Obama Iraq Withdrawal Speech Met with Embarrassing ‘Tepid’ Response, Says CNN
Friday, February 27, 2009 at 02:56PM Barack Obama’s speech announcing the withdrawal from Iraq at the Marines Camp Lejune in North Carolina today was met with tepid response, according to CNN.
Actually, it was met with embarrassing response. Obama entered the room at the Marine base as the band played Hail to the Chief met with complete silence as a skeptical crowd offered no response to the Commander in Chief’s presence:
That was very awkward. We’ve been an Army family since 1993 and even Bill Clinton received warmer response from 1993-2000. I’ve never seen such a weak, non-existent troop response to their Commander in Chief.
President George W. Bush was always cheered wildly by the troops when he entered a room and Hail to the Chief played during his 8 years in office. Troops greeted Bush here in Korea 6 months ago with enthusiastic affection:
Viva la difference.
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Reader Comments (42)
Amy, Just draf this letter to the editor today touching on this subject.
The Obama administration is ignoring the vital role of the morale in our military. In his state of the Union speech, Obama referred to ways to “responsibly end” the Iraq war. I cannot think a way to responsibly end the war without also calling it “victory.” Why would the commander in chief not want to use the term “victory?”
But alas, I know the answer. For the last half decade, Obama and most of the Democratic Party made good political hay in bashing the war, despite voting to start it and fund it. Lead by the likes of Harry “the war is lost” Reid, John “in cold blood” Murtha, and Hillary “absence of disbelief” Clinton they not only undermined the war, but falsely attacked the troops as well. It would take political courage for Obama to declare victory in a war he claimed was lost.
These circumstances do not lessen the glory, honor, and sacrifice of our military in their victory in Iraq. We quickly for forget the fall of Baghdad in less the 30 days with few casualties - An astonishing military victory. We also underestimate the skill and bravery required to fight “the Surge”, where our military successfully won the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Displaying a flexibility and discipline not shown in any previous military. Our troops deserve full recognition for the victory.
We have increased out troop presence in Afghanistan. The continuation of what may be long war. It would be wise for Commander in Chief Obama to remember the words of arguably the best military leader ever: “Morale is to material (in war) as is the ratio of three to one…Napoleon.” Few men will be inspired to “responsibly end” a war in Afghanistan.
Well, at least our military has not been duped by this man. They know exactly what he represents and they aren't buying one red cent of it.
I think Leticia,
Because of his campain promises to cut military spending on advanced weaponry, they understand that their technical advantage is at risk. And knowing that our military is a distant third in size behind both China and Russia, they are gravely concerned for their own safety.
He is no friend of the military, no matter if he says Semper Fi, Oorah! or expresses any other effort to patronize Our Marines and Soldiers.
Sorry but those Marines are at attention. Perhaps someone called them to attention which would be protocol for the entrance of the Commander in Chief, but they are at attention and as such stood at attention until directed to be seated, in full compliance with military protocol. At attention, you don't clap, you don't look around, you don't move around, you don't shout or call out.
If someone wanted a more spontaneous response the should have put the Marines at ease and took their chances.
Its sometimes hard to read Obama to tell if he is competent or cocky. But it's easy for those of us in the active duty military life to see right through his inexperience and ill-ease with the military.
Many of us are very nervous about him. He is governing (if you can call it that) from a campaign mentality. His biggest swipes have been aimed at commander in chief Bush, whom the troops are still very fond of, and his policies seem to be targeted at disarming the military. Oh, he's for the perks and pay, but national defense? He doesn't seem to have a clue.
The comparison in the two videos, how troops cheer Bush when he walks into a room, vs. how silent it is that you can hear a pin drop when Obama enters, is a reflection of the trepidation we have toward him.
I believe in respecting the President, the Commander in Chief, honoring him as the leader of our country, but troops don't have to respect the weak leadership Obama has to offer the military and for that matter the entire world.
In a word, Bush "gets it". Obama doesn't "get it". We get that he doesn't get it and we understand that may mean we all "get it" in the end. It's a scary thought.
Obama is benefitting from the successful military operation he oppposed for 6 years. We don't appreciate the way he and Biden tried to undermine and defund the troops or abort the mission with troops still in combat. This clueless duo really tried to ruin success in Iraq and we don't appreciate him acting as if he's doing something great by putting a big period on the end of a very hard fought sentence.
Obama acts with no class when he continues to blame Bush for this and that, and how he was wrong on Iraq is a national embarrassment.
Obama's speech was very disturbing.
JKB, and look at video of the troops when Bush entered. Listen to the response to Obama's speech. Who was tying the hands of the Marines during his speech?
The fact is that the only people applauding Obama were the sec of defense, Admiral Mullen and one other accomplice. When Bush entered a room, the admiratation the troops had for him was booming.
