Obama’s bow to the Emperor of Japan was appropriate. Let me reiterate; there is nothing to regret in Obama’s bow to Akihito. I lived in Japan for most of two years and bowed dozens of times a day; it is the same as shaking hands. That the President of the United States had the courtesy to correctly observe the custom showed he is secure in his position as the world’s most powerful man and leader of the world’s most powerful nation. To construe any submission to the Emperor of Japan in Obama’s act is not reasonable.
On the other hand, I am forced to muse on what might have reasonably been running through the Emperor’s mind as he looked down on Obama’s head. He could have thought to himself: “Too bad you weren’t President of the United States in 1941. If you had been, my father, Hirohito, would have won the war, and I would be the most powerful man on earth."
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR sent 7,000,000 U.S. troops into terrible war. America’s military saved our freedom and the world, and insured our nation’s preeminence. Obama is troubled at sending 40,000 troops to Afghanistan in order to win the War on Terror. The Afghan based Terrorist who attacked America on 9/11 killed as many Americas as the Japanese Imperial Fleet did on December 7, 1941. The terror attack had a far greater negative impact on our national economy than the loss of a few old battle ships in the Pacific. These terrorist are still determined to destroy not only our lives but our way of life, and Obama is looking for a way to give up the fight.
Let’s be reasonable. George Bush sent the troops that liberated Afghanistan and Iraq and he kept the U. S. homeland safe from terrorist attack for eight years. Obama has lost it all in nine months. Now that is submission we will all regret.
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I would disagree that he has 'lost it all'. I see Iraq as successful, the troop reductions seem to me to be a result of the policies of wise men like Gen. Petraeus. I don't think that has been lost. I do agree we are at a crossroads in Afghanistan. We can do the hard thing, and we can be successful, or we can do the easy thing, and chalk it up to no one can succeed in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, more and more people seem willing, and desirous to let Afghanistan go. I will be the first to admit that I don't know what it will take, or how long it will take to make sustainable progress in Afghanistan, but the downside is if we don't, we will see problematic results in the future.
Dan,
It seems a bit ironic doesn’t it? After near a year of blaming all of Obama’s failures, (10%+ unemployment, Trillion $+ deficit, record trade deficit, terrorist attack in Texas, constipation in Middle East peace talks, progress in stopping Iranian and Korea atomic weapons programs, ect. ect. ect.) on George W. Bush and his administration, one is now forced to usurp a Bush accomplishment, (victory in Iraq) in order to claim that Obama hasn’t, “lost it all”.
I spend a lot of time studying Roman history. I have long laughed at those who try to find parallels in the decline of Rome and the fall of America, but I guarantee you, when Americans are willing to lose a war rather than pay the price for victory, the Dark Ages are coming.
I agree with your final statement. We shouldn't be willing to fight for victory. My point was simply this, that Obama has (whether one believes through his good choices, or through his lack of destroying the good that had already been accomplished) not lost it all.
If it had all been lost, we would be at square one or worse in Iraq, and all progress in Afghanistan up to this point would be wiped away. I believe neither, so whether I agree with Obama's policies or not, I cannot agree that he has lost it all.
However, like I also said, we are at a crossroads, and we have the chance to lose much, if we don't fight for victory and success.
One more quick point. I have long held the belief that the President of the United States was given both too much credit and too much blame for everything that happens in this country. I no more lay the unemployment and deficits at Obama's feet than I accept they are the fault of Pres. Bush. Congress holds the purse strings. And every greedy irresponsible citizen that bought more than they could afford, borrowed more on a mortgage than was reasonable or prudent, every person who thought they could earn a quick buck through dubious financial schemes, etc. holds blame for the financial crisis of the country. (As well as a large list of mistakes and problems made by politicians from the White House down to the local level)
Dan,
I agree with you. I believe "it" isn't "all" lost yet.
