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For the sake of our troops - MAKE A DECISION!!!!!

Is it too much to expect the Commander in Chief to behave like one?

Another ten brave men died this weekend in a war in Afghanistan that we are most certainly not winning right now. The reason we are not winning is political - not military. We have once again forgotten who we are. Take a look at these two simple quotes from one of the greatest men this nation as ever produced.

"In war there is no substitute for victory" - General Douglas MacArthur

"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it" - General Douglas MacArthur

How about another quote that invokes MacArthur's name? "I'm always worried about using the word 'victory,' because, you know, it invokes this notion of Emperor Hirohito coming down and signing a surrender to MacArthur," President Obama told ABC News. Of course, Hirohito did no such thing, but the MSM will give him a pass on that one. They will also give him a pass on his campaign pledge that winning in Afghanistan would be his Administration's top priority.

Really? Let's examine that shall we.

On August 30th, the General that Obama himself appointed, sent an urgent request for more US troops to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal said in his war assessment that not only did we need more U.S. troops but that a new U.S. strategy was also urgently needed to defeat a growing insurgency in Afghanistan.

The President was vacationing in Martha's Vineyard at the time. Since September 1, the President has gone on SEVEN foreign trips. He has found time to play golf on four occasions, played some hoops with friends and even found time to mess around with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

He has done eight TV interviews including Letterman. He's celebrated Ramadan at the White House, taken his wife out for their anniversary and taken to the kids to some of the sites in DC. He has delivered at least two speeches to AFL-CIO rallies, done numerous fundraisers, but has only answered questions from the press once in five weeks.

He did manage to declare October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - that was just before he went to Copenhagen to try and bring home the 2016 Olympics - another failure! - and he did find time to go to the St. Regis Hotel in DC where a bunch of Democrat Governors were holding a big fundraiser. He even spoke at that event.

"I know some folks say we should focus on fixing the economy instead of on health insurance reform," he said. We all know what came next so let's not bother with it. Health care, health care, blah, blah, blah. Evil Republicans, George Bush, blah, blah, blah, Dick Cheney, blah blah.

Still no word on our men and women in harm's way of course, although he did manage to sign an an executive order banning federal workers from texting while driving government vehicles!!

So the question is, if "victory" is not our aim, what the heck are we doing there? Why is he having to make ten phone calls this weekend to the families of ten American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom?

The biggest problem seems to be that the President is not focused on what he should be focused on. You may remember that during the election, the McCain camp had some limited success with pointing out that the then candidate Obama had no Executive experience; no military experience and no foreign affairs experience. That lead to the whole "judge me by who I keep around me" garbage which is really working out well for the President I think.

But hidden in the fun of the campaign was a HUGE TRUTH that is now coming home to roost. Unfortunately the people paying the price for that hidden truth are the men and women in harm's way.

So Mr President I have a message for you.

MAKE A DECISION!!!

Either give YOUR GENERAL what he is asking for, or bring our men and women home. In the words of Douglas MacArthur...

"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Simon Conway is the two-time winner of the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in the Orlando area.

Please give me a call if you have questions about the Central Florida real estate market. You can reach me on 407 876 8200. Also visit my web site at www.simonconway.net or www.move2orlando.net

Posted by Simon Conway on 10/07/2009 10:29 PM

Comments (25)

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25 Comments on For the sake of our troops - MAKE A DECISION!!!!!

OCT

Simon I'm with you. All you hear about is how McChrystal violated protocol.

I totally agree with you and MacArthur to me is one of the most brilliant warriors. We need a true leader in this country and we don't have one.

Seeing as I invoked one of his relatives (really!), I hope my friend J-Mac weighs in on this one!

You asked the question and the unfortunate answer is "Yes, it is it too much to expect the Commander in Chief to behave like one"

Every time I am telling myself that this is nto what it looks like, it can't be anti-American. Can it? Is it?

Increasingly it becomes more and more obvious that he is incapable of making major decisions. He just move on to something new while procrastinating and putting off the economy , the war, and the health bill.

