1941, foreign nations flew airplanes into US territory and executed an attack on an American facility that killed several thousand Americans.
On September 11th, 2001, foreign nationals flew airplanes into US territory and executed an attack on an American facility that killed several thousand Americans.
One was declared an act of war by our President, mobilizing and uniting our nation against a common enemy.
The other has been minimized and marginalized by our current President, who feels that:
“We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.”
“We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe-children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and within our own shores.” (Barack Hussein Obama, September 19th, 2001)
John Brennan, former CIA Director and now President Obama’s assistant for counterterrorism and homeland security in his first speech since joining the Obama administration, annulled several key aspects of the so-called war on terrorism — starting with both the name and the idea that the United States was involved in any sort of “global war, much less a war on terror.”
Brennan also linked the rise in support for extremists to problems of global governance, economic crisis and social stratification and said the administration would make a concerted effort to address what he considers those extremist root causes:
“Any comprehensive approach has to also address the upstream factors — the conditions that help fuel violent extremism,” Brennan said. Military, intelligence or law-enforcement actions are unable to confront those conditions, which he said include the “basic needs and legitimate grievances of ordinary people” for prosperity, education, “dignity and worth,” and security. “If we fail to confront the broader political, economic, and social conditions in which extremists thrive, then there will always be another recruit in the pipeline, another attack coming downstream. The role of the United States was to …. make “substantial” increases in foreign aid to fight poverty and promote global health and food security; and to demonstrate the ability of “diplomacy, dialogue, and the democratic process” to solve “seemingly intractable problems.” Brennan said.
Compare those comments to those of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the day after the attack at Pearl Harbor:
“The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”
Roosevelt understood the ultimate responsibility for placing this nation’s soldiers, sailors, and airmen in harms way, knowing the ultimate cost that would have to be borne by those brave Americans.
Obama sees no real risk or value to their service, preferring to support them with less than the field officers request, and more of what has proven not to work.
More symbolically, on this anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Obama has held two separate media press conferences, one on jobs and one with the Prime Minister of Turkey, and never once mentioned the sacrifices made by those Americans unfortunate enough to be in Pearl Harbor during that one hour and fifty minutes on a sunny Sunday morning in 1941.
Fortunately, and most appropriately, the rest of the country’s men and women have not forgotten, and today offer their prayers of thanks and condolence to those who have fought for our freedom against all enemies.
May we never forget.
When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck to crush him. --- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Victory belongs to those who believe in it the most and believe in it the longest. --- Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle
We are especially not going to tolerate these attacks from outlaw states run by the strangest collection of misfits, Looney Tunes and squalid criminals since the advent of the Third Reich --- Ronald Reagan