Don't fall for Obama's pledge to give the military a pay raise. Pres. Bush authorized a 3.9% pay raise in 2009. Obama will authorize a 2.9% pay raise. Adjusted for inflation, that's a 1% pay cut. Of course, we servicemembers want to do our patriotic duty and make our 'investments' in the spread of the big government nanny state.
President Obama's hollow call to "responsibly end this war" is ridiculous. You don't end a war by packing up and going home. Too hasty a withdrawal will spread the war throughout the region as Iran rushes in to fill the void in Iraq left by a precipitous withdrawal of US combat forces. Iraq could collapse into a regional war involving the Sunni Arab nations against the Iranians. Obama has never been pressed to say how he would have handled Saddam had we not deposed him and established the new democratic Republic of Iraq. He gets a free pass from the MSM on that one while they all plaster his remarks all over the place about how the war was unneccessary.
People carrying rifles and machine guns on foreign soil smell what's going on here, and we don't like it.
GEN Ray Odierno and GEN David Petraeus are refusing to publicly come out against the President's plan (wonder why?) but both have said exactly what you said, Johnny, that anything less than what the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) stipulates is not the way to go, and that later is better than sooner.
Sorry but I don't think those marines were at attention on command. If they were at attention, that was the sorriest at-attention I've ever seen... don't put our marines down that way, please.
And don't put their commanders down that way. That would have been cruel to have them standing at attention during the entire time of that perpetual campaigner's speech.
The shining moment for me was when that one lady behind him didn't understand what the clapper who iniated any of the clapping for the President was clapping about. She realized the president hadn't said anything clap-worthy. They clapped on cue after that but spent most of their time looking up at the ceiling or straight ahead with poker faces. The only time they even smiled was when he said the bit about pay raises and, like Johnny said, it ain't all that.
Unfortunately, I got the tv live version of the whole thing. He didn't say anything that Bush hadn't already planned, except for the stupidities. But he sounds so eloquent doesn't he? Plus he'll take full credit for it even though it was none of his doing.
Also noticed that Obama kept his SS agents around him while he was on stage and GW didn't? What was Obama afraid of?
Good question, Jo!
Steph, you might be right. My understanding is that once the President is announced and Hail to the Chief starts playing, soldiers can applaud. For whatever reason, these Marines chose not to. They could be standing at attention but they always, ALWAYS applauded Bush anyway.
At first, I thought the Marines were at 'Attention' as well; however, reviewing the vids again, they weren't even at 'Parade Rest'. They were 'At Ease' meaning they could applaud at will.
This really is sickening.
Belay my last.
They were 'At Attention'. I watched to wrong video.
"Jo " ha ha, one could only know.
I guess it was the fact that Obama on his endless campaign rhetoric kept saying that Bush and Iraq were "failures." I'm sure that our military personal can connect the dots.
Notice also the slick choreography of having so many women and minorities staged behind the President? I think during Pres. Bush's speeches they just lined 'em up and rolled tape. Take a look at how Pres. Obama's background is filled with "democrat" looking troops...
I spent six hours shredding this charlatans' Bravo Sierra. The body language of the captive audience speaks volumes.
They didn't even try to shake Obama's hand or take his picture after he left the stage!
Take a hint, Obama. You're on the wrong track.
Unlike Obama's Welfare Nation, these men and women value honor and integrity above all else. Obama has neither and I know many who didn't take kindly to Obama traitorous talk in San Francisco accusing our Marines of terrorizing people.
Obama's morons may have short memories but not these honorable men and women.
Sad fact is that they know that this inept, incompetent POS is likely to get a good many of their brother's kill with his asinine beliefs.
How disgusting has this nation become that our beloved MSM never harps on the fact that Obama put politics about their safety and mission. Republicans are incessantly accused of politicizing foreign policy while it is always the Leftists.
JKB, you're right, those Marines were at attention...BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T CHEERING FOR OBAMA.
Oh, man, this is hysterical! How can someone be a great or even decent Commander-in-Chief when members of the military don't exactly care for you?
And to think, liberals believe members of the military are stupid. They seem pretty smart from where I'm sitting.
The troops can go fuck themselves, bunch of baby killing murdering savages, they are only their to protet the Corporate capitalists who have hijacked the troops
Fuck the troops, they can all die for all I care
America needs a revolution, it figures all those brain dead retards worship Bush, they can all get blown up by an IED for all I care, the problem is they waste more tax paying dollars when they die
Fuck the troops
It figures the brain dead troops like the idiot Bush more, they are to stupid to realize Bush and his friends just use them as pawns in their little chess match
Obama might make this world a better place and the idiot troops might have to go out and get a real job and contribute something to humanity
Fuck the troops let them all die, GO Iraq, Go IEDS blow all these baby killing savages to hell!
