Obama – the Centrist Military Model and the Lefts Concerns

The Los Angeles Times article, “Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet”, voices concerns by leftist activists regarding President-Elect Obama’s cabinet choices being “hawks” as opposed to doves. These are individuals who oppose any military action; regardless of intent or necessity. They are, for all intents and purpose not necessarily opposed to violence, should their voices not be heard, yet, the first to protest against the United States when the nation is attacked – “just in case”. In the weeks following September 11, 2001, anti-war activist sprang into action in the event the US would retaliate – shades of 1968, with a few hundred thousand less attendees. These are the same activists who hounded the Bush administration for the past eight years, and were somehow convinced that should Barack Obama become President, the military would be disabled, and peace would be realized. One has to ask: “What are they smoking?” Actually, one might have a pretty good idea; of what it is they are smoking to come to this harebrained conclusion.

It goes without saying that Barack Obama, like any other man who took the weight of the presidency upon his shoulders, is in a precarious position; with the exception that in this age, at this time in American, Obama will face challenges from all fronts that no-one would want to deal with – the situation is so severe it gives rise to speculation that the incredibly benign campaign run by the RNC was more planned than accidental. That said Obama is facing threats from abroad before even setting foot in the White House. Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri, (Osama’s number 2), has taken to using racial slurs, in a warning more to his “troops” than the US, of no change in direction or policy with an Obama presidency. There simply is no end in sight to this "War on Terror". Barack Obama is no fool, having risen swiftly from the Illinois Statehouse to the White House; one has to credit his ability to campaign effectively, and to lead effectively in order to continue his success. That is good news for those of us in the trenches, but for those on the fringe, it’s a bit disconcerting.

Unfortunately, the world in which we live is fraught with dangers. Attacks on US soil have been threatened, Iran is tuning up its nuclear abilities, and the Israeli’s are leaning towards the Likud Party, lead by Netanyahu, China, Cuba and Venezuela are holding weekly meetings, and on and on. What’s a President-elect to do? He will surround himself with those who would protect our nation; to leave the United States vulnerable is unacceptable. To the Philip Beringer’s who just don’t “get it”, those who have to make the horrendous decisions to engage an enemy, under any circumstances, do so unwillingly. Obama will be no exception, yet his options are few, and the fronts are many. Campaign promises, are made to be broken, they are not a contract, rather a means to an end.