a war (Afghanistan) he wasn’t committed to and in whose strategy he had no confidence in; and (b) as a senator opposed for partisan reasons a counterinsurgency strategy that turned a war we were losing (Iraq) into one we were winning.
Losing a war is among the worst things that can happen to a nation. Yet we have as president a man who was willing to have America lose in Iraq in order to advance his own political ambitions. And a man, by the way, who constantly chastises Republicans for putting politics above country while portraying himself as the one true patriot.
Having served in the White House for seven years and spanning two wars, I had first-hand exposure to the devotion Mr. Obama’s predecessor had for our troops and how fiercely dedicated he was to having America prevail in these conflicts. Partisan politics not only didn’t drive President Bush’s decisions; they didn’t even enter into them. That is as it should be. For Mr. Obama, on the other hand–at least based on the account by the widely respected Bob Gates–partisan politics was an overwhelming factor in guiding Obama’s major war decisions.
Barack Obama acted in a way that was selfish, cynical, and contemptible. He sent young men and women to die for a war he was utterly ambivalent about and which he had no interest in winning. (Recall that Mr. Obama decided to withdraw the surge troops in Afghanistan in the middle of the fighting season rather than what the military recommended. That decision made no sense from a military standpoint, but it did happen to occur shortly before the 2012 presidential election.) As a senator he did everything he could to ensure that we would lose the Iraq war.
What Secretary Gates has revealed is a moral stain on the president that will never be removed.
Obama is a walking, talking moral stain.
Honolulu. 1-5-14
My wife and I are on Oahu for our annual Hawaii trip with good friends and two
granddaughters enjoying the hospitality of the Hawaiian people on this lovely
Island. Being retired military allows us the privilege of using the military
facilities and especially the highly desirable golf courses.
Yesterday, Jan 4, we had a tee time of 12:04 to play golf at Kaneohe Marine
Corps on Oahu. We arrived early because we were advised the President was
possibly going to play but also that he was leaving to fly back to D.C. that
same day.
We checked in and were second off and waiting for carts when we were advised
that he really may be coming but there was no count of when or how many in the
party. We then got body scanned, our golf bags searched and briefed on the
proper behavior expected. He and his party finally arrived at 1:00 and he then
hit balls on the range and then drove right in front of us on his way to the
first tee hollering Happy New Year to the small group (50 or so) golfers waiting
to play. They keep two holes clear for him both front and rear and the Secret
Service used 30 carts in all.
After he teed off they went down the first fairway and I spotted a single golfer
going to the first tee. I hollered at him to get off and he slowly ambled my
way and when within talking distance he said he was White House staff and was
allowed within the two hole space. I cannot repeat what I said to him.
We were finally allowed to tee off at 1:30 and watched as the President bullied
his way thru all the young Marines who were able to take a day off as they
prepared to go to wherever to protect us all. No words of thank you for your
service or how are you doing, just he and three of his civilian high school
buddies messing up the day for many. They would make the two groups ahead of his
progress move to the side and allow the group to play through.
It really is bothersome to view firsthand the egotist that is our President. I
asked numerous Marines who were standing around what they thought of him and not
one of the thirty or so had any kind words. The common refrain was why did he
not come out and join a threesome of young Marines and play golf with them. That
would have been so appropriate. Why doesn’t his staff make
of us and cancel if necessary? That would eliminate all the confusion. Why does
he not respect the lives of all around him instead of being so arrogant.
Thank God he left last evening. We were out there for 5 1/2 hours and quit after
14 holes and left the course with a total lack of respect for our President.
USMC Friend
its going nowhere...its far above the intellect or interest of most Americans, who are more concerned in Justin Beiber and his egging episode....
What is thing ‘moral’ he writes about? If it the one I know about, it is dead in DC.
Why does your story not surprise me?
I keep wondering if his obots will ever figure out those words he says come from his speech writers. They have him say the words that his worshipers want to hear and then does destructive things to our country and the American people. He has given our soldiers rules of engagement meant to put our enemies lives at a higher value than our own troops. He is a destroyer of what is good. He thrives on chaos. He doesn’t give a doo dah damn about our troops. He has his moral compass reversed. He does not deserve to be CIC. He is a glowing example of a traitor. I can’t believe he isn’t in prison yet, but I do know his judgement will come. Obama has many deceived right now—but his lies won’t work when he stands in front of The Lord Jesus Christ one day. He will have eternity to figure out he chose the wrong side. Ok, I know I’m preaching to the choir—but just needed to barf my thoughts on him out so I can get a good nights sleep.
He is a destroyer of what is good. He thrives on chaos.
He has seen the face of his master, the Father of Lies and has said “This is good, I will obey you always.’
51% of those who voted in 2012 got exactly what they deserved.
The rest of us got screwed.
Obama is a walking, talking moral stain.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Agreed in spades! But even more onerous is the fact that Obama is by every test of history, a genuine fascist. There is method in his madness.Thats why we must rid ourselves of him and his running dogs.
Good Read:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
Barack Obama, The Quintessential Fascist:
Lamentable in Chief.....
You were there for 5 1/2 hours?
I would’ve left after 3....
a friend sent me this 1st hand account
they were there , apparently it was fascinating to observe
Voting 'present' as always.
Everything about that jug-eared worm is contemptible. Everything.
Wait, I thought it was anecdotal.
5+ hours to get to 14 holes???
Effing ridiculous.
I did that one day but, that’s only because I live on one of the to 10 courses in California and my home is right by 11th and 12 holes...
The range monkey’s hate when we leave the course but,....fk em.
If they could afford to play the course and live here they’d do the same thing....
Besides, we’re real polite getting back on...
unlike those young Marines , you probably do not have to play under a snipers watch ....can you imagine ? It’s just unreal .
Why do they put up with this s#it ?
Gates on Obama
I am currently in CA, visiting my 100 year old mother in her assisted living facility. Last night, at dinner, an elderly gentleman who shares her table was telling us stories about his days in the Army during WWII. In his narrative he asked, "How long was the war? 4, 4 1/2 years?"
My mind suddenly flashed to the current war, and I almost said "Yes, in those days the Army let the men FIGHT the war."
But, I stopped myself and just smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's right."
If I recall, the Bushes spent their Christmases in the Whitehouse so the Secret Service could be with their families. That must be like having Christmas in the lounge at City Hall when you compare it to being in your actual home. I always appreciated them for that. My sister, with OSI at the time, was on a dual security detail several times when the Carters and a few presidential hopefuls visited her district. The Democrats treated the Secret Service with contempt. The Republicans cooperated and everything went smoothly.
For Barak and Hillary, everything is about self. Nothing is ever about country. Too bad that only a few will ever see or read this commentary.
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