The hard part of command

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Military on Oct 29 

obama-honor.jpg

I came across this picture and accompanying story early this morning. It gave me reason to pause as it gave me an impression I have not had until this morning. My singular thought looking at this picture was “this is the most presidential thing I’ve ever seen President Obama do.”

He flew to Dover Air Force Base in the early morning hours to render respect unto the most recent casualties returning home from Afghanistan. It was all together fitting and proper that he should do this. These were soldiers and DEA agents whose orders sending them into harm’s way bore his signature.

Command is a very lonely place, never more solitary than at times like the one pictured above. The time will soon come when a hard command decision will have to be made which will determine the outcome of this cause for which these and so many other men have given the last full measure of devotion. As I look at this picture now, I’m reminded of the final words uttered by Captain John H. Miller to Private James Francis Ryan in the closing scene of Saving Private Ryan:

Earn this.

Comments

  • Alaina Segovia

    I really would like to give him credit for this… not because of him, but because of the soldiers. It’s nothing more than a photo op and I think it’s shameful that he’s using our fallen heroes to make it look like he gives a d@$*.

    I don’t think this will help him. He continues to stall on his decision… you would think that this would be a sobering moment that force him to make a decision.

  • Brian H

    Correction: “Commander”

  • Brian H

    I am pleased that the POTUS took the time and planning for such a photo-op. Now that he is positioning himself as truly a “Comander in Chief” he will now be forced into acting like one.

    I am sure the administration viewed this as an opportunity to buy his indecisiveness more time, I think it does quite the opposite. One thing that surprises me the most about Obama is how inept he and his team are at political posturing.

  • Troy La Mana

    I respect the office and I have admiration for this moment. I am left wondering though, if this is nothing more then a photo opportunity since Obama is the one in command when the U.S. death toll reaches a record level for the third time in four months.

    • Whodat

      Troy-My-Mana,

      Exactly my sentiments! If his heart was hurting, or his soul was searching for the right answer and so he sought truth among the fallen, I salute that. But, why did he take the photographers with him? Why and how did the pictures and video get out within hours?

      Because it was a cynical, photo-op and nothing more, by the emptiest suit we have ever had in that office. As a veteran, and as an American, I find this guy an insult to just about everything.

      Whodat

      • Red State Eddio

        Would that be the first time he’s ever saluted American warriors or the flag?

        I wonder if that was the second time Michelle was proud of her country.

        At least he got the correct arm up.

    • Rick Hendrix

      Imagine the accusations of political opportunism if President Bush had released photos like this.

  • Brian H

    The display of solidarity and leadership with America’s fallen will only have meaning if Obama makes a decisive decision to give his military commanders the level of support they have requested, or, he makes a decision to completely withdrawl them from Afghanistan. I know which decision I would like to see made but I can respect either.

    If Obama does what I fear he is going to do and makes some middle of the road half-a#@ decision that leave our guys in a perpetual state of limbo, then all future solutes in the world should be done with one middle finger extended, for that will be the message they receive from this President.