Words Have Meaning, but Actions Have More
President Obama’s speech to the nation on Thursday, January 7th, 2010, contained a great deal of right-sounding oratory. He spoke at last of Terrorism and he identified Al Qaeda as the enemy when he said perhaps the most important words of his administration thus far: “We are at war.”
I congratulate the president on his forthright and direct assessment of global politics. It has taken a while for him to acknowledge that fact publicly. That he’s now done so indicates a shift in Mr. Obama’s position, and it is one I consider positive on two levels. First, he has acknowledged reality and as a result he’s forsaken a long held illusion that an open hand will be greeted in return by another. Second, he has begun a demonstration to both the nation and its adversaries that America can be pushed only so far.
Terrorism is a strategy of provocation that depends on triggering reprisals. Our enemy in the Christmas Day attempt on Flight 253 will measure its success by what kind of response it elicits. President Obama is learning that he has several audiences as he reacts to this attack. He will be graded by Americans who are seeking reassurance and leadership. He will be closely watched by our enemies who want the dramatic worldwide press they crave as validation of their accomplishment. He will be analyzed by allies and non-aligned countries, alike, as they try to decide which America they are about to see taking the field.
The President of the United States is an executive, though. An executive is one who does something, who accomplishes some stated goal. President Obama’s words were a good start but he now has to follow them with action. Terrorism is intended to impact public opinion. For that very reason the actions the president takes to back up his words will be best if they are invisible to the press and the worldwide public. American retaliation will be most effective if it physically punishes our enemy while also denying them any sympathy that might be the by- product of much publicized military action.
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I couldn’t agree more. Keep up the good work MZ!