Simon- If he does not like the war, if he knows we can not win it, then bring our troops home. I will respect him if he brings our troops home or if he stays if he really thinks we can win. Either way, based on his Generals' assessments of the battle, I will support Obama as long as he actually makes a decision. Don't put our young men and women in harm's way and keep them from the support they need. Personally, based on my research, I really think in my heart that we need to just bring our troops home, keep Iraq stable and get ourselves prepared in case something happens with Iran. As long as Pakistan is not helping in the way they need to be; this war is really not going to net the result they are searching for. Katerina

OCT

Simon - Obama campaigned on Afghanistan being his top priority, while bashing Bush on Iraq being a "distraction", now he is actually the president, he abandoned another one of his false campaign promises which proves he will say anything to get elected, but do nothing when he is elected. The only thing he did when becoming president is Raise taxes on all businesses, including small business, upper middle class and wealthy individuals. Raise the capital gains tax. Raise the minimum wage to approximately 10 per hour. Implement plan for national healthcare to be paid for by tax payers. Give a boost to auto-vehicle makers because of the companies giving a lot of health care and other types of benefits, even though they are almost over the line in terms of bankruptcy.

Simon - I'm always worried about using the word 'victory,........Those are such revealing words and you can bet that they have not been overlooked by bin Laden, Ahdmanutjog, that little guy in Korea, and oh, let's not forget Putin and Jintao, Chavez, well damn, that list is too long.

He needs to make a decision and make it now. For him, and congress, to leave American troops out there without a decision is a crime. It's sh*t or get off the pot time. You can't go to war half way, Viet Nam certainly demonstrated that.

He has his own agenda and vision for America...an America strongly in debt and weak!

Let me tell you all something. I don't care if he destroys the economy; I don't care if he imposes a health care bill that the American people don't want; I don't care if he lines the pockets of the unions and his buddies at Acorn. I care A LOT that he is leaving our brave troops blowing in the wind. I cared when Bush One didn't finish off Saddam when he had the chance; I cared when Bush Two didn't have a plan for the peace. This is NOT a left/right thing or Republican/Democrat. These are American Heroes being left to die because the Commander in Chief won't make a decision and won't grant the General HE PUT THERE the urgent troops he has asked for.

Play or get off the field. He seems like such a pacifist. If we're going to war....win and get out.

This is exactly what happens when you put someone with no leadership skills and no executive experience into a position of great power. It is kind of a leadership 101 class. Leadership skills are not something you are born with. You have to acquire them through expereience and learning. Elections have consequences. The American people and sadly our young men & women in the military are now paying dearly for Obama's on the job leadership training (or lack thereof).

Simon - Bush ONE made the aweful mistake listening to Colin Powell saying we accomplished our objectives and he pressured Bush saying he would resign if Bush went any further.

General Norman Schwarzkopf told Bush he had an open road...another mistake!

I think most folks are where you are, Simon.

Either win or get out.

I am concerned and pray for our men and woman over there daily.

I have a past client that is over there, and they are on my thoughts and prayers every day.

My fear is that it will be a breeding ground for the Taliban and it will spread to Pakistan and other countries.

My son was on the "Ike" and they were supporting our troops on the ground.

Now I heard they are only flying helicopter in, not the planes.

We do not need someone with no experience overseeing the lives of our young men.

And Queen Pelosi is criticizing McChrylas for violating protocal. And yet this same woman was criticizing GWB for not listening to his general. Hypocrite.

I am 100% for supporting our troops all the way. Or bring them all home. Don't leave them to get killed. That is just insane. I realize it appeases the pacifists but the loss of life in inexcusable.

The new Obama "rules of engagement have already cost many brave men and women their lives.

Simon........ it certainly makes humanitarian sense that our commander in chief would make a commitment to either support the military leaders or advise them to stand down and return home. It is easy for all of us to arm chair quarterback from the comfort of our homes. We can see the information offered up by the media and various fact finders.

I am sure it is quite lonely at the top.

You quoted one of America's greatest military leaders. History has shown that he may have been right when he encouraged Truman to march into the heart of China. In my family, we have been raised to bristle at the suggestion that Uncle Doug was out of line.

He was.

In our nation, we have one President. He has the last word.

In my lifetime, pressure from the press and subsequent demonstrations from our fellow Americans led to our first military failure. I speak of Vietnam and the war Richard Nixon lost. Facing polls and public opinion, he opted to call the troops home.

Interestingly enough, that war had a rather strange goal. We were supporting the South Vietnamese in what amounted to a civil war. Those that supported the war accepted the goal of stopping the red peril from advancing and controlling southeast asia. Those against the war had many reasons that were more personal than not. Nixon caved and we still suffer for that massive retreat and abandonment of those that expected our support.

