Not that he really it calls it that. If you remember, his administration changed it to “overseas contingency” early on. And while the NY Times says that this “was the most important statement on counterterrorism policy since the 2001 attacks, a momentous turning point in post-9/11 America”, there are two issues, the first being that Obama has expanded the use of attacks on Jihadis across the Middle East and North Africa more than President Bush ever did, and seems to revel in his power (why else would he personally pick targets?). And then there’s this
(Daily Caller) On Thursday, President Barack Obama urged an end to the war against terrorism, which legally began once Congress reacted to the jihadi attack on the Twin Towers.
“Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue†through the use of courts and police, he announced in a speech at the National Defense University.
“This war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands,†he said.
Our democracy (yes, yes, I know, a Constitutional Republic) also demands not violating the Constitution, not targeting certain groups with the IRS, not targeting the Press, not leaving our people to die in Benghazi, and so many other notions. But, as far as fighting Islamists
But the president can’t end the war on terrorism by himself, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said. The war “is being waged against us†by jihadis, Bolton told Fox News after the speech. “Obama thinks of terrorism like a souped-up version of robbing a local Starbucks,†he said. Bolton argues that jihadis are motivated by a coherent, established idea of holy war for Islam, which urges near-perpetual war against non-Muslim governments.
It may only take two to tango, but it takes only one to start a fight. Obama can choose not to fight, but Islamists do not have to participate in his little scheme. Surely Israel would prefer not to be a participant in the Islamist schemes, but have no choice but to fight back. Either that or surrender. No, we do not want to continuously fight these violent nutjobs fighting in the name of their religion. What else can we do?
However, can there be an end? Because you cannot defeat the idea that the hardcore Islamists push, particularly since this idea isn’t just about violence, but about pushing Sharia law and the hardcore interpretation of the Koran through peaceful methods, as well.
Mostly, though, this was a “squirrel” speech, designed to deflect attention away from the scandals racking his administration. He wants Gitmo closed, and threw a bit of Bush Blame (surprise) and “I can’t do this without Congress” out, his normal Blamestorming and refusal to take responsibility himself along with an unwillingness to do the hard work himself.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
