It’s that day again

[aadler]

 
Eleven years on, I have to say that I wish we had accomplished more.

Iraq and Afghanistan are sliding back into Islamic anarchy, as American will dwindles. (Not that of the soldiers, no, not the people doing the fighting; the loss of determination is almost completely limited to politicians and others who stay safely home.) Egypt and Libya are lost to the Muslim Brotherhood, Syria is sure to be the next on the block, and Iran is right around the corner from nuclear weaponry. Weakness, apathy, and arrogant disregard — all from the White House — have set the stage for another round of terrible wars. And, when they begin, we won’t be ready, because we never are. America always yearns for peace, carries it to an unrealistic extreme, and as a result we always have to catch up to events we might have headed off.

In the time since I joined the Army, I’ve done three theater deployments and a support tour at Guantanamo, along with volunteering for every school and training and extra duty for which I could qualify. It wasn’t enough. I wanted to do more, and I tried to do more, because I knew I hadn’t done enough. And now, just as the need is about to increase, I’m approaching the point of involuntary retirement, and will no longer be allowed to contribute.

Things are about to get bad, and I’m convinced it didn’t have to happen. And, though there are many things that could have been done better, I pretty much blame Obama for the state of things now.

Maybe next time we can elect someone who, instead of focusing on the rise of the oceans, will just do his damn JOB.

Comments

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

The combination does seem the most likely scenario.

While I'm just as astonished as you are (just as I'm shocked that they can still find 10% of the electorate that likes Congress), I've completely lost faith in the memory of the average voter, or their ability to research or use common sense. After all, they elected him in the first place despite plenty of evidence about what he wanted to do. I honestly think, out of ignorance and apathy, we're going to put him back into office again. Am I being pessimistic? You betcha. I pray I'm wrong.

And if I am wrong ... yeah, Congress has been handing the Executive branch more and more power as time goes by, and Obama thinks we're all children -- I could absolutely see him refusing to give it up.