Print
E-mail
War And Peace: Obama Speech Rebukes Anti-War Protesters
By MICHAEL P. TREMOGLIE, For The Bulletin
On Thursday, President Barack Obama received a prize for peace — the most famous such distinction — the Nobel Peace Prize.
In his acceptance speech in Oslo, Mr. Obama refuted the antiwar crowd. Whether he did so intentionally or not, he provided those who went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan — and those who ordered those wars — the intellectual and moral ammunition against those who opposed the war. He told the truth about war and presented a sophisticated rejoinder to those opposed to war.
First, Mr. Obama expressed the feeling of grave responsibility saying, "I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed." President Bush did, too, the only difference is the absence of the mainstream media’s vocal criticism.
He continued by recognizing the pragmatism of armed conflict, "I face the world as it is and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida’s leaders to lay down their arms."
He acknowledged America's role in preserving peace in the world. "I raise this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter the cause. At times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world’s sole military superpower. Yet, the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions, not just treaties and declarations, that brought stability to a post-World War II world.”
He then rebuked the antiwar protestors of two generations. He said, “Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest — because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other people's children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity."
Then, Mr. Obama provided the most memorable quote of his speech. The one that should be enshrined in bumper stickers to counter those fatuous “War is not the answer" bumper stickers and peace signs one sees driving along any thoroughfare in the United States.
President Barack Obama, the antiwar candidate, said during his acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Peace, "War is sometimes necessary."
Nobody likes this idea. Nobody wants it to happen. Americans would prefer it were not the case. However, most Americans know it to be true.
Just as the anticommunist Nixon validated the existence of Communist China, the antiwar Obama has validated the righteousness of America’s wars.
In his acceptance speech in Oslo, Mr. Obama refuted the antiwar crowd. Whether he did so intentionally or not, he provided those who went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan — and those who ordered those wars — the intellectual and moral ammunition against those who opposed the war. He told the truth about war and presented a sophisticated rejoinder to those opposed to war.
First, Mr. Obama expressed the feeling of grave responsibility saying, "I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed." President Bush did, too, the only difference is the absence of the mainstream media’s vocal criticism.
He continued by recognizing the pragmatism of armed conflict, "I face the world as it is and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida’s leaders to lay down their arms."
He acknowledged America's role in preserving peace in the world. "I raise this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter the cause. At times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world’s sole military superpower. Yet, the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions, not just treaties and declarations, that brought stability to a post-World War II world.”
He then rebuked the antiwar protestors of two generations. He said, “Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest — because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other people's children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity."
Then, Mr. Obama provided the most memorable quote of his speech. The one that should be enshrined in bumper stickers to counter those fatuous “War is not the answer" bumper stickers and peace signs one sees driving along any thoroughfare in the United States.
President Barack Obama, the antiwar candidate, said during his acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Peace, "War is sometimes necessary."
Nobody likes this idea. Nobody wants it to happen. Americans would prefer it were not the case. However, most Americans know it to be true.
Just as the anticommunist Nixon validated the existence of Communist China, the antiwar Obama has validated the righteousness of America’s wars.
 |
 |
|
| ObamaCare Is Unconstitutional, Report Says | TV’s Stensland Drops Anchor In Congressional Race |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thebulletin.us.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
