For years, conservative critics have assailed Barack Obama for somehow not loving America sufficiently. Specifically they've assailed him for not truly believing in "American exceptionalism."
But if you listened to the President's 18-minute address at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa this afternoon, you heard him repeatedly give much love to the troops who have fought in Middle Eastern countries over the past 13 years, and admit that when the world needs help, they turn to America – this time to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
"If there is some sort of crisis … when the world is threatened, when the world needs help, it calls on America," Obama said. "Even the countries that complain about America, when they need help, who do they call? They call us, and then America calls on you."
Obama arrived in Tampa on Tuesday night, where he stayed at the downtown Hilton Hotel, tying up traffic both last night and this morning. He came to MacDill – the home of U.S. Central Command which has always been called the "nerve center" for the wars in the Middle East, to meet with military commanders and his national security team, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
As has been stated repeatedly in the past week, this is not the Barack Obama who ran and won the presidency in 2008, or has mostly governed in office, where he has frustrated the neo-cons and other more hawkish types like John McCain for appearing squishy when it comes to foreign intervention – though never on the "war on terrorism."
The fact is that Obama has dropped hundreds of drones to kill suspected militants across the Middle East and Pakistan, and there has been significant "collateral damage" to those strikes. And of course he directed Navy Seal Team 6 to take out Osama bin Laden in 2011. But when it comes to troops, Obama has taken in pride in pulling all U.S. forces out of Iraq, and today once again boasted how all troops will soon be out of Afghanistan.
And he again insisted today at MacDill that he won't commit any ground troops to fight against ISIL in Iraq or Syria, though that strategy is being severely questioned by Republicans and some of his own generals.
"As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not commit you and the rest of our Armed Forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq," said. "After a decade of massive ground deployments, it is more effective to use our unique capabilities in support of partners on the ground so they can secure their own countries’ futures. And that's the only solution that will succeed over the long term."
Obama said the U.S. won't be going it alone, referring to several different countries who will be part of the coalition to try to stamp out the new threat. ISIL (or ISIS) is said to have approximately 31,500 soldiers in their army
In addition, Obama addressed his decision on Tuesday to send 3,000 troops to West Africa to handle the Ebola virus which is demanding international attention. "In the nation of Liberia, one person who heard this news yesterday was reported to say, “We have been praying to get the disease wiped out of our country. So if the coming of U.S. troops will help us get that done, we [will] be happy.” And that's the story across the board. If there is a hurricane, if there is a typhoon, if there is some sort of crisis, if there is an earthquake, if there’s a need for a rescue mission, when the world is threatened, when the world needs help, it calls on America. Even the countries that complain about America — (laughter) — when they need help, who do they call? They call us. And then America calls on you."
The president has been hammered by political analysts this summer on a number of fronts, particularly internationally, with critics saying he's a poor leader. But with all of the problems going on in the world, Obama seems to realize that he needs to be stronger. He admitted that it was time for the U.S. to lead the way.
"This is a moment of American leadership, and thanks to you, it is a moment that we are going to meet. And I will keep standing up for your interests and for our security, and for the human rights and dignity of people wherever they live. And we’re going to keep on working with our allies and partners to take out the terrorists who threaten us wherever they hide. Because in stark contrast to those who only know how to kill and maim and tear down, we keep on building up and offering a future of progress and hope. And like the generations before us, we’re willing to defend this country we love. We’re willing to help others on this planet that we share. We’re protected by patriots like you. And for all those reasons, the United States of America will remain the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known."
During Obama's speech, the New York Times posted a poll that shows the president getting hammered, particularly when it comes to foreign policy and fighting terrorism. Obama is at just 40 percent overall in terms of his popularity, but only at 34 percent when it comes to handling foreign policy, and just 41 percent fighting terrorism. Even when George W. Bush was at the lower ebb of his second term in 2006, he graded at 54 percent on fighting terrorism.
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2014.