Meanwhile, the editors of The Economist are upset with President Obama:
TO HEAR Vladimir Putin, Russia has become the leader of a new global war on terrorism. By contrast Barack Obama seems wearier by the day with the wars in the Muslim world that America has been fighting for more than a decade. On September 30th Russian jets went into action to support Bashar al-Assad’s beleaguered troops. It is setting up an intelligence-sharing network with Iraq and Iran. The Russian Orthodox church talks of holy war. Mr Putin’s claim to be fighting Islamic State (IS) is questionable at best. The evidence of Russia’s first day of bombing is that it attacked other Sunni rebels, including some supported by America. Even if this is little more than political theatre, Russia is making its biggest move in the Middle East, hitherto America’s domain, since the Soviet Union was evicted in the 1970s.
In Afghanistan, meanwhile, America’s campaign against the Taliban has suffered a blow. On September 28th Taliban rebels captured the northern town of Kunduz—the first provincial capital to fall to them since they were evicted from power in 2001. Afghan troops retook the centre three days later. But even if they establish full control, the attack was a humiliation.
Both Kunduz and Russia’s bombing are symptoms of the same phenomenon: the vacuum created by Barack Obama’s attempt to stand back from the wars of the Muslim world.
Syria is in Russia’s backyard not ours. They are more at risk from violent radical Islamists than we are. They have vital interests at stake and we are, inexplicably, assisting Al Qaeda.
As George Patton said, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. We should pick one. We’re trying for “all of the above”.
“Both Kunduz and Russia’s bombing are symptoms of the same phenomenon: the vacuum created by Barack Obama’s attempt to stand back from the wars of the Muslim world.”
Why do we want to be involved in them? Shouldn’t we be tired of having our soldiers die to defend the interests of the Gulf States and Israel? Let’s have as little to do with this as possible, at least up until 2016. Then we will invade Iraq again and Syria, but until then lets hope for as little as possible. Let the Russians have at it. Of note, I believe that i have seen quotes from Putin saying he will not put boots on the ground. Wonder if that will work for him? Guess it might if he actually coordinates with Syrian troops.
Steve
We can’t avoid being involved. Now Germany is involved by virtue of accepting refugees and the Syrian civil war might end up being played out in German streets. Staying uninvolved would require banning travel to/from these countries and blocking their Internet access.
Don’t get me wrong. I think we should just stand back, let Russia do the heavy lifting, and STFU. None of those are in this administration’s core competency. Maybe no administration’s.
But that’s not being uninvolved. Doing nothing is a form of involvement.
“Syria is in Russia’s backyard not ours”
Right. Let them have the tarbaby that’s the Middle East and welcome to it.
Not “all of the above” but “present”.
Why is it that I don’t trust my own Presidents motives? Why does it seem He is more interested in Islamic affairs than that of American workers? Am I a HATER?. Just want to know where I (we) stand.
As an aside, (a big one) conagra foods announced today they were leaving Omaha for new headquarters in Chicago. One of the reasons given is that the company is losing money due to poor management. And that they cannot attract Quality leadership to Cowtown. If that’s the case, why not move H. Q. to Seattle, where everyone agrees the cutting edge is cutting the most?
Why is it that I don’t trust my own Presidents motives? Why does it seem He is more interested in Islamic affairs than that of American workers? Am I a HATER?
I think it’s not that he’s any more interested in the first than the second. I believe it’s that he can pontificate safely on the former w/o having to do much. It’s the same reason he jumps into every single local law enforcement problem that involves a black criminal doing something stupid and getting his dumb ass killed by a cop – it’s just easy.
Another example – whenever two or more people get shot in a mass shooting in this country*, Obama can’t get in front of the cameras fast enough. However, when his “good friend” and ambassador got ass-raped to death by camel fucking Mohammedans while on the job, Obama couldn’t be found for days.
If it’s easy to spout off and he doesn’t actually have to do anything, Obama will be there. If he CAN’T spout off, or if he is expected to do something personally (as opposed to fob it off on some functionary), he will NOT be there.
Of course, maybe that doesn’t make you trust his motives any more than before….
Gas
I’d be tempted to say the Conagra move is the tax break, but the break is estimated at $1MM at most in a $300MM cost cut move. And to move to the Merch Mart and relo employees?? No.
Attraction of talent could actually be a factor. Look at their brands (and largest customer- Walgreens) and it says Chicago more than Seattle. Slim Jim?? BTW – It’s a big deal here in Naperville, where I could drive over to their rather large facility in 5 yrs – literally. Those people are NOT going to like the commute to The Mart.
In summary, it’s a bit of a puzzler. The CEO says he wants all management talent in one location. Maybe. I would note that he lives on the north shore of Chicago. Convenient.
Since Ice has a poor memory, I have provided Obama’s statement on 9/12, hours after Stevens was killed.
Remarks by the President on the Deaths of U.S. Embassy Staff in Libya
Rose Garden
10:43 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Every day, all across the world, American diplomats and civilians work tirelessly to advance the interests and values of our nation. Often, they are away from their families. Sometimes, they brave great danger.
Yesterday, four of these extraordinary Americans were killed in an attack on our diplomatic post in Benghazi. Among those killed was our Ambassador, Chris Stevens, as well as Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith. We are still notifying the families of the others who were killed. And today, the American people stand united in holding the families of the four Americans in our thoughts and in our prayers.
The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack. We’re working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats. I’ve also directed my administration to increase our security at diplomatic posts around the world. And make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people.
Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.
Already, many Libyans have joined us in doing so, and this attack will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya. Libyan security personnel fought back against the attackers alongside Americans. Libyans helped some of our diplomats find safety, and they carried Ambassador Stevens’s body to the hospital, where we tragically learned that he had died.
It’s especially tragic that Chris Stevens died in Benghazi because it is a city that he helped to save. At the height of the Libyan revolution, Chris led our diplomatic post in Benghazi. With characteristic skill, courage, and resolve, he built partnerships with Libyan revolutionaries, and helped them as they planned to build a new Libya. When the Qaddafi regime came to an end, Chris was there to serve as our ambassador to the new Libya, and he worked tirelessly to support this young democracy, and I think both Secretary Clinton and I relied deeply on his knowledge of the situation on the ground there. He was a role model to all who worked with him and to the young diplomats who aspire to walk in his footsteps.
Along with his colleagues, Chris died in a country that is still striving to emerge from the recent experience of war. Today, the loss of these four Americans is fresh, but our memories of them linger on. I have no doubt that their legacy will live on through the work that they did far from our shores and in the hearts of those who love them back home.
Of course, yesterday was already a painful day for our nation as we marked the solemn memory of the 9/11 attacks. We mourned with the families who were lost on that day. I visited the graves of troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hallowed grounds of Arlington Cemetery, and had the opportunity to say thank you and visit some of our wounded warriors at Walter Reed. And then last night, we learned the news of this attack in Benghazi.
As Americans, let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases, lay down their lives for it. Our country is only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those both civilian and military who represent us around the globe.
No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.
But we also know that the lives these Americans led stand in stark contrast to those of their attackers. These four Americans stood up for freedom and human dignity. They should give every American great pride in the country that they served, and the hope that our flag represents to people around the globe who also yearn to live in freedom and with dignity.
We grieve with their families, but let us carry on their memory, and let us continue their work of seeking a stronger America and a better world for all of our children.
Thank you. May God bless the memory of those we lost and may God bless the United States of America.
END
10:48 A.M. EDT