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Obama: ‘The best hammer doesn’t mean every problem is a nail’
al jazeera ^ | 28 May 2014 | To many to list

Posted on 06/12/2014 7:30:14 PM PDT by Red6

As the commencement speaker at West Point, President Barack Obama told the 1,000 cadets in their dress uniforms that the U.S. must always lead on the world stage and the military is the backbone of that leadership.

But "U.S. military action cannot be the only or even primary component of our leadership in every instance," said Obama.

"Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail."

Though United States forces are out of Iraq and leaving Afghanistan, the president emphasized that the lessons of Sept. 11 are still with us and terrorism remains the No. 1 threat.

Obama announced he'll ask Congress for $5 billion to create a Counterterrorism Partnership Fund. He said the fund would pay to train forces fighting Al-Qaeda in Yemen, support peacekeeping in Somalia and Libya and assist French operations in Mali.

Next week the president will make a trip to Europe to bolster ties and move public opinion in his direction as it pertains to foreign policy.

The president claims to be presenting a third path between isolationism and interventionism with a more soft-power-based, multilateral approach. Is this accurate? And is it the right policy?

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story.

(Excerpt) Read more at america.aljazeera.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; iraq; war
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To: Red6
‘The best hammer doesn’t mean every problem is a nail’


21 posted on 06/12/2014 7:44:46 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: Aria

Obama likes to use words like “I” and “me” when it’s something good. He’ll hop on a stage 10 seconds after an event if it’s a positive story.

Ever notice how Hagel, Gates, Shinseki, Sebelius, Clinton have/had to come out and take all the heat when it’s anything negative? When it’s bad news Obama is AWOL until 3 days later when the dust settles and they have all his talking points prepped for him.

I think other than poise, physical appearance, political maneuvering and pandering, there is little leadership, in values, or even moral courage in this President. To him, giving a speech is the end, since that’s all he’s ever done before. The speech and being able to give a pep rally or persuade folks of some idea is the end all of its own, in his mind. His world is disconnected from the realities of the real world and little is followed up in actions or policies that actually- “do something.” That is why Obama seems like he is on a perpetual campaign. He is the opposite of speak softly and carry a big stick, he’s all words.


22 posted on 06/12/2014 7:47:31 PM PDT by Red6
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To: Red6

Sitting in the Oval Office doesn’t mean you’re an American either.


23 posted on 06/12/2014 7:47:54 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Obama's smidgens are coming home to roost.)
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To: CtBigPat

His mind grinds slowly, but it grinds exceedingly stoopid.


24 posted on 06/12/2014 7:47:55 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives)
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To: Red6

Bring back Tom Delay


25 posted on 06/12/2014 7:48:30 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Red6

He hammers like he throws — always for a fail.


26 posted on 06/12/2014 7:50:19 PM PDT by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them or they more like we used to be?)
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To: Red6

Hear Hear!!


27 posted on 06/12/2014 7:50:55 PM PDT by Aria ( 2008 & 2012 weren't elections - they were coup d'etats.)
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To: Red6

strange coming from the party that believes the solution to all problems is bigger govt and more taxes


28 posted on 06/12/2014 7:52:11 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Red6

I’m betting that Obama has never done much home repair work.

“Barack, the dishwasher keeps running.”

“Jiggle the handle. That works with the toilet.”


29 posted on 06/12/2014 7:53:48 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Viennacon
Is that even a saying?


Of course it's not a saying.

Heck, it's not even a proper complete sentence

The saying, with attribution to it's originator is:

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”
~ Abraham Maslow (1908-70), American psychologist

Obama, of course, can be excused for making this error of misunderstanding as a hammer is a tool used to do work.

Given that Mr Obama has never done a real days work of any sort in his entire life, much less real hard work using a hammer, the confusion is understandable.........

...I really wanted to continue upon this obviously sarcastic and witty reply but I just can't take it anymore

I have to say it

This guy is dumb, real dumb. And incompetent to boot.

The people that surround him must be really, really dumb to allow him to do such stupid things in a public forum. And unprofessional as well And incompetent.

His whole time as President has can best be characterized as one big tragic and malevolent farce.

Nero only managed to burn down Rome and reputedly made beautiful music as he fiddled while Rome burned

Obama has managed to turn the entire world , including the United States, into one huge, fast moving wild fire. And there is no beautiful music to provide the slightest bright note to end on, all we get is out of deal is crappy golf swing and 100+ strokes at 18 holes on his best quality day on the golf course.

Oh well, one thing you can say about the Preezy what he lacks in quality, he makes up in quantity

30 posted on 06/12/2014 7:54:55 PM PDT by rdcbn
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To: Red6

No, most of our problems are because of you, Obama!

As if you even know what a hammer or a nail looks like.


31 posted on 06/12/2014 7:56:41 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: workerbee

I agree! He isn’t American in any way, shape, or form! He’s a poser! A PHONY! To use one of his own favorite words.

no doubt his American English is not authentic. Even with that nasally Chicago sound about it, it’s off. it’s missing something. it’s empty (like his soul!)


32 posted on 06/12/2014 8:00:25 PM PDT by uncitizen
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To: workerbee

I agree! He isn’t American in any way, shape, or form! He’s a poser! A PHONY! To use one of his own favorite words.

no doubt his American English is not authentic. Even with that nasally Chicago sound about it, it’s off. it’s missing something. it’s empty (like his soul!)


33 posted on 06/12/2014 8:00:34 PM PDT by uncitizen
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To: Red6
Even Trini Lopez is pissed
34 posted on 06/12/2014 8:05:28 PM PDT by Michael.SF. (I never thought anyone could make Jimmy Carter look good in comparisons)
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To: Red6

He just thinks that the hammer AND the cycle are the answer to the problem.


35 posted on 06/12/2014 8:28:48 PM PDT by CrazyIvan (I lost my phased plasma rifle in a tragic hovercraft accident.)
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To: Red6

To a blond a nail with the head on the wrong end...
goes on the other side of the house...
Obama wouldn’t know about nails or hammers...


36 posted on 06/12/2014 8:35:51 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: CrazyIvan

sickle.

Well I guess no one can complain about that $5 gazillion hammer then. Instead of anesthetics, when you go to the hospital they can knock you out with a hammer.


37 posted on 06/12/2014 8:38:58 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: Red6

“Wake up and SMELL the early worm..!”

That’s what I always say, yup.


38 posted on 06/12/2014 8:47:28 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: Red6

As George Will once observed of another BS artist, “the man is a veritable pyromaniac in a field of straw men” - no one has ever advocated using our military to settle every conflict America faces - let alone the military itself having done so....


39 posted on 06/12/2014 8:49:50 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Red6
I think other than poise, physical appearance, political maneuvering and pandering, there is little leadership, in values, or even moral courage in this President.

there you go...

poise: gets rattled and shows it

physical appearance: check the workout video, baseball throwing, karate-watching, and bike-riding pictures

political maneuvering: clumsy

pandering: in spades

40 posted on 06/12/2014 8:52:20 PM PDT by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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