I just read Obama’s speech to the public on the Underpants Bomber and Iran (full transcript of Obama’s speech here). Needless to say the speech is too little too late. Three days after what appears to be the grace of God saving us from another 9-11 and Janet Napolitano’s buffoonery, Obama pulls himself away from vacation to speak to the public. This has got to be the most inadequate response to terror yet. Keep in mind Obama could not get in front of the cameras fast enough of tout his shitty health care reform, but to address a act of terror, Obama gets all mañana about it! Furthermore, I found some of the things he said absolutely troubling.
Starting with the second paragraph:
The investigation's ongoing. And I spoke again this morning with Attorney General Eric Holder, the secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, and my counterterrorism and homeland security adviser, John Brennan. I asked them to keep -- continue monitoring the situation to keep the American people and members of Congress informed.
Notice he mentions Holder first and Napolitano second and no mention of the FBI or CIA. Does this mean that Obama considers this a criminal justice matter?
The third and fourth paragraphs are troubling too [emphasis added, mine]:
Here's what we know so far: On Christmas Day, Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was en route from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit. As the plane made its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a passenger allegedly tried to ignite an explosive device on his body, setting off a fire.
Thanks to the quick and heroic actions of passengers and crew, the suspect was immediately subdued, the fire was put out, and the plane landed safely. The suspect is now in custody and has been charged with attempting to destroy an aircraft.
This is the language of a lawyer not a Commander in Chief. Does Obama think this guy is innocent? The dude is nursing a charbroiled crotch, we have his toasted underwear and have identified the high explosive PETN, so what gives with the “allegedly” and “suspect” talk? This does not bode well for actually fighting terror.
Of course Obama does a lot of covering his ass in the speech as well, as seen here with the “I” statements:
Since I was first notified of this incident, I've ordered the following actions to be taken to protect the American people and to secure air travel.
First, I directed that we take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the traveling public. We made sure that all flights still in the air were secure and could land safely. We immediately enhanced screening and security procedures for all flights, domestic and international. We added federal air marshals to flights entering and leaving the United States. And we're working closely in this country, federal, state and local law enforcement, with our international partners.
Second, I've ordered two important reviews, because it's absolutely critical that we learn from this incident and take the necessary measures to prevent future acts of terrorism.
On Iran, Obama seems to mention it as an afterthought in the speech:
Before I leave, let me also briefly address the events that have taken place over the last few days in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens, which has apparently resulted in detentions, injuries, and even death.
In the entire six paragraphs devoted to Iran, Obama never once utters the word “Freedom”, instead he uses the term “universal rights”. WTF are universal rights anyway and where were they ever defined? It is a bit appalling that an American president cannot think to use or bring himself to utter the word “freedom” when speaking of the Iranian struggle. Again this does not bode well for a successful outcome in Iran.
Via: Memeorandum
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18 comments:
Band-aid solutions for air travel will be done immediately but forgotten three weeks hence. If people are serious about air safety, make sure a radical on a no-fly list and without a passport (presumably) never gets on a plane.
I think Obama would be thrilled never to address Iran's crumbling state for as long as he is in office.
Just my thoughts.
"The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens, which has apparently resulted in detentions, injuries, and even death."
In Obamaland, the dead are merely "apparently" dead and "violent" suppression "apparently" results in injuries.
It seems obvious that Obama would not bother to mention the struggles of the Iranian people for freedom, even as a footnote, if his free-falling poll numbers were not waking him up to the fact that he is going to have to respond to at least some of the people some of the time.
I guess the FBI dropped the ball because thye have never done this 'international intelligence' thing before a few months ago... Now that the CIA isn't allowed to be involved in the whole terrorism thing you cannot blame them.
Obama is in way over his head and he doesn't have enough sense to surround himself with capable people.
I leave it to you wonderful bloggers and posters..........
do the "I or uh's win the most repeated words in Obama's vocabulary"? I could be wrong, but this might be a triple crown finish for betting folks.
Osumashi:
You are correct, Obama is looking to slap a band aid on this ASAP. It has been his MO on everything that doesn't involve spending on the domestic front.
Unfortunately, I think the jig is up for Obama on this one.
Quite Rightly:
I think by 2012 the phrase "out of touch" will be replace with the single word "Obama".
Jess:
Obama is looking extremely weak handling terror. You just know someone is going to do a youtube video with Obama and Bush juxtaposed talking about terror. The contrast will be very stark!
Steve in Tulsa:
You just know that whole sidelining of the CIA is going to bite Obama in the butt.
Bungalow Bill:
Excellent take on Bush/ Obama comparison. I recommend you all click through.
Anonymous:
Re: surrounding himself with smart people. This is where having some executive experience before becoming President is helpful.
You cannot be president all by yourself. You need good people under you. Only good leaders know how to pick the best and brightest. For Obama THIS is his first time doing this, so no surprised he flubbed it.
Janelle:
I gave up counting I's and uh's with Obama. I was never great with scientific notation, LOL.
I was listening to some talk shows and realized a very important point is being made: During all of this effort to fix healthcare, a Constitutionally mandated responsibility has been ignored for political gain. I'm thinking this is a political broadside and the liberal ship of fools is in danger of sinking.
Excellent. I'm concerned that he didn't qualify "extremists" as Muslim extremists. You know he thinks all of are "extremists" because we are conservative and think he's a bumbling boob. That can't be good.
While he's busy ordering more studies and beer summits, why doesn't he do something about the weak areas of the various aircraft that fly civilians? You know, little things like sitting an air marshal in the seats over the fuel and "skin." Or better, ordering that these areas be reinforced with something to protect them from bombs? Or gee, maybe not letting radical Muslims with ties to al Quada and one-way tickets they purchased with cash on planes in the first place?
And just wait. Holder will be filing charges against the citizens who stopped the bomber. (snark alert) He was "assaulted" by them, and there are many reports that he had his pants taken down and was ushered up the aisle with them around his ankles. That's probably some sort of crime, too. Humiliating a terrorist or something? A hate crime? Obviously these people were acting out of a clear hatred of this poor man who was only trying to do his job. Why not? They are railroading the Navy SEALS who punched a terrorist, so I'm waiting for these civilians to be arrested, too.
I hadn't caught the omission of the word "freedom," but you are absolutely right. That's a significant omission. Again, given that he is working his czars' fingers to the bone to figure out how to shut down talk radio, Fox news, and the conservative internet, maybe he's not comfortable defending freedom? Or maybe he's just not comfortable defending freedom, period.
Jess hit the nail on the head: Blatantly ignoring the single most important mandate outlined in the Constitution, the primary duty of the federal government, PROTECTION OF THE NATION AGAINST ENEMIES, for a whole wheelbarrow full of crap they have no authority to even THINK about meddling in.
And seriously, WTF is happening to BHO? Look how OLD he's starting to look. Must be the reality of the office he holds catching up to him?
Jess:
Yes, this failed bomb attempt is going to hurt politically. Obama can thank Napolitano for that.
Fuzzy Slippers:
Good catch on the extremists. We pretty much know that many of the far left have this silly notion that conservative are the same as the Taliban.
Some twisted logic justice from Holder is not too hard to imagine. His inability to answer Lindsey Grahams' questions about KSM's venue tells us Holder is a not about following the letter and spirit of the law.
I am not too sure Obama understand the meaning of freedom as we know it. I suspect he finds it a "quaint" notion rather than a driving force.
Angie Lee:
So many in Washington fail to understand that their primary role is to protect our lives, liberty and property and to do so without sacrificing one for another.
Yes, Obama is looking very grey in this picture and that is only after one year.
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