Korea and South Vietnam were the result of clashes between nations divided. Every incursion that has followed has been our supporting one faction over another within a country. We have sent hundreds of thousands of our finest into harm's way when there has been no clear enemy.

Every President has had his "waterloo". We have had no clear cut objective at any time in the middle east. We have sent our troops to try and maintain peace in a world that is in turmoil over issues that date back to the old testament.

We now have a general asking for more troops. We have a President that does not have victory as a goal. No one can clearly define what our goal is at this time.

We can bait the American public and bring out pictures of Bin Laden. We can show pictures of the crumbling world trade center. We can paint every person of middle eastern ethnicity as the enemy. We can do all these things.

Our true opponents are religious zealots. Religion is a belief. You can not kill beliefs with a bullet.

It is very lonely at the top.

While I would appreciate a decision, I can understand why one is not coming forth quickly.

Either win or get out.

WAKE UP. You don't invade another country and expect to "Either win or get out." To "Either win", we would have to send a half million troops over there. Who's ready to commit those lives? For a criminal that should have been caught years ago? Is that the mission still? Or just hold and keep?

There is no victory to be had here folks. The victory should have come 6-7 years ago. We've been there too long. This is not Obama's Waterloo, but Bush's. It's up to Obama to find the best the solution to end this.

OCT

We need Generals with MacArthur's experience and Patton's wisdom, without the arrogance and pride that got Patton in trouble.. ;-) We need more military leadership like we had with Shwartzkoph. (Sorry bout the spelling, spellcheck couldn't correct the last generals name......)

Nice post, Simon.....

=-)

Kim, you said it well! Pelosi is a total hypocrite!

As far as obama. I will back him either way. Like many, I just want a decision to be made. As you can see from the news, we are losing more and more fine young people daily.

OCT

obama just spoke to McKristal for the 3rd time in 8 months and said he would look into it on Wednesday? Big rush huh?

OCT

Too busy traveling the world and accepting awards.

OCT

And how much time did Bush spend on Vacation - about 30% of his presidency. We were hated all over the world - remember friends are allies and we had NONE! Torture was OK as was lying to the American people and syping on US citizens. We need a comprehensive poilcy - not the same kind of policy the previous leaders had. Since the last election was a total farce and Afghanastan does not have a valid government - and we are supposed to do what??

How many BILLIONS AND BILLIONS (actually TRILLIONS) of dollars are we supposed to spend in other countries while this country falls apart. Those that are supporting these wars for the most part are against EVERYTHING Obama does. If he brought peace and prosperity to this country they would still HATE him. ( spell BIRTHERS) .................. enough. Why don't all of you do what you asked all of the rest of us to do - support a president we did not like (BUSH) and get behind him and this country.

PS If you like war so much - go!!!

GestapObama delayed the decision on troops until after the nobel 'piece' prize vote.

Obvious

Marilyn,

WRONG!!! He workd from the Western Whitehouse.... Unlike others who abuse!!

Don't recall him taking Laura to dinner and a movie at $1MM expense of the tax payer.

OCT

Marilyn,

Did you catch where obama has spent our tax dollars on bringing HAMAS to this country for free??

That's right. 20,000,000,000.00 of our money so people who HATE us can move here and kill us from our own soil! What a guy! Now that's somebody to support! It would be funny if it weren't so d@mn scary.

We do agree on one thing. Spending our money on other countries needs to stop now! As soon as obama was in office he sent MILLIONS of our dollars overseas to give abortions. Now whether you believe abortion is right or wrong, how can anyone back our money being sent to others to control THEIR BEHAVIOR? Let them figure it out themselves! We DON'T HAVE THE MONEY ANYMORE!

Then in March he sent more of our money to a foreign group.

"Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The American economy is in turmoil but the Obama administration sent a $50 million check yesterday to the United Nations Population Fund. That's the pro-abortion group that has been accused of supporting and working in concert with Chinese family planning officials.

There, the Chinese population control program has relied on forced abortions, involuntary sterilizations and other human rights abuses to enforce its rule that most couples may have no more than one child."

Who knows how many more free checks of OUR TAX MONEY he has sent? I certainly can't keep up with all the back door spending he is doing.

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