May 08, 2009
Obama's European Honeymoon: Over Already? That Was Quick
What, did he think that his personal charisma could shield him from criticism that American presidents have been subjected to by their European "betters" since, like, always? Peter Brookes of the Times of London is sounding the call:
Of course, the blame for civilian deaths in Afghanistan should be placed on the Taliban because like al Qaeda, their un-uniformed fighters hide within civilian populations deliberately. The more innocent people dead, the more they like it - plus there's always the hope that the civilians will turn their backs on the Americans and those Europeans still in Afghanistan.
I would be more willing to defend Obama from the criticism, but a couple of things bother me:
First, the man just can't stop apologizing. Civilian casualties suck, but in war - and especially the despicable type being waged by Islamists - they are bound to happen. So man up and accept the responsibility. Running around saying "I'm sorry" about everything is hardly going to inspire respect around the world.
Second, Obama didn't mind smearing our troops - and therefore smearing the Commander in Chief - while on the campaign trail back in 2007:
“Now you have narco drug lords who are helping to finance the Taliban, so we’ve got to get the job done there, and that requires us to have enough troops that we are not just air raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous problems there,’’ Obama said.
Leftists screamed that we needed to be more involved in Afghanistan, not Iraq. Their wish has been granted, but as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Obama is ramping things up in Afghanistan. Did he really expect that his ascension would magically turn things around?
Bush was reviled by many of our "friends" in Europe from 2003 until he left office. I'd love to ask Obama how he's enjoying the mantle of leadership now.
OH...and speaking of that famous charisma:
BARBARA Walters once had a very awkward moment with Barack Obama before he won the White House. "I went to a seminar where [he] was being interviewed," the veteran ABC newsgal tells this month's Avenue. "I went up to him afterwards and said, 'Senator, I hope one day you'll come on 'The View.' He looked at me and said, 'I was.' And I said, 'Oh, I'm so embarrassed. I guess I wasn't on that day.' And he said, 'You were.' "
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