Reactions to Obama at West Point

By Stephen Lendman
5-30-14

This writer's accompanying article called his address typical Obama demagogic mumbo jumbo.

He justified the unjustifiable. He defended the indefensible. He repeated one Big Lie after another. Media scoundrels reacted.

The New York Times headlined "Obama Warns US Faces Diffuse Terrorism Threats," saying:

He "tried…to articulate his vision of the American role in the world on Wednesday, telling graduating cadets here that the nation they were being called to serve would seek to avoid military misadventures abroad, even as it confronts a new set of terrorist threats from the Middle East to Africa."

Fact: America's war on terror is subterfuge deception to advance its imperium.

Fact: America's only enemies are ones it invents.

Fact: Military adventurism is longstanding US policy.

Fact: America lurches from one war to others.

Fact: Don't expect longstanding policy to change.

An accompanying Times article headlined "Rebutting Critics, Obama Seeks Higher Bar for Military Action," saying:

"After more than five years in office, Mr. Obama has become increasingly convinced that while the United States must play a vital role beyond its borders, it should avoid getting dragged into the quicksand of international crises that have trapped some of his predecessors."

"It is time for an end to what he called 'a long season of war.' "

Fact: Obama is the latest in a long line of US warrior presidents.

Fact: He exceeds the worst of his predecessors by far.

Fact: His rap sheet is blood-drenched.

Fact: He's responsible for millions of deaths.

Fact: He's a serial liar.

Fact: His word isn't his bond.

Fact: He says one thing.

Fact: He does another.

Fact: He waged war on humanity throughout his tenure.

Fact: Claiming he wants "a long season of war" ended rings hollow.

Fact: Expect no change ahead.

Times editors called his address "largely uninspiring." It lacked "strategic sweep," they said.

It won't likely "quiet his detractors, on the right or the left."

He "did make a strong case (for) the use of force," they said. "Mr. Obama was steady and sensible on this vital issue."

"He (correctly) endorsed military action, even unilaterally, when the country is threatened or when the security of its allies is in danger."

His "comments on China and Russia barely touched on how he plans to manage two major countries that have turned increasingly aggressive."

"(W)hat matters ultimately is his record in the next two and a half years."

Fact: Core international law is clear and unequivocal.

Fact: Military action is prohibited except in self-defense.

Fact: America does it preemptively.

Fact: Repeatedly.

Fact: Without just cause.

Fact: No nation may intervene in the internal affairs of others.

Fact: Longstanding US policy prioritizes it.

Fact: Russia and China deplore war.

Fact: They threaten no one.

Fact: Don't expect Times editors to explain.

The Washington Post headlined "Obama lays out new postwar foreign policy, stresses nonmilitary options," saying:

He "laid out his vision for a comprehensive post-9/11 foreign policy after more than a decade of war overseas, arguing for a new form of American leadership that strikes a balance between interventionism and avoiding "foreign entanglements.' "

Fact: Obama's new "vision" reflects his old one.

Fact: Wrapped up in deceptive hyperbole.

Fact: Balance isn't a US attribute.

Fact: Meddling in the affairs of other nations is longstanding US policy.

Fact: Obama's agenda for five and half years featured it.

Fact: Expect no change that matters going forward.

Washington Post contributor EJ Dionne headlined "Obama outlines doctrine where restraint makes us stronger," saying:

He "challenged his critics, at home and abroad…This is as close as we have gotten to an Obama doctrine."

He was "elect(ed) as a pragmatic antiwar candidate…(He) declared…he was opposed not to all wars but to…dumb" ones.

"It was clear Wednesday that it remains a source of pride to him that he has brought what he called 'a long season of war; to an end."

"In calling for restraint and realism - and by insisting on raising the threshold for wars of choice - Obama may yet prove himself to be the best friend American internationalists have."

Fact: Restraint isn't a US attribute.

Fact: It never was.

Fact: For sure not now.

Fact: Multiple direct and proxy wars raged throughout Obama's tenure.

Fact: They still do.

Fact: Expect no substantive change going forward.

Wall Street Journal editors headlined "Obama at West Point." Obama "skipped a few world events," they said.

He wasn't robust enough, they claimed. They called "listening to (him) trying to assemble a coherent foreign policy agenda from the record of the past five years was like watching Tom Hanks trying to survive in 'Cast Away:' "

"Whatever's left from the wreckage will have to do."

They omitted what this writer stressed above. Obama is a serial liar. He broke every major promise made.

He says one thing. He does another. One speech sounds like others. Doublespeak duplicity defines them.

Chicago Tribune editors headlined "Obama's Strategy: Outsource the war on terror," saying:

Obama "charted a vision for protecting America that relies less on military power and more on training foreign security forces to fight on their own soil."

Fact: America is addicted to war.

Fact: It's the national pastime.

Fact: Obama's speech changed nothing.

Fact: Military might reflects official US policy.

Longstanding war on humanity won't change. Imposing Washington rules on other nations will continue.

So will targeting all independent states. America wants subservient pro-Western ones replacing them.

War is Washington's bottom line option. It's been this way since the republic's founding. It's much worse than ever now. Humanity itself is threatened.

Obama is an unindicted war criminal. He glorifies war in the name of peace. Might justifies right, he believes.

He calls imperial wars liberating ones. He ravaged and destroyed one nation after another throughout his tenure. Don't expect him to change now.                                                                                              

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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