We interrupt the wonderful postings of my guest hosts to ask the musical question of our Commander-in-Chief....what the &^*%^ is up with this, Mr. President?
The many nations helping Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that struck there have set up their own military compounds and fly their flags at the entrances.
France's tricolor, Britain's Union Jack and even Croatia's coat of arms flap in the breeze.
But the country whose contributions dwarf the rest of the world's โ the United States โ has no flag at its main installation near the Port-au-Prince airport.
(...)
The Obama administration says flying the flag could give Haiti the wrong idea.
"We are not here as an occupation force, but as an international partner committed to supporting the government of Haiti on the road to recovery," the U.S. government's Haiti Joint Information Center said in response to a query about the flag.
So flying the flag in another country is a indication of occupation? Actually I'm guessing that's what President Obama and Haitian President Preval agreed on when the latter paid a visit to Washington DC last week to thank the former for saving the lives of the surviving Haitians who were not only victims of a horrendous earthquake but victims of their own leaders long before the quake occurred.
The Obama Administration: displaying its contempt for America and her defenders since January 20, 2009.
Oh and it's quite interesting that the article appears in the Army Times. First of all, it's an implicit criticism of the Commander-in-Chief (Note the weaselly language: "does not sit well with some veterans and servicemembers." I bet they couldn't find any GIs who liked the policy.) But secondly, these civilian-run Army/Navy/Air Force Times papers generally have a liberal bent in spite of the intended audience.
(Thanks to Drew at Ace of Spades HQ)
AFTERTHOUGHT: One wonders how things would play out if the installation commander disobeyed orders in this matter.
Amazing.
I guess by that logic, the other countries lending aid to Haiti are being seen as an occupying force. Obammy's reasoning is shamefully shallow.
How we elected this America-Last Marxoid still astounds me sometimes.
Posted by: KingShamus | March 16, 2010 at 07:18 PM
"Some" equals "every veteran and service member asked." They just didn't ask ALL of them, so they're playing it safe.
Posted by: Tully | March 17, 2010 at 03:23 PM
Lex was "uncharacteristically โ speechless."
I rather enjoyed his choice of video commentary after that...
Posted by: Casey | March 22, 2010 at 12:41 AM