Some of Barack Obama's past associations have been famously anti-American. As a presidential candidate, he resisted wearing an American flag lapel pin. His early trips to foreign lands were generously peppered with America-bashing.
So one can see why Mr. Obama might miss the significance of America's role in bringing down the Berlin Wall - and why he decided to ignore, rather than honor, the historic event's 20th anniversary and what it symbolizes for human freedom.
It's a boneheaded mistake, nonetheless - and an insult to the Americans who worked for decades to fund and, eventually, win the Cold War.
He can jet off to Copenhagen on a moment's notice to pitch for the Olympics, but he can't observe the anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall - one of human history's most emotional and powerful breakthroughs for freedom?
American military might, supported on the backs of American workers and families, helped stop the spread of communism and, eventually, helped lead to German reunification and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Iron Curtain.
What a tremendous gesture it could have been if our president had joined other world leaders in Berlin Monday to mark the occasion - and to unveil plans to honor the Americans who won the Cold War with, say, a memorial in Washington.
In this, Barack Obama is not alone in his negligence. Despite a National Day of Remembrance for nuclear workers of the Cold War era - celebrated Oct. 30 at Savannah River Site - the country as a whole has not adequately thanked and honored those who won the Cold War.
Perhaps on a future anniversary ...
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
someone must've watched Fox news yesterday.
hussein doesn't have time for those unimportant gestures,he has to fly to Fort Hood to console his muslim brother.
Above all, the real victors of the cold war - the peacemakers who clamored for nuclear disarmament - still have not received the honor they are due. It would be a tremendous gesture for an editorial setting the record straight.
Freedom of the press is failing and the article is an example of it. The ACES doesn't want to talk about history and again, the article proves it. First, who won the Cold War? The article, and other revisionists, love to give credit to ol' Ronny. In fact, this article wants desperately to mention Reagan, and secretly the main reason "they" wanted a response from this president - to be given a chance to yap about Reagan. Ha! During the anniversary speech in Berlin, Germany's PM Merkel didn't even mention Reagan because his efforts has been largely exaggerated by U know who. The president didn't need to be there - for what? The ACES is misusing a Constitutional protected forum to engage in " useless criticism" bordering on the obsessive, which would lead one to question the motive. Oh, everybody knows the Wall and the Soviet Union collasped because of the leadership of ole Gorby.
Oh, I see omnom, an America hater. Well, this is your man then.
Just as Obama couldn't find time to acknowledge the disaster in Ft. Hood, he had no intention of honoring any American military men if he can help it. You brown shirts that support this mad Marxist need to wise up. You don't do your country any favors.
WhippingPost, calling people names, making baseless assumptions about others. A model American, I'm sure! I made that comment about Fox news simply because, every dyed in the wool Republican I know is talking about it. And they all say they saw it on Fox. For the record, Republican does not equal conservative. Gov. Schwarzenegger, Sens. McCain, Graham, Isaakson.. they may be Republican in name but they are for greater govt. control (just slightly less than Democrats) and there are more in congress like them than true conservatives like Ron Paul. Don't call me an "American hater" simply because I may disagree with you. Reponses like yours discredit your whole party.
Obama doesn't want to celebrate democracy when he is trying to move forwardwhile being subtle about subjugating America under Islam.
Whipping Post with his hatred of OUR President on display. OMNOMNOM, that is his style along with a few others. You are only Patriotic if your walk goose step with them WP and his like have been discredited long ago. They are however good for a laugh or two.
another astute comment from the deep thoughts of Ispy....
actally he's a peeping tom not a spy.......
Plain and simple.....barry is an ego-maniac and this opportunity to celebrate a great Regan moment would not have allowed him to use the word "I" enough times...................( the new American Prayer)"may he leave us in about three years amen!".........
Your daily anti-Obama rant, brought to you by the folks at ACES, whose paid readership continues to decline. I thought you guys were businessmen.
Maybe we should have dug Ronnie up and sent him over for the celebration?
During the cold war, Democrats told everyone that the Cold War could not be and we just needed to learn to live with communism and the USSR. Reagan is the only leader who said "Yes we can" win the war against communism. While the Democrats scoffed at him, he proceded to put his plan into place. Not long after he left office, the Berlin wall fell and the Soviet Union fell. Today, not only is the USA slipping into socialism, but we are spending ourselves into debt similar to the debt that caused the USSR to fall and Russian leaders are trying to reform the Soviet Union.
I'm sure the AC would have had an editorial b*tching about it if he had gone. Dammed if you do dammed if you don't.
Exactly, TechLover. He was at Dover saluting when our dead came home, and that was a "photo op". If he hadn't gone, it would have been because he didn't care (even though Bush tried to squelch even the NAMES of those who fought and died in his misbegotten war from being read on the air). The AC and some of the posters here are simply addled by rage and hatred.
Can you imagine the backlash if he flew to Germany during the aftermath of the Fort Hood tragedy? It would be like doing a fly-over in the aftermath of Katrina... oh, wait.
CobaltGeorge, much of your report comes from what the founder of the San Diego Minutemen says took place. According to the UPI, the suit was "tossed out". In fact, I can find no documentation for your claims. Orly Taitz has been fined for filing frivolous lawsuits ($20,000 in this state!) and is an obvious lunatic.
Please cite a reputable source, George, not one of your wacko birther blogs.
The Chronicle would have complained, had Obama attended anything, that he was neglecting Afghanistan, yada, yada, yada...
TECH, O can go and pitch for his hometown, but he can't put his skinny butt on Air Force 1 to go and commemorate the falling of the BW? You'd defend this incompetent if he waived a red flag and sang the Soviet National Anthem. From his lack of interest, my guess is Odumba is sorry the wall came down. It showed how weak his comrades in the East are.
HotFoot, I do believe that during the Bush administration, it wasn't that President Bush was trying to squelch the names being published over the air. I do believe it was by request from the families of our fallen heros that their names not be published over the air and that no photos be taken of them layed to rest in their caskets.
HotFoot on Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:08 AM You may be right on this one...will do more reseach.
Gee Ryan, you want to lose all of your audience, don't you? You've lost about 275.00 from me already this year, about the same from many I know. Your ad rates must be plummeting from lack of readership, too. Your comments are just flat out STUPID. While you arrogantly continue with your ridiculous anti-American blather, the chickens are leaving the roost. Tsk, tsk. Bad Bidness from such a parrot...
bettyboop - Reagan's movie moment was inspiring wasn't it? Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall. The choir loved it! And they won't never forget him either. But it didn't get Reagan an Oscar nor a Noble Prize either. Why you reckon that was?
NIKO, ROTFLMAO @ your 9:07 AM post.Might as well, he is just as alive now as he was his last 3 years in office. Hell you might as well throw old Strom in too.
BettyBOOBOO is a goose stepping Ditto Head. Along with WP and Irish Drunk, they had a little too much Rushaide.
I'm sure we all know this, but had he gone to Berlin following the Ft. Hood shooting, this editorial would say something about how our callous president is off nudging shoulders with socialists instead of addressing the needs of those who have given their all for the country. AC is so biased it can claim one achievement: complete transparency.
NIKO and ISPY, even a dead Reagan would show more leadership than the spineless incompetent that is in the White House now.