| Each year, the 82nd Airborne Division hosts All American week during the week before Memorial Day. The week consists of competitions between airborne units to include soccer, basketball, boxing and even a precision parachuting competition. Veteran Paratroopers return to Fort Bragg to associate with current paratroopers of the division. The week culminates on Thursday with the Division Review, where the entire Division parades before Veterans, military families and distinguished guests. Each year, there is a guest speaker.
Today, we were proud to welcome the President of the United States as our guest speaker. I've had plenty to say here about the faults of President Bush. However, he is the Commander-in-Chief. Regardless of the man, it is an honor to welcome the person who holds that office to address our Division. Unfortunately, he could not complete his speech without ensuring that these courtesies were rendered out of nothing more than obligation.
First, I want to take a few moments to brag about my unit. During the first part of the Presidents' speech, he mentioned the achievements of the Division while in Afghanistan. I'm proud to say that each achievement he mentioned, including the liberation of the Sangin Valley and Musa Qala, were accomplished by my battalion. When the President and Division Commander awarded valorous medals to the heroes of our division, of six awards Silver Star and higher, two Silver Stars and a Distinguished Service Cross were awarded to Paratroopers from my battalion.
In order to make it to the review before it was locked down, I had to walk to the parade field an hour and a half early. No problem there. As a Soldier, I understand that necessary steps have to be taken for security. When I arrived I noticed the podium where the president would be speaking.
I hoped that the remainder of the bleachers would be filled with the President's entourage, or other civilians of note. I was wrong.
So the President would be speaking to a gaggle of media in front of a back drop of Paratroopers. This doesn't have to be bad, I thought. Maybe it won't be political. The President will make a few bad jokes, name off our accomplishments, welcome us home and thank us for our service. Wrong again. Within the first few minutes of the speech, the President let loose these tired old clichés:
You've taken the battle to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.
The decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision at the time, and it remains the right decision today.
C'mon, Mr. President. These excuses are so 2004. I thought we quit using them when every incident of a twelve year old smuggling bottle rockets onto a military installation was billed as a foiled terrorist attack, and when Saddam was captured four and a half years ago.
The President also discussed the confirmation of General David Petraeus:
When I was looking for a commander to lead the surge, I turned to a former commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, General David Petraeus... When it came time to name a new leader of Central Command, he was my first and only choice. The United State Senate must give him a fair hearing, and must confirm him as quickly as possible.
With all do respect, Mr. President, everyone standing on that parade field took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That same Constitution checks the power of the President with the powers of Congress. It is the Congress's job to determine whether General Petraeus should or should not lead CENTCOM. If it were the Presidents's position to direct his confirmation, there would be no need for hearings. I fought for that Constitution, Mr. President. I'd appreciate it if you'd abide by it.
Bush later listed a number of ambiguous descriptions of what success in Iraq will look like, and continued with some of the best sound bites of the entire speech.
Success will be when al Qaeda has no safe havens in Iraq and Iraqis can protect themselves.
If there is an al Qaeda presence to speak of in Iraq, it is because they followed us there. I also find this statement ironic coming from the same person who earlier in this same speech described Afghanistan as:
. . .a nation where al Qaeda once plotted the attacks of 9-11
Now for my favorites:
Withdrawal from Iraq before we have achieved success would embolden al Qaeda and give them new safe havens from which to plot attacks on the American homeland... It would more likely -- be more likely that we would suffer another attack like the one we experienced on September the 11th.
By contrast, success in Iraq would deny al Qaeda safe haven and hand Osama bin Laden a strategic defeat in the land where his terrorist movement has chosen to make a stand.
Six and a half years after the September 11th attacks, the President is still linking those attacks to Iraq and Iraq to Osama bin Laden. I don't know what to say here. This is just too ridiculous.
Given the opportunity to thank honorable men and women for their service to their country, the President, using a captive back drop of American Soldiers seized the opportunity to make political demands of the Senate, make ridiculous errant arguments for our entry to the Iraq war, and link Iraq to Osama bin Laden and the September 11th attacks. I must say, in my entire career, of all the military functions I've attended, not a single one has disgusted me as much as I was today when President Bush finally ended his remarks.
UPDATE: A reliable source informs me that POTUS also walked through the infamous "YouTube barracks" after the Review. Apparently, Soldiers have been working late nights after duty hours to paint over the mold. Also, "out of order" signs on toilets were ordered to be removed. |
