Sure, the skill's necessary to convince most of your citizens and a large part of the world you didn't do it after you shoot down a commercial airliner or invade and take over a country are beyond Obama's dreams, but rulers are like everyone else; competitive and driven to be better than their peers.
Ruler you say? Well, let's be honest, this administration stopped behaving as a democracy and started functioning as an autocracy the moment our leader told us that without congress taking some sort of action he would act alone. Fear of this behavior is exactly why the founders created our style of government; three separate branches designed to prevent any one branch from assuming too much power.
The PDB, Presidents Daily Brief, historically has been presented to the president and supported by dialogue, a format whereby the president is able to gain the proper perspective of the intelligence directly from its authors or their representatives. Under President Obama, the format has changed to a word document submitted electronically and read in private by the president, allowing for perspective to be framed by personal beliefs or opinions.
A news story today suggests Obama received regular 'exquisite intelligence' through his PDB's on ISIS' capabilities and potential beginning over a year ago. Long before his "JV" comment. So assuming he read his electronic PDB's and further assuming his world view allowed him to fully comprehend the information provided, why would he put forth the JV narrative? Could it be the same reason he stated Osama Bin Laden is dead and Al Qaida is on the run? (Public relations preceding his run for re-election - in this case preceding the mid year elections.) Could it be his desire that all societies behave as advanced intellectual beings rather than the animals we are? Maybe it was a Freudian response to the memories of his time on the JV basketball team at Occidental (if he really played - remember we haven't seen his grades from that college either). Or by reading his PDB's in private and therefore preventing a clear perspective on the information, was it simply one more skillfully placed layer of deniability?
I give him credit for the aforementioned desire. In a dream world where all societies are moving toward a singular society, one where everyone agrees on and works toward common goals, there might exist greater civility. Might. And some day, we might get there. Some day. Might.
In 2014, in the real world, however, negotiating with ideological terrorists hiding behind religion (IS, Hamas, etc.) or tyrants who change their countries constitution in order to stay in power (Putin), is like trying to conciliate with a Great White Shark before he eats you. Should you have the terrible misfortune of winding up in his neighborhood, even if you spoke his language, you would absolutely and without question, not be able to reason with the shark. You would become lunch.
"What’s unique about our times is the nature of the threats—suicidal, homicidal, genocidal terrorists, well armed and organized, seeking the destruction of the United States. The other difference: the lack of Western leadership, starting with the president himself. …"
What does the body language and facial expressions in this speech say? I see unleashed emotion, anger, determination, a plan to deal with anyone possessing a different view.
How about this one? I see passivity, restraint, a lack of emotion, no plan for addressing those with a different view. Even though the scum possessing those views are killing Americans, taunting our way of life, and threatening the very existence of individual freedom around the world.
Am I crazy or does this president have it backwards?
For my money, I am staying out of the water and when circumstances dictate I must confront the Great White, it will be with a harpoon.
"Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong."
- Ronald Regan
Time to join the Varsity team Barry!
Time to join the Varsity team Barry!
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