When John Kennedy addressed West Point’s Class of 1962, he told them the burden of defending freedom “will require more from you than ever before in our history.”
The nature of war had changed, said the young president, but this only increased America’s need for military officers of character, judgment and ability.
How different from Barack Obama’s adolescent address Wednesday. Here the long gray line was reduced to a backdrop for a president shouting to the world: I’m not the weakling you think!
His critics, he said, have no policy beyond invading other countries. This accusation was a petulent allusion to his predecessor. And he repeated it several times:
- “A strategy that involves invading every country that harbors terrorist networks is naïve and unsustainable.”
- “[Not] every problem has a military solution.”
- “[My critics] think military intervention is the only way for America to avoid looking weak.”
The truth is: No one says any such thing.
No one argued for US troops in Syria; the argument was for arming democrats fighting Bashar al-Assad to keep al Qaeda from taking the lead.
No one argued for boots on the ground in Ukraine, either, though critics are pushing for missile defense for our East European allies. And no one is looking to invade Iran, much as people do worry Tehran is using talks to buy time to develop its nukes.
On Wednesday, our commander-in-chief stood before some of America’s most selfless men and women. It was an opportunity to inspire these young West Pointers with a speech about national security — and their vital role in a dangerous world.
Instead he opted for a campaign speech once again contrasting his own brilliance with a childish caricature of his critics.