Dan
As you can see, it was late last night before I had a chance to read your comment. As I said above, I do agree with you, especially on your assessment of the President’s role in dealing with economic challenges. A free market will enable people willing to work to succeed, if they do not have to carry too many who will not work. Programs that encourage laziness and penalize effort will only worsen the economic problems we face, dragging us back to pre-Reagan malaise.
It will be hard for Mr. Obama to “win” with me on Afghanistan and the War on Terror. If he does not send troops to Afghanistan, we lose the war: if he does, he demonstrates that he could have done the right thing at once, had he been the leader he pretends to be. His dallying has put him in a no-win-situation with me. Roosevelt did not wait four months to begin mobilization against Japan; “he awoke the sleeping giant and filled it with terrible resolve”. As for Obama’s handling of the first terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11; had he admitted the truth about the attack and acted decisively to prevent the next, he would have demonstrated leadership. Now, even if he acts, the next attack will demonstrate how weakness is exploited by the enemies of reason. They interpret his indecision as evidence that we are back to the pre-Bush level of weakness and once again believe they can destroy America. Such a success for the terrorists generates more fanatics and makes America’s ultimate victory more difficult to obtain.
Obama may not yet have lost it all, but in the struggle for the Survival of the West, he has dragged the world back, and made ultimate victory far more difficult.
But, the roman empire was a great nation spreading as far as the eye can see and they fell. How do we know that we are not doomed to the same fate.
i agree with Lysis though that if Obama was smart enough he would turn to the troubles that are happening on American soil. But, as well it would be practically impossible to protect everything in the united states. Considering the money it would take to protect our way of life. As well we are way into debt as it is and Obama is putting us into more debt. So the real question is how will we over come this.
Twon,
It is nice to hear from you. It is most gratifying to have a new voice here at the Agora.
Rome was not destined to fall. Rome fell when the Romans were no longer willing to fight for their “country”. For 1,200 years, the determination of Romans to win brought peace, prosperity, and freedom to much of the world. If you take into consideration the Eastern Roman Empire centered on Constantinople, the Roman survived for yet another thousand years.
The ideas that are foundational to American Greatness predate the Romans – they are universal and eternal. They will survive, but our chance to enjoy them depends on our willingness to support them. We cannot escape the death of our children or the destruction of our freedom by pretending there is no danger. Our enemies are at the gates and our Commander-in-Chief must act.
Jimmy Doolittle was over Tokyo 128 days after Pearl Harbor, and everyone in the world knew who would win that war. What has Obama done in the last 128 days to demonstrate to the enemies of America that they cannot defeat us?
In 458 BC a Roman Army was surrounded, pined down on a mountain top and doomed. With the destruction of the legions, the invading hordes would have and open road to Rome. At the request of the Senate, Cincinnatus left his plow in the field at evening time, organized the populace of the city the next day, and had destroyed the invaders by midnight, the second morning of his Dictatorship. Sixteen days later, he gave up his power and returned to his plow - the savior of his nation. Sixteen days after the Fort Hood massacre the Obama administration hasn’t even admitted we are under attack.
your words speak truth lysis. in times were there is no hope is when great leaders to arise to the challenge that is bestowed to them. I'm a student and the intelligence that you have.....intrigues me. I have often wished for a teacher as such. I am part of a generation were the intelligence of a person is very slim. The real question is will we have hope for my generation to follow the example of the leaders of history such as F.D.R, Abraham, George Washington, and so fourth. I don't know what my generation has in store for the fate of our country. I guess we will have to see what will happen but i hope that it will not bring us our fall. Considering most of my generation usually take everything for granted from what I have seen around the U.S. I often find myself wondering what will happen in the next 5 to 10 years considering that's usually when change's tend to happen in my view.
Twon,
You give me hope for the future, as do the hundreds of students I work with at school and camp. I believe in the divine nature of human intellect. I am confident that man is by nature good and that he loves truth. Men seek it like food and water. Given the chance to learn and to think, Americans will rise to their potential. We must have more faith in the truth than our enemies do in their lies.
spoken like a poet lysis. I think that the nature of man is an amusing conflict with other peoples views.
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