My, my! Why doth the anger continueth?
I think the fact that the jerk above supports Obama and hates the troops says it all. Gee, why wouldn't the troops love Obama or his supporters?
DOH.
Who is Volunteering in Today's Military?
They are more educated, middle class and physically fit than the average American.
Wow...I can't believe the hate coming from the Obama supporter. It just amazes me how "tolerant" they believe they are. However, when they come across someone who disagrees with them, their energy goes into full on attack mode.
Gary, sorry I am responding to you so late. I agree, our troops have every right to be worried for their safety they are losing a lot.
All I can say is WOW, when President Bush went to talk to the troops they always cheered even when his ratings where extremely low.
It is really funny how Obama wants to buy the military by giving them healthcare and raising their pay
I bet if he had not said that almost no one would have applauded him
Medically retired after an IED in Iraq here. Got blown up but didn't die, sorry to disappoint you, F**k the Troops. I'd like to know who you think is going to run your revolution? There's a lot more of us than you, and we're a lot better at that game. Because it isn't a child's game to us.
I'm not at all surprised to see this from the left. This is what they REALLY feel and it's been nearly killing them trying to hide it the last few years.
As far as the troops reaction. Um, yeah. Nothing to do with position of attention. Everything to do with lack of confidence in the CIC speaking (lecturing) to them.
1SG(R), USA
First: thank you for linking to the full video, I was having trouble finding it.
Second: The above "Obama supporter" is the liberal version of the "bush supporter" who believes Obama can't lead simply because he is black. I'm a liberal democrat, but I don't judge Bush by the vocal disrespectful jerks that happen to support him. I ask that you kindly not lump Obama supporters together with the fringe assholes (like the above poster) who happen to also support Obama.
Liberal,
You seem like a decent sort of fellow. Your attitude toward Bush is however unusual. I very rarely hear a liberal give Bush any benefit of the doubt whatsoever.
Personally, I've never heard any Bush supporter or even any conservative say, or even imply, that "Obama can't lead simply because he is black". I visit a number of conservative blogs, watch Fox and listen to conservative radio and not once have I heard that asserted or even implied.
There is great doubt as to Obama's policies and his personal honesty. Many suspect and some think it certain that his actions demonstrate a real dislike for America and a desire to overturn 200+ years of American values.
Accurate or mistaken, that is an honest difference in opinion and perception and not a race based, knee jerk reaction to Obama's mixed race heritage.
Perhaps you might broaden your news coverage and information beyond MSNBC...where it's dogma that opposition to Obama must be motivated by racial animus. A most convenient way of cutting off debate by demonizing the other.
For the most part, we don't think liberals are malevolent, just gravely mistaken. What does it say about liberals when their response to factual rebuttal is personal attack?
There's no doubt that there's sckepticism among the military about Obama. There was a lot of crap during the campaign about all the Muslim sh*t and how he didn't visit the troops in Germany because he couldn't take the press in (this was a lie, pure and simple, and I'm a conservative. It just wasn't true) and that letter from the soldier in Afghanistan that had major components that were false.
Add the citizenship sh*t, the last democrat president's disgusting performance, and also just a mostly conservative military, and it's not a real surprise. But I've followed Obama closely and studied him extensively, and all I can say is that he's no Clinton. Clinton was an immoral and dishonest man, who used the military for his own political advantage. This is well known.
I just don't believe Obama will do this. I disagree with him about several important issues, including the most important which is life, and will disagree in the future. But I think he's a serious individual, unlike the dems in Congress, and someone who over time will gain the trust of the military. I think people need to give him a chance to prove himself, and then make a judgement. I've been impressed with most of his foreign policy decisions so far.
Remember, he's kept Gates and by all accounts has a good relationship with him. He's also selected Gen. Jones as NSA.
Bottom line is, I like the guy, even though I know we'll be disagreeing vehemently about many things. He strikes me as a sincere fellow (as politicians go) who cares about the troops, even if he hasn't earned their trust yet. We'll see, but I'm hopeful on foreign policy. I think he's going to do better than a lot of conservatives expect on that front.
I think that was Rev. Dr. Jerry Wright!
Oh, excuse me, Jeremiah Wright.
