Tell me I am drawing the wrong conclusion!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
April 16, 2010 4:00pm CST
After reading the following article I get the impressions that Obama is whittling away at the self defense of our country. He shows obsequiousness to all foreign powers by bowing so low to show our submission as a country. Now I read it that he find our military too expensive to maintain. Of course the nuclear power will be reduced from all our allies but I am sure our enemies will keep theirs (although well hidden). I don't know about you but I like feeling we are safe and protected being a superpower. What is your opinion?
[b]
[u]
Being a superpower ain't all that, at least according to President Obama.[/u][/b]
In a little-noticed remark at the close of the two-day nuclear security summit in Washington, D.C., this week, President Obama suggested the United States is somehow burdened by its military might -- a comment that drew a stern rebuke from his former rival in the presidential campaign.
Obama was responding to a question Tuesday about how the summit would play into peace-making efforts in the Middle East when he addressed the downsides of -- by virtue of America's world stature -- being obligated to intervene in international conflicts.
[b]"It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them," Obama said. "And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."
The remark got little attention in mainstream coverage of the summit, but was picked up on several conservative blogs, which panned the president for suggesting Americans had grown weary of superpower status.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., slammed the leader of the free world Thursday, calling the remark a "direct contradiction to everything America believes in." [/b]
"That's one of the more incredible statements I've ever heard a president of the United States make in modern times," McCain, a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war, told Fox News. "We are the dominant superpower, and we're the greatest force for good in the history of this country, and I thank God every day that we are a dominant superpower.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/15/obama-america-superpower-like/?test=latestnews
5 people like this
9 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
"And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."
Blood and treasure = our troops, whiteheather. Do you disagree that reducing conflicts is in the best interest of our country because, as a military superpower and a member of the U.N., we do get dragged in to all kinds of them. We usually carry the lion's share of the responsibility, too, which means putting the most people at risk.
This summit covered many things but the goal is for all of the countries involved to work together to make this world safer when it comes to nuclear weapons. As far as our stockpile goes. I read that the U.S. and Russia have the most...around 2,000 nuclear warheads. The next closest country has 40. You know as well as I do that both the U.S. and Russia overcompensated during the Cold War but do we really need that many now? The plan is not to bring our stockpiles down to 40...not even close. We will still have more than enough nuclear weapons to protect ourselves.
4 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
17 Apr 10
Spall, you get the "Honorary Best Response From a Fellow Respondent" award from me! As I said in my response, we finally have a President who agrees with what Ronald Reagan said about nuclear weapons. Some on the right sure have short memories when it comes to their biggest hero, don't they?
Annie
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Apr 10
I guess so, Annie. I don't know why it surprises me when I read how a simple statement is twisted to mean something not even remotely close to what the president said. I guess admitting that they agree with him will make some folks' heads blow up.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Apr 10
You are coming to the right conclusion. There are some nations that if a superpower reduces its armory and its weapons will decide to take advantage of that and attack weaker nations. So as a result of reducing the military might of America, Obama has made sure that these evil nations can take over other weaker nations. Look what happened in Vietnam. As soon as America bowed to the will of the "I am afraid to get hurt" crowd, and reduced their fighting power in defending South Vietnam, the North Vietnamese Communists took over and now Vietnam is a Communist country.
And when Obama bows to former or still American enemies, he does not have America's best interests in mind.
The conflicts will increase, not decrease.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
The U.S. did not reduce it's fighting power in Vietnam, suspenseful. After approximately 10 years of fighting, the deaths of over 58,000 American soldiers and countless others wounded, the U.S. pulled out. Not every war can be won.
3 people like this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
17 Apr 10
spalladino You and I learned the same History and that History was that the US lost the War in Viet Nam after we lost the Tet Offensive. That is when Walter Cronkite told the world that we lost the war.
However in the past few years we have learned a different version of that war. It seems that the General who lead the NVN Troops left the South in defeat and was concerned that his family would be executed with him for his loss. When he got back to the North he found out that the American Media had made him a hero for defeating the Americans. Had we pressed the NVN and invaded the North we would have won the war.
