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DSPQ

December 3, 2009 by Frank Gannon | Filed Under Double Standard Paranoia Quotient 

Apropos President Obama’s Afghanistan speech two nights ago, Gabor Steingart, Der Spiegel’s senior correspondent in Washington, writes:

Just minutes before the president took the stage inside Eisenhower Hall, the gathered cadets were asked to respond “enthusiastically” to the speech.

If this is true, it raises some important questions.

For starters, it makes the Corps of Cadets’ restrained reception of the President’s remarks a significant story in and of itself — far beyond the passive “enemy camp” explanation proffered by Chris Matthews.  The fact that this exhortation (or direction, depending on from whence and whom it came)  wasn’t widely reported and factored into the post-speech analysis would be only the latest example of the mainstream media’s laziness and/or tendentiousness.

Second, it raises questions about who urged such a reception — and why.  This was a serious speech on a sober subject by the Commander in Chief, and the restrained demeanor of the corps was entirely appropriate.  I read one report that even the response to the earlier announcement of an amnesty for minor disciplinary offenses —customarily granted at the request of a distinguished visitor and usually raucously greeted— was notably subdued.  Who, then, decided to urge the cadets to assume the role of a cheering section?

Maybe Mr. Steingart simply misunderstood the situation.  But genuinely inquiring minds should want to know.



Comments

One Response to “DSPQ”

  1. DAVE in UT on December 5th, 2009 5:19 am

    West Point cadets – following graduation – did not have an early, honorable history in combat during the Vietnam War — “before LBJ’s dramatic troops insertion then escalation” after The Gulf of Tonkin “incident”!

    At ties, their arrogance – learned at West Point – ill-served both their Army subordinates, as well ss their up-channel superiors.

    Ask veterans of the battle for Lon Binh – before “the FIRST Tet” offensive in 1967. AT LEAST THOSE WHO WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED!

    Company grade [captains and lieutenants] who were only recenty US Army West Point graduates hung maps ON SHEETS inside open tents – clearly depicting ammunition dumps at that forward outpost.

    Viet Cong [VC] civilians – working at that base under Army contract – then paced off distances from outer perimeters to those ammo dumps!

    Within minutes – literally – of the “close of business” that work day, VC mortors practically destroyed MOST of that Army base. IN ONE BATTLE!

    Early warning was no-existent! SO WAS the US ARMY COMMON SENSE!

    Over time, sole reliance on West Point graduates have been lessened – wisely during several presidential administrations — favoring, instead, Reserve officer corps – “One foot in active duty uniform – One foot in civilian life”!

    THAT has served our Nation well, it seems.

    “The [Revolutionary War] Minutemen” – in our U. S. History – form the historical precedent here.

    Likewise, today’s military Reserve commissioned officers and NCOs are trained – and they have been, since the early 1960’s – to “be prepared to JUST SAY NO” to academy graduates serving in officer uniform — and have a good reason for doing so: Such as saving fellow soldiers, sailors & airmen’s lives!

    Looking at the wire service photos of West Point cadets, during the President’s recent address on revisions & adjusted priorities of battle orders to the Afghanistan – Pakistan strategy — I DID NOT SEE the cadets reflect the “ordered enthusiasm”.

    Rather, I SAW STEELY RESOLVE = perhaps, even some well-timed humility.

    Arrogance seemed conspicuously missing.

    And to that, may I finally opine – It’s about damned time, too!

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