Be interested to see how far President Obama can push the military before there is outright refusal to even follow his orders... This man gains no respect from people who actually work hard for a living, and there are very few people in the world who work harder at their jobs than the Military and in particular the Marines.
to: JD
You are certainly no conservative, you are nothing but a strawman. You need to proclaim yourself as such to get some credibility in your unbeleivable statement that you as a conservative think that Barack Obama is some sort of honest person with good moral character. Barack has shown exactly 0 moral character when it comes to his actual actions in life, although he sometimes talks a good game, he never acts in such a way. Thus, it must be stated that, you are nothing more than a convert to the religion of personality. You do not care about actions, just words, and that is not a conservative place. Gates was not our best choice in the job, Bush only kept him in place because a constant shift would deter more than the less than stellar performance of Gates. Keeping him on is a fig leaf that has no bearing on anything, because, as Bush already showed us, it ends up being the President who makes the final calls, and Barack Obama already has his specific remedy. When that remedy fails, he will blame Gates and Bush who initially appointed him for the failure of his own personally chosen path.
A Stoner I think you will not see that unless the orders are unlawful. They have sworn to obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed above them, and they will do that even with a horrible President.
If it gets to the point of open disobedience from our Military..... that's a can of worms I hope does not happen. We have never had a military coup attempt and hope we do not ever. From what I know of our current crop of troops they are some of the most honorable and dedicated peopel one could ask for.
1SG Mike,
Thank you for your service.
Hey Stoner, don't presume to know someone you know nothing about.
The only things I demand of politicans in terms of their positions is that they be pro-life, pro-family, pro-military. Anything else is their own opinion and they have a right to argue it.
Gates is a wise and humble man, which is more than I can say of the man who preceded him in that position. As I said, I consider Obama to be a man of good intent. This is based on more than a year of close study and research. Does that mean than most of even half the things he does will be good for this country? No. On social issues, he will do great damage. But a person's intent matters to me when I'm forming an opinion of them.
Would I have wanted him to be president? No. But he is, and there's nothing I can do about it. All that is left for me to do now is hope and pray that he leads our country wisely.
Although the Marines may have been at attention on obammy's arrival, they were not at his departure, and you can see some of them giving a golf clap.
As to the scumbag wishing bad things to our Troops, you don't deserve the protection that they afford you to swear at them and hope for their deaths. They are not just patriotic Americans, they are serving world freedom, doing more for humanity than any other nation or organization (especially the parasitic UN) on Earth.
Please, step in front of a high-speed train, punk.
Thgey knowe who and what the POTUS is
A sniveling coward who never served anyone (except himself) a day in his life
When a revolt occurs, it'll be a revolt against the usurp who (it) has a relentless communist agenda. Our liberties are currently being assaulted by his (its) efforts to nationalize banks/finanancial institutions, unconstitutionally bailout corporations, unconstitutionality of capturing our private property with wealth redistribution wealth, support of HR45, support the unconstitutional ratification of Ammendment XXII, disrespect for life, and terrorist ties. Need I write more?
When there is a revolt, please note those ordinary non-military who will be engaged in action are those who believed in our Armed Forces. We did not waiver to the communist media's lies but believed we could and did win the war in Iraq and eventually the war on terror. We'll be the ones who you can rely on as we are countrymen and brothers, first. We are not loyal to anyone but God, our Great Country and our families.
Sometimes we feel helpless coping with the unreasonable logic of daily political events, and the illogical thought processes of liberals. However, after reading what Servicemen and Servicewomen write regarding their patriotism and great love for this once great Country gives us the inspiration to fight another day.
It is true what the true patriot Michael Savage wrote about what a country requires to sustain itself - "Borders, Language, Culture."
Thank you Servicemen and Servicewomen for your patriotism to this Country! Thank you for having the intuitiveness to recognize the enemy when you see it! There is a God and he and the people of this the US will prevail!
Unfortunately, a lot of "moderate conservatives" believed the hype and voted for this human weather vane. I told my freinds who were thinking about crossing party lines that when he was elected we'd all see what $150mm in campaign contributions would buy.
My neighbor's kid has more military experience from playing "Command and Conquer" than the whole Obama cabinet. It says a lot that they had to keep Gates on for lack of a competent military leader (yes, Gen (R) Clark, I mean you. I was in Bosnia in '95 and I remember). Obama views the security of the nation and the welfare of our troops as secondary to accomplishing his agenda. We aren't stupid - it's no surprise they see through him.
I cannot believe you want people to swallow the "racism" argument-Liberal. I could give a John Wayne, Yogi Bear , Mickey Mouse darn what color, religion, or creed someone is...look at actions, not words. Look at the decisions they have made in the past, not those they 'claim' to have made. I do not care if they are pink with purple polka dots; if they can 'prove' they are loyal, caring, honest and can behave responsibly...then we should consider them. NOT because we are afraid of being politically incorrect! Before you respond, please consider this...Definition of maturity: Gather all the information possible, analyze it, and only then make a choice-to do the 'right' thing. Our children, our country, and the survival of democracy depend on making 'wise' choices not 'blind' ones. Have a lovely 'free' night!