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
Thank you suspenseful! I agree 100% with your response.4 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
16 Apr 10
I think you have a very good point here. It is a curious thing. He seems to be trying to convince the world that we are weak (apology tour) and maybe now is trying to make this a self fulfilling prophecy.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
17 Apr 10
I am sorry Spall, I should have been clearer. IMO we are showing weakness in the apology tour. Obama has made his way around the world apologizing for our country's success. THAT is what I think makes us look weak. Regarding the summit, I think the idea is a nice one. However, believing that these other countries will restrict their arms, well I have some ocean front property in Arizona for ya.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
laglen I do not think your response needs an apology. I found your response to be very clear. I think it is clear enough that he is trying to diminish our safety and security and also by apologising and kowtowing to every other nation who are NOT known as America's strong allies.
4 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
One of the things I enjoy the most about internet discussion forums is seeing how different people interpret the same information. The U.S. just hosted a very important summit...I don't think that anyone can dispute that. This summit focused on nuclear security, which I don't believe that anyone would disagree is an important issue for every nation, especially considering the problem of rogue nations and terrorists who have made clear their desire to have nuclear capabilities to use against those they hate. The U.S. and Russia have agreed to a limited reduction in the thousands of active nuclear weapons in their individual arsenals. Every country that participated in the summit are committed to keeping strict standards in order to help keep the nations of the world safe.
Yet, this is not looked at as a good thing by some. It is looked at as weakness on the part of the U.S. We have intercontinental ballistic missiles that can hit a fly sitting on an enemy's shoulder, destroying not only him but a very wide area around him. The U.S. missile capabilities and our air superiority is not restricted to the nuclear weapons that we NEVER use. Yet, this is what the focus is on? This is what makes us weak? I sincerely believe that some folks need to do a little bit of research on the non-nuclear destructive power that the U.S. has. We are far from weak.
3 people like this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
17 Apr 10
First, I really think you are reading way too much into that bow. He is a very tall man and it is a natural instinct for tall people to bend over when speaking to shorter people. Also, it is an Asian curtesy to bow on introduction.
With that said, I don't feel it has ever been our way as a country to brag openly about our super power status. We didn't do it in the 1950's and 60's when Russia was bating us with rhetoric and bravado and we shouldn't be doing it now when we know that we are the only super power still standing.
I don't think there is any danger of our military not being maintained. I've seen some coverage of the "drones" and other state of the art USA military technology. I think if there are two countries on the face of the earth that no one should mess with, they are the USA and Israel.
All I think Obama is trying to do is make diplomacy the first line of defence and that shouldn't make anyone feel unsafe. It doesn't make things safer to scoot into these summits and and let everybody know who the boss is. Tha'st what Russia attempted back when they were considered a great superpower and now we know where that was at. Today, China seems to be doing the same thing. They are always beating their own drum and patting themselves on the back. We'll have to wait to see where that goes but I think Obama has the right approach. Low key it and keep working on the latest technology. It's the modern equivalent to the old Teddy Roosevelt adage: "Speak softly and carry a big stick".
3 people like this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
19 Apr 10
Heather, I watched the video and I still feel the same. He is tall and he was respecting an Asian curtesy.
I recall reading once that when JFK and Jackie visited the queen of England, Jackie was told that whether to curtsy or not was her choice since she was the wife of a head of state and she did not stirictly have to. Jackie Kennedy chose not to curtsy but other first Ladies curtsied. According to their choice and their degree of comfort, it was left up to them. Same thing here. It was Obama's choice. You could say he made the wrong choice because he is also a head of state. You can slso say he made the right choice since he is the head of the most powerful country on earth and a simple bow is a simple diplomatic curtesy especially in Asia. I really don't see that it goes any farther than that.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6fL7Y4BZA
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
17 Apr 10
Amen to that, Irisheyes! I'm really getting tired of all this silly nitpicking over President Obama "bowing" to this person and that one! Heck they've shown videos of every President in recent history bowing to various foreign officials through the years but I don't recall there ever being a word said about it until Obama did it.
Annie
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
17 Apr 10
I don't want to anger you by saying I think you're drawing the wrong conclusion so I'll try to be diplomatic and just say it's certainly not the conclusion I'm drawing...lol! I guess to you the words "whether we like it or not" have significance while "And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure," do not but I see it the opposite way. No, I'm not an "Obama worshiper", I know he's no "Messiah" and I don't think he can do no wrong but I, for one, feel better, safe and MORE secure knowing we finally have a President who seems to share the views of Ronald Reagan when it comes to nuclear weapons!
