An Empty Chair

An American citizen with an inquiring mind (IM):  Gadfly, telling you about my dream following the Democratic National Convention must wait.

Old Gadfly:  Why?

IM:  I am heart-broken for the families of the four Americans killed in Libya; but also furious that it even happened.

Gadfly:  Why furious?

IM:  It was just last week that Clint Eastwood was sneeringly ridiculed for his empty chair routine.  Clint saw something, and he didn’t need a script to explain it.  The chair has been empty.  Apparently, the current incumbent has had little time for the traditional daily intelligence briefings.

Gadfly:  How does “not taking daily intelligence briefings” implicate the President?

IM:  Protecting our nation and American citizens was not his first priority.  His first priority was campaigning for reelection.  This is obvious by his actions.  He was content to seek refuge when his disciples circled wagons around him claiming, “Politics stop at the water’s edge.”

Gadfly:  Why did they say that?

IM:  Romney criticized the Administration for a statement pandering to an agitated Muslim faction released from the American embassy in Cairo.  Romney was immediately attacked for “politicizing” a tense foreign policy situation.  Where was the same level of consideration for “politics stop at the water’s edge” when Bush was dealing with serious foreign policy issues?  After being armed with a bipartisan Joint Resolution of Congress to use military force in Iraq, Bush acted to remove a tyrant who was far more brutal than Libya’s Gaddafi.  Hussein was arrested (not assassinated) and tried in a court of law.  Incidentally, the threat of alleged weapons of mass destruction represented only one of 12 justifications for the use of force.

Gadfly:  You are furious.

IM:  Yes, and when I recall how Bush was roundly criticized for the “mission accomplished” banner on the aircraft carrier, I can’t believe how hypocritical people can be when they are the ones to politicize beyond the water’s edge.  The men and women on the carrier group were proud of the role they played up to that point in the conflict and believed they had accomplished their mission.  They were especially proud to be honored by their commander in chief.  It’s obviously alright not to keep politics at the water’s edge when you’re on the left side of the political spectrum.  And I wonder how many more people, American and Iraqi, that had to die because Bush had to fight a two-front war, one at home and one in Iraq.

Gadfly:  IM, are you hyperventilating?

IM:  No, I keep trying to stop thinking about the hypocrisy and then I remember Speaker of the House Pelosi’s trip to Syria in 2007 in defiance of the President and Secretary of State.  We can see how much this kind of rogue diplomacy worked beyond the water’s edge.  How many innocent civilians have been killed so far?

Gadfly:  IM, I want you to think about other things to get your blood pressure within limits.

IM:  One last point.  Is Obama the captain of our ship of state?

Gadfly:  Of course.

IM:  Was he anointed or elected?

Gadfly:  Technically, he was elected.

IM:  What amazes me is when I ask those who follow him, why they like him, their eyes seem to glaze over and they begin a meditative mantra:  hope . . . change . . . forward . . . hope . . . change . . . forward.  Gadfly, are you still with me?

Gadfly:  I have to admit, IM, it is somewhat hypnotic.

IM:  I just wanted to finish my point.  Whether anointed or elected, the captain of the ship is still accountable.  If you have not read it, then I recommend you read a Wall Street Journal editorial published on May 14, 1952.  The title of the piece was “Hobson’s Choice:  Responsibility and Accountability.”  The story stems from a collision between the USS Wasp and USS Hornet on April 26, 1952.  The USS Hornet sank and 176 crewmembers died.  (Note:  click here for history about the USS Hobson).  The editorial claimed that with responsibility comes accountability.  Without accountability, there is no responsibility.  Whether anointed or elected, the captain of our ship of state is responsible.  Here is how the WSJ editorial closed:

It is cruel, this accountability of good and well-intentioned men.

But, the choice is that, or an end to responsibility and, finally, as the cruel sea has taught, an end to the confidence and trust in the men who lead, for men will not long trust leaders who feel themselves beyond accountability for what they do.

And when men lose confidence and trust in those who lead, order disintegrates into chaos and purposeful ships into incontrollable derelicts.

Old Gadfly:  But, IM, your story is 60 years old.  Most of today’s voters are much younger than 60.

IM:  Yes; however, during Clinton's era, between 1992 and 2000, a period within the past 20 years, there were numerous attacks on US sovereign territory and American citizens.  Here are some of the most significant. 

·         On February 26, 1993, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York, killing six people.

·         On June 25, 1996, 23 American airmen died and over 300 were wounded in the Khobar Towers bombing in Dahran, Saudi Arabia.

·         On August 7, 1998, a series of American embassy bombings linked to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya killed hundreds of people.

·         On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked off the coast of Yemen, killing 17 and wounding 39 sailors.
 

And during the current President's tenure, we had the underwear bomber and the Fort Hood shootings.  The latter case has been held hostage to political correctness.

Old Gadfly:  What is your point, IM?

IM:  As we approached the anniversary of the September 9, 2001 terrorist attacks, which, by the way, resulted in more casualties than the attack on Pearl Harbor, the captain of our ship of state should have been far more tuned in regarding threats to America.

Old Gadfly:  Four more Americans are now dead.  I can see why you agree with Clint Eastwood’s empty chair message.