Obama's Grand Tour

I believe it was George Jones who sang about the Grand Tour. But his sad refrain does not top the Grand Tour by Obama. There was nothing substantive from Obama on this Middle East/European tour. This tour was nothing more than a backdrop for photo opportunities to look Presidential on the world stage.

His press conferences were no different. He gave his standard bland responses to all questions with more 'uhs' than words. He demonstrates a shallowness that is inconceivable in a U.S. President. He also does not demonstrate the courage of humility. He is an elite of the first order. Obama does not have the capacity to admit he was wrong about the surge.

The one anchorperson to ask Obama any probing questions was none other than Katie Couric of CBS. In a surprising interview, Katie tried her best to nail down an answer from Obama about his opinion of the 'surge'. Without the capacity for admitting that he was wrong in his failure to support the surge, he managed to finally give a tortured answer to the question without admission that the 'surge' was the main factor in stopping the violence in Iraq. My hat goes off to Katie with some newfound respect for her. She did not drop the subject when it was obvious that Obama was not going to answer the question. She actually was a good interviewer during the segment. The following is an excerpt from Katie's interview with Obama.

Couric: But talking microcosmically, did the surge, the addition of 30,000 additional troops ... help the situation in Iraq?
Obama: Katie, as … you've asked me three different times, and I have said repeatedly that there is no doubt that our troops helped to reduce violence. There's no doubt.
Couric: But yet you're saying … given what you know now, you still wouldn't support it … so I'm just trying to understand this.
Obama: Because … it's pretty straightforward. By us putting $10 billion to $12 billion a month, $200 billion, that's money that could have gone into Afghanistan. Those additional troops could have gone into Afghanistan. That money also could have been used to shore up a declining economic situation in the United States. That money could have been applied to having a serious energy security plan so that we were reducing our demand on oil, which is helping to fund the insurgents in many countries. So those are all factors that would be taken into consideration in my decision-- to deal with a specific tactic or strategy inside of Iraq.
Couric: And I really don't mean to belabor this, Senator, because I'm really, I'm trying … to figure out your position. Do you think the level of security in Iraq …
Obama: Yes.
Couric … would exist today without the surge?
Obama: Katie, I have no idea what would have happened had we applied my approach, which was to put more pressure on the Iraqis to arrive at a political reconciliation. So this is all hypotheticals. What I can say is that there's no doubt that our U.S. troops have contributed to a reduction of violence in Iraq. I said that-- not just today, not just yesterday, but I've said that-- previously. What that doesn't change is that we've got to have a different strategic approach if we're going to make America as safe as possible.

Obama also showed off his lack of understanding about the politics of the Middle East and particularly the Palestinian problem.

The trip's success will boil down to whether the American people listened to Obama or just looked at the photos. The photos were a resounding success. In images broadcast around the world, Obama is smiling and shaking hands with the leaders of those respective countries. With some audiences, images are enough to carry the day.

We urge you to take a closer look at Obama at his experience and listen to his ideas. I am not talking about the rhetoric of a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage. Because those who feel slighted by society will gravitate to the promises of more bling to their lives, but the real story is how he intends to provide the bling. It is fair to repeat an old saying, "The additional tax burdens on business and the wealthy will get transferred in the form of higher prices to the customers."

One last thought, Katie Couric may be worth another look on her evening news show. She demonstrates those qualities needed in a news anchor.

Cheers,

-Robert-