As far as John McCain's remarks, while I agree he's a war hero and he's done some great and brave things in his lifetime, I now fear he's either become delusional or so terribly bitter over his loss in the 2008 election that his judgment about just about everything is clouded as well as his memory.
Annie
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
anniepa It's OK you don't make me angry, try as you might, because I know you cannot help that your opinion is not the same as mine. I think that is because you are influenced by the crap your friends regurgitate. One day you and your fellow Obama supporters will realize that you have all been scammed big time!
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Apr 10
Annie, you also deserve an "Honorary Best Response From a Fellow Respondent" from me! You are definitely more diplomatic than I am, which usually helps you to get your point across better...but in some cases, no matter what you say, it's not going to get through.
2 people like this
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
16 Apr 10
Okay it Obama isn't bowing to Communist countries because well there is no such country or nation that is a Communist nation. As far as he isn't being a US Citizen you are obviously reading the far right wing neocons, which are nothing but liars. They are unable to tell the truth as they are wrong with everything. Once you go to far either way you have lost what America is and you go into a dark place that brings you something close to a Religious non American nation. Which is the Goal of the Far right to Destroy the rights of the workers to be in Unions and allow big business to take over and run everyone into the ground. The far left isn't any better.
Obama is trying to rebuild our reputation with the world that the last NEOCON decided to destroy it and cause a region to destabilize.
I don't see how him say We (The USA) is burdened by being the big guy on campus. We get pulled into a lot of the wars because we put ourselves out there.
Oh and Blaming Obama for Bankrupting our country is crazy you don't know a lot about the Government since he has little power to do much of anything when it comes to the budget or any laws. Like the Right wing media would like you to believe. Congress is the ones who are in charge of the Budget and the Laws. Obama couldn't really even stop a Bill that he didn't like because his party would no longer support him and leave him out to dry.
2 people like this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
17 Apr 10
It is interesting that you say it is congress that is to blame for the economic problems now but the left blames President Bush for the economic mess of the last two years of his administration.
How is he rebuilding our image in the world. Our enemies laugh and mock us while our friends (becoming former) feel we are abandoning them.
Is this what we want a country that every two bit leader can mock and insult? Do we want a country that is in debt to our opponents? Do we want a country where you are either a worker or a member of the ruling class?
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
BTW do some research before making such dumb statements. Quote "because well there is no such country or nation that is a Communist nation." Youth is no excuse for stupidity. FYI we are up to our ears in debt to the number one communist country...China!
Communist Countries
Country Population
1.China 1,330,040,064
2.Cuba 11,424,000
3.Laos 6,677,530
4.Korea, North 23,479,100
5.Vietnam 86,116,600
http://www.aneki.com/communist.html
3 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 May 10
YEah good for Mc Cain glad I voted for him even if he didnt win!
and we know it cost the hell out of us but ask the people fighting they will tell you they dont want to quit and he better well hype it up and pay like always really they are the lowest paid workers we have!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Apr 10
We have way more nuclear weapons than we need. So does Russia. In reducing them, we still have more than enough to protect ourselves if needed. As for us getting drawn into the conflicts of other countries and paying the price, I imagine that will still happen regardless cuz that is what the US seems to do and we do pay dearly for that.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Apr 10
I believe you are right. He is reducing our self defense while he destroys the economy for generations to come. Did you hear about him proclaiming that hospitals should let gay and lesbian partners visit? I agree that they should be allowed to but he can't change the HIPPA laws by presidential proclamation--he thinks he can and the public will go along with it, thus setting a precedent for future prez proclamations. He is worming his way into dictatorship and it worries me. I'm just waiting for him to challenge the two term limit for president although that will probably come in his second term.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Apr 10
I also agree that homosexual partners should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual partners but for medical situations and HIPPA law is the rule. I am not sure if the president's new rule will cover all the HIPPA laws?? Oh well IMO it is just a Public Relations ploy to makes him at least look good and compassionate to increase his dwindling popularity.
His plans for the future, or should I say the demise, of the USA are downright terrifying.
2 people like this
