08.07.2009 6:56 pm
A lesson in pragmatism
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
While campaigning for the presidency, Barack Obama vehemently and vociferously excoriated the Bush Administration for its draconian war policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, promising a change in course if he won the election.
Well, almost seven months into his administration, things are not all working out the way Obama anticipated. The president, among other actions, has embraced military tribunals, suspended habeas corpus for some of the most despicable terrorists, and prohibited the publication of photos showing the alleged torture of enemy combatants. Although to his credit, the U.S. involvement in Iraq is winding down, the war in Afghanistan against theTaliban continues to worsen, and as a result, Obama has ordered an additional 21,000 troops deployed there.
Suffice to say, the president is learning a valuable lesson in pragmatism; wherein, while it’s easy to make campaign promises, often times it’s exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to keep them.
Gene Carton
Olivette
I agree w/ your take. But, pragmatism is nothing to be proud of - the principle of rejecting principles. It’s totally driving our policies, and what a tangled mess it has brought.
Gene
What the heck are you talking about that things are not working out the way Obama wanted? Didn’t you see “Grade the President” on CNN the other night when over 300,000 people called in and gave the president a grade on his first 200 days of office? 38% of the people gave him an “F”. Now I think “F” stands for Fantastic. I don’t really know because the liberal public school I went to gave everyone the same feedback, there were no grades as when people are graded then feelings can get hurt. It kinda is like the new age we live in where no matter how hard you work, everyone gets paid the same–I AM LOVIN IT!!!!!
The Libtard
Its gotten lost in the “news of the fake outrage over healthcare..but on Friday the LEADER of the Taliban was killed by a drone. Many military experts are saying this has more significance that killing Bin Laden.
Hey Libby..anyone with a brain knows on-line polls are completely meaningless. I repeat,anyone with a brain.
Today thirty times as much heroin comes out of Afghanistan as when the Taliban were in power. The Taliban had severely curtailed poppy production. That is why the country was invaded and remains occupied.
The result: Heroin has never been more available on the streets of America.
As for Obama…find out what the establishment media forgot to tell you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw
Gene,
I admire your generosity toward the President. I’d be inclined to call Mr Obama’s foreign policy declarations during the 2008 election a fantasy at best, and a deliberate deception at worst. Our naive Commander-in-Chief and his starry-eyed supporters are learning that governing is far removed from campaigning. Funny thing, though, the media aren’t hounding Presdent Obama about it like they did President Bush, and the anti-war left seems awfully subdued. If we eventually fail in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, he can always go on another apology tour and then blame it all on “W”. What a deal!
Don’t blame me, I had a plan to get us out of this war in less time than it takes for my Botox to wear off.
Have to run, I have a Gulfstream waiting for me! Toodles!!