NYT: Obama's usual calm clarity and eloquence. We need to hear more of this

We were glad to see President Obama go to Fort Bliss on Tuesday before his Oval Office speech on Iraq, to thank those Americans who most shouldered the burdens of a tragic, pointless war. One of the few rays of light in the conflict has been the distance America has come since Vietnam, when blameless soldiers were scorned for decisions made by politicians.

President George W. Bush tried to make Iraq an invisible, seemingly cost-free war. He refused to attend soldiers’ funerals and hid their returning coffins from the public. So it was fitting that Mr. Obama, who has improved veterans’ health care and made the Pentagon budget more rational, paid tribute to them.

...

Mr. Obama graciously said it was time to put disagreements over Iraq behind us, but it is important not to forget how much damage Mr. Bush caused by misleading Americans about exotic weapons, about American troops being greeted with open arms, about creating a model democracy in Baghdad.

That is why it was so important that Mr. Obama candidly said the United States is not free of this conflict; American troops will see more bloodshed. We hope he follows through on his vow to work with Iraq’s government after the withdrawal of combat troops.

...

As we heard Mr. Obama speak from his desk with his usual calm clarity and eloquence, it made us wish we heard more from him on many issues. We are puzzled about why he talks to Americans directly so rarely and with seeming reluctance. This was only his second Oval Office address in more than 19 months of crisis upon crisis. The country particularly needs to hear more from Mr. Obama about what he rightly called the most urgent task — “to restore our economy and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work.”

For this day, it was worth dwelling on this milestone in Iraq and on some grim numbers: more than 4,400 Americans dead and some 35,000 wounded, many with lost limbs. And on one number that American politicians are loath to mention: at least 100,000 Iraqis dead.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/opinion/01wed1.html?hp

Or was he so intent in pretending that our sons and daughters in uniform were dying and being maimed for his Republicon oil profits crusade, that he went AWOL from every single funeral?

Surely he must have made at least one token appearance to make it appear as if he and his cronies actually cared about anything other than Republicon War Profits? I mean, we know the Republicons are masters of spin and propaganda...so...

I will never forget Cindy Sheehan, accompanied by members of the Vets for Peace, going out to the Crawford ranch. First, they had to leave their van behind, so they walked in the hot Texas summer sun. Then, they were denied access to the road itself, so they walked in the weed-filled ditch.

Finally, they arrived at the gate and were denied entrance, which I'm pretty sure they expected. However they had left their water in the van, and were told that if they wanted it they would all have to leave at once and not return. So they stayed.

They stood in the summer sun of Texas -- actual veterans and a soldier's bereaved mother -- until she got sick from the heat. Then they left.

Here's where Bush could have made himself seem like a better man: Send water out. Even go so far as to send a note saying I am so terribly sorry for your loss but I can't see you without an appointment, and here's bottled water. Or he could have even played the gentleman and invited her alone up to the front porch for some ice tea and a brief chat, while sending water to her comrades at the gate.

What is so absolutely bizarre to me is that by simply doing one kind act for a woman half-crazy with grief he could have humanized himself to a lot of people who hated him and would have cemented loyalty with people who already liked him. Instead he and his handlers chose to be petty past belief. I still don't get it.

Of course this was the man who also played air guitar and ate cake while New Orleanians drowned, but Cindy was right there. I know Bush Jr. always was a dirt-bag, but I thought his Propaganda Minister knew how to polish him better than that.

Hekate

That doesn't mean that we should forget. In fact, I think it is more important than ever that we not let people forget who created this mess, who threw our money down a bloody (literally) hole, and who got rich off of the mayhem.

Huh. No mention of how their own newspaper helped push that propaganda. Nice selective memory, NYT.

winds are blowing. I'm proud of the job he has done.

"it is important not to forget how much damage Mr. Bush caused by misleading Americans about exotic weapons" -- directly assisted by the New York Times in putting that lie over.

here on DU but this editorial was thoughtful milestone commentary, useful, and capable of prompting discussion in the public forum, which in large part is the role of a well-written editorial.

I liked it. So hang me.

... I'm not convinced the Oval is his best venue .... but kick anyway.

knr