This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
All Americans should be outraged by the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and the assault on the U.S. embassy in Cairo. An attack on our embassy and staff is an attack on American soil and representatives of the American people. Strong measures are needed in response. Unfortunately, the Obama administration's tepid response is yet another disappointing sign of its fecklessness in the Middle East specifically, and foreign policy generally. While this President is all too happy to exercise his powers domestically to remake society, he shies away from the singular area where the need for swift and decisive executive action is greatest — foreign affairs.
Compare the Obama administration's response to that of an earlier, greater President. In this some region of the world, once, an American man named Perdicaris was taken hostage by an Arab brigand named Raisuli. President Teddy Roosevelt sent out the message: "The American government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead." It had the desired effect, thanks to the dispatch of seven American warships and the Marines. By contrast no doubt, Obama will ask the United Nations to resolve the matter instead.
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Jun '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
I must respectfully disagree, Professor.
What Obama will do is play another round of golf and then attend another fundraiser.
Jul '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
And astonishingly, the media will attack Romney for it.
Mar '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
There's also President Jefferson:
http://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entry.php?rec=468
"The incident arose over tributes that were customarily paid to these nations by U.S traders. In 1801, Tripoli increased demands for payment. President Jefferson refused the demand and Tripoli declared war on the United States by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. Consulate. " The rest is history.
Mar '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
P.S. Combine MSNBC's "Lean Forward" with the President's "Leading from Behind" and you have an apt description of what they seem to be doing to the country.
Jul '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
TR was a bit more civilized than Genghis Khan. When the Khwarezmid Shah executed the Khan's ambassadors, Genghis wiped the Khwarezmid Empire off the face of the map.
Dec '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Teddy: Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Barack: Speak softly and use a sand wedge.
Smart Diplomacy
Before: Being prepared for all contingencies.
Now: Due to unforeseen circumstances violence broke out in the Middle East. This is unprecedented and we are working to deal with this new development as fast as we can.
Edited on September 13, 2012 at 2:03amMay '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Among the horrifying aspects of these events is the discovery that we can no longer trust anything coming out of the administration or state department. Nothing they say can be considered a statement of fact. Neither they or the media are serious about getting to the bottom of this mess; they are only interested in spinning a narrative that will make Obama look good and a strong response seem uncalled for.
We are in scary times.
Edited on September 12, 2012 at 8:12pmDec '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
I saw the bumper sticker on facebook, but it's not CoC compliant.
Aug '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
John Yoo:
By contrast no doubt, Obama will ask the United Nations to resolve the matter instead.
First he'd have to recognize that there is, in fact, a matter to be resolved.
May '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
John, what would you do if you were President? This is not meant to be a snarky question. I have no idea what options would be effective after the fact. I can see forcefully defending the embassy at the time but now that it is over what should be done?
Jun '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Outstanding Professor Yoo. The only thing I would add is that the insult to this injury is how quintessentially predictable something like this happening was in 2008 if Obama was to be elected. These are the wages of dithering weakness and appeasement. Out President has sown the wind, and the American people are reaping the whirlwind.
Edited on September 12, 2012 at 8:17pmJul '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
When you project weakness, you should not be shocked by these kinds of responses. We have nuclear and technological capabilities to end this that we refuse to use for fear of offending the sensibilities of the local population. The local population which, oh by the way, is comprised of the very people attacking us and who don't respect us because of our projection of weakness. It's hard to think we don't have the stomach for doing what is necessary to end this when we continually allow these attacks to go on for over three decades now.
Aug '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Romney is getting hammered in the MSM for calling out Obama for yet another apology to our enemies and what's even worse is that few congressional GOP leaders are backing Romney.
This country is so far gone it's pathetic...
Aug '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Katievs is right, unfortunately.
I am willing to bet that this probably happened to some degree at numerous embassies yesterday, the State Dept is covering up .
The circumstances of the Ambassador's death are much worse, and the aftermath with his body even more so. Somali bad stuff.
The lack of Marines and the wrongheaded decisions that led to that will point all the way to the top. But they learned with Fast n Furious that they are beyond the law.
The press is not phased by spilt blood when they are focused on "catching the squirrel" . Their ranks of ownership are now complicit in this, but as always there is no punishment. The NYT praised Stalin whilst he conducted the Holomodor, barely mentioned what Hitler was doing in the crematoria, and are now telling us "they can live with an Iranian nuke" . As if it were a relativist trophy they somehow deserve, even though they're rascals.
Katievs deserves to be scared and screaming louder and louder at the other side. Romney has got to say something very forceful and repeat it and repeat it and spend alot of money publicizing it, because he won't get free ink.
Jun '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
The legacy
Jan '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Voltaire: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
U.S. Diplomats: “The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.”
Jun '12
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Frozen Chosen: Romney is getting hammered in the MSM for calling out Obama for yet another apology to our enemies and what's even worse is that few congressional GOP leaders are backing Romney.
This country is so far gone it's pathetic... · 14 minutes ago
The leftymedia is not the country.
Mar '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
flownover: Katievs is right, unfortunately.
I am willing to bet that this probably happened to some degree at numerous embassies yesterday, the State Dept is covering up .· 22 minutes ago
You're not wrong, Morocco:
Tunisia:
Mar '11
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
Truer than you know it appears: Open mic captures press coordinating questions for Romney “no matter who he calls on we’re covered”
NRO has the questions that were put forward:
Nope, no media bias there...
Edited on September 12, 2012 at 9:26pmNov '10
Re: This Is Where Leading From Behind Gets You
I am so [expletive] angry about this my hands were shaking earlier. I'm angry that we were attacked and our ambassador killed, because we have the gall to allow free speech, even bad speech. I am angry at the president's luke-warm response. I am most angry at the backlash at Romney by the left. One friend of mine over an Facebook told me Romney's failure to get behind our leader in a matter of foreign policy is unpatriotic. I asked "Were you even paying attention between 2000 and 2008"?