Generally proud? Generally? That’s something you say about your 23 year old who’s living in the basement who can’t leave the basement because his ankle bracelet will start beeping on account of his three DUI’s and missed paternity payments to two different lady friends.
It’s not how the President of the United States, the Commander in freakin’ Chief, should be talking about the men and women in the U.S. military who are sacrificing everything for the cause of freedom.
Fox News reports:
President Barack Obama is calling the alleged slaying of 16 Afghan civilians by a U.S. soldier “absolutely tragic and heartbreaking” and said that he is still “proud generally” of what U.S. troops have achieved in Afghanistan while working under “enormous strain.”
For me, this is even worse than Bill Clinton’s Vietnam era letter in which he referenced his “loathing the military.” You know why? Because Clinton wrote that when he was a dumb young man. He wasn’t Commander-in-Chief at the time.
It seems to me that faint praise by the Commander-in-Chief is worse than the ramblings of a young man of draftable age who says he hates the military.
March 12, 2012 at 10:38 pm
As a retiree, I am generally ashamed of the remarks of this man when it comes to military operations.
March 12, 2012 at 10:57 pm
I'm gonna play devil's advocate on this one and say Obama's statement is something tantamount to Revelation 2:19-23.
As to the Clinton line, Pope Pius XII said something similar to American vice-consul Robert Murphy:
"The legate assured him Hitler would never be heard from again."
Pius XII: "Bob, that was BEFORE I was infallible.
Ya see, we all make mistakes …
… Happy Lent, happy little clouds, happy little trees, happy happy happy. 🙂
March 12, 2012 at 11:37 pm
TomE- google this question "When is a Pope considered to be infallible"- you will be educated that it is only when he is speaking 'ex cathedra' about faith and morals- so if the Pope says "I like chocolate ice cream" it is not a statement of infallibility
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility
March 12, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Faint praise indeed! I accept this insult as I would a desecration of my late father's grave!
March 13, 2012 at 12:07 am
I won't write the first word that comes to my mind.
Do you know my husband is due to retire from active duty service soon? As I've mentioned here in the past, my whole family has sacrificed a LOT the past few years. My children have suffered tremendously during the absence of their father. I know. We signed up for this. BUT, we did not sign up for the CINC to do this to us. To marginalize the military. To cut back on so much. I don't want my husband to retire. Do you know why? Because then this man's name will be on his retirement certificate.
March 13, 2012 at 1:54 am
PW, it was a tongue-in-cheek comment by Pius XII. A healthy sense of humor can be very beneficial to a Catholic, especially in this day & age.
…but thanks for the rejoinder.
March 13, 2012 at 1:54 am
I'm a veteran. I am not proud of this multiple murder, urinating on dead, or burning religious books. If you are, shame on you. I am generally proud of them but not completely.
Parse his words to meet your needs
Rover
March 13, 2012 at 4:07 am
I do not believe our military is infallible and thus do not feel particularly hysterical about the word "generally". I too am generally proud, but I cannot give superlative to incidents where childrenn are murdered in their homes, urinating on corpses or any reprehensible and evil actions.