I'm sorry but do we actually want to fail?

I simply don't get it. Even the New York Times (which, I guess, it must be remembered endorsed Hillary Clinton) described Obama's Berlin speech as "weak on issues."

Here's a man behaving, speaking and uniting countries - old allies that we have lost in the past eight years - in a way that can only be described as "Presidential" and still America is not happy.

Read his speech...PLEASE! It is the most honest, thoughtful, accurate assessment of where America stands and where our relationship with the rest of the world stands, that you will hear from any politician in this country. Obama tells the truth. Period. McCain, for all his past service to his country, is living in the past. He sees things in terms of winning and losing. And it's simply not that simple in 2008. In a way the terrorists have already won - as Bin Laden himself has said, for every dollar they spent on 9/11 America has been forced to spend a billion. His, and their, goal was always economic. It's why they targeted the twin towers in the first place - the symbol of America's economic strength. They'd have hit the New York stock exchange but it's just not high enough!

There's a reason that the economy has risen to be the number one concern of most Americans. It's because we are "concerned" primarily with ourselves. And that's why some of the reactions to Obama's Berlin speech are just plain misguided. This was not a time for dealing with domestic "issues" - it was an opportunity to deal with world unity. Which he did. Magnificently.

The Iraq war has become the number one topic only for those families unfortunate enough to have one of their own serving in the military and, of course, the Republicans and their oil company financiers who have a vested interest in staying in that oil-producing nation. Permanent bases! This is what McCain meant when he talked of "100 years." Not a hundred years of war...a hundred years of control. The truth is, the number one issue should be ending our occupation. This will free untold amounts of money that can then help our ailing economy.

Even on the topic of war, Obama rightly points out that Afghanistan was and should have remained our one and only focus, being, at the time, the host of the people who actually inspired and financed 9/11. Iraq had NOTHING to do with it. A fact I wish ALL Americans would remember - especially as they cast their votes in November. (And they should remember that it is Afghanistan that borders on Pakistan - despite what McCain may say to the contrary!)

Yet again, Berlin raised the issue of Obama representing "just words."

And I ask, what is wrong with that if they are words the whole world needs to hear...nowhere more so than here at home, here in America?

Read Barack Obama's Berlin speech here.

Comments

[Antoine]

I'd like to know what was you doing on 9/11 or days after when
your short memory still can remember what had happened?

Were you relaxed and busy writing your lousy music; were you
having a good time and were busy criticizing our government; or your eyes were glued to the TV watching what was happening at ground zero and you felt so vulnerable and hopeless?

If not because of our troops sacrificing their lives and our
government doing its best to protect you from the terrorists,
you wouldn't be having a good life and enjoying stabbing back our guys in Iraq and Afganistan. Because of many ungrateful idiots like
you, we lost the war in Vietnam--50,000+ men died in vain.

Wake up and start doing something POSITIVE for your country.

[Dave]

I didn't watch 9/11, I experienced it. I live in downtown Manhattan. So, no, I wasn't busy writing music lousy or otherwise. I didn't feel hopeless, I felt angry. Angry at the people who attacked us - which, as history will show conclusively, was not Iraq,

I have never disrespected the service of military people - especially now when our force is purely voluntary and not drafted.

It is the greatest sadness imaginable when lives are lost in vain. In the case of Iraq, the stupidity of our leaders does not belittle the heroism of our troops. They should simply never have been sent there.

I am doing something incredibly positive for my country - voting for Barack Obama.

All the best Antoine. Peace.