Barack Obama Speech at West Point on Afghanistan … Wow, that was Underwhelming … Krauthammer and Hayes Dumbfounded by Obama Speech

This was the speech and decision that took three months of dithering? You preempted a Charlie Brown Christmas for that speech? What a disappointment.

If Obama’s speech on Afghanistan last night at West Point was supposed to be a show stopper and one that was supposed to build up the moral of the troops and Americans that we will win the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban … it did not. This might have been one of the worst speeches to try and muster public opinion and support to the war. Was that intentional?

American Power might have stated it best, “Actually, what I did see was a different president, and uncomfortable president, not the uplifting president of old. The weight of office is wearing on the man”. Although I am not sure if Obama was uncomfortable and not uplifting because of the weight of the office. Heck, he hasn’t even been in a year yet. It was the sign of a man who did not believe a word he was saying. He was not talking about the government take over of healthcare, raising taxes on the rich and every one for that matter. He was not talking about himself, although he did reference “I” way too many times. Since Obama was not pushing his socialist agenda, he was like a fish out of water not understanding that he is supposed to be the “Commander” and Chief.

Obama, known for his oratory skills fell completely flat. Or was it the telepromters fault? Not only was the speech uninspiring, it was all over the place. It was a microcosm of Obama’s presidency acting as if he has ADD and not focusing an any one thing to its conclusion.

Charles Krauthammer said, I thought it was a rather strange speech. This was not a speech you would hear from Henry V, Churchill or George Bush when he announced his surge. The speech came off as he didn’t mean it, wants to put his toe in the water, give it a shot, but is ready to leave. All it did was compound the uncertainty.

Charles Krauthammer: I thought it was a rather strange speech. It was defensive and it was a lot of hedging. the president said at the end that our resolve is unwavering. He said in August this was a war of necessity. And then he gives us all of the reasons that we need to start leaving in a year and a half. And among the reasons he gave was that it was a very expensive war and we have a bad economy and that’s at least of equal importance. It’s not exactly the kind of speech you would have heard from Henry V or Churchill. And it’s not exactly the kind of speech you heard from George Bush when he announced his surge.

Stephen Hayes: The most important role of a president is Commander in Chief. This felt very small to me. The president in one sentence called this the common security of the world is at stake. And literally in the very next sentence he said we’re going to get out in July 2011. If it is the case that the common security of the world is at stake you don’t say that we need to figure out the problem in 18 months or we’re out of here.

 CNN has some excerpts; however, hardly the best ones from the speech.

What Powerline heard tonight pretty much echos what most people did as well. It was the speech of “I” and a speech that was nuanced to all of his talking points and those who have issues with his policy. You can’t please every one Mr. President. Some times you have to do the right thing for the United States and care less what the far LEFT thinks.

The war time President Obama is not and with comments like this, it makes us wonder whether Obama and the LEFT know who the real enemy is.