Obama, The Olympics And Afghanistan

Obama made his pitch to the International Olympic Committee for his hometown of Chicago. Naturally in his mind they should get the games because, well, people in Chicago like him.

Nearly one year ago, on a clear November night, people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch the results of the U.S. Presidential election. Their interest wasn’t about me as an individual. Rather, it was rooted in the belief that America’s experiment in democracy still speaks to a set of universal aspirations and ideals. It sprung from the hope that in this ever-shrinking world, our diversity could be a source of strength and cause for celebration; and that with sustained work and determination, we could learn to live and prosper together during the fleeting moment we share on this Earth.

Let me be clear about something I have always said, when Obama says something "wasn’t about me as an individual" it was about Him as an individual.

As Slu points out via email (from a secure, undisclosed location), "Even in answering questions about the Olympics, he can't resist taking shots at Bush".

And he won't defend the US.

Responding to a question by Syed Shahid Ali, the IOC member for Pakistan, about the “pretty harrowing experience” of many foreign visitors to the US, he said: “One of the legacies I want to see coming out of 2016 is a reminder that America, at its best, is open to the world. We are putting the full force of the White house and the State Department into making sure that not only is this a successful Games but that visitors from all around the world feel welcome and will come away with a sense of the incredible diversity of the American people.”

Perhaps he should have asked the Pakistani gentleman how Daniel Pearl enjoyed that country's hospitality.

It's interesting that Obama took a pass on defending the US from a negative impression when he considers part of his job "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear"

But if you think the trip to Copenhagen was all show and no work, you'd be wrong. While on board Air Force One Obama held a meeting with Gen. Stanley McChrystal to presumably talk about the situation in Afghanistan. They spoke for, get this...25 whole minutes.

Shortly before departing Copenhagen, Denmark, the two held their first face-to-face meeting since May while Air Force One was on the tarmac ready to fly back to Washington, D.C.

McChrystal, Obama’s top Afghanistan commander, had been in London giving a speech yesterday and flew to Copenhagen specifically to meet President Obama.

There had been some speculation that Obama might take the opportunity to fly to Afghanistan but apparently 25 minutes on the ground with McChrystal was enough.

So there. Now you wingnuts can't say he doesn't care about Afghanistan.

posted by DrewM. at 10:25 AM

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