“We have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we are trying to build for our nation — a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity may seem beyond our reach.”
Last night, President Obama addressed the nation about the end to the U.S. combat mission in Iraq. Packed to the brim with bizarre nautical references, he embarked (pun very much intended) “to give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.” Ultimately and unfortunately, his message was as mixed as his metaphors.
To be frank, I’m not really sure what’s ending. According to the president, the “war” is over and the transitional force of U.S. troops in Iraq will have a new mission — namely, “advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces; supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our civilians.” Sounds a lot like the old mission, but maybe that’s just me. There’s also an abject insincerity to the proclamation of anything being over when Iraq lacks a government — let alone one that can provide water and electricity — and some 50,000 American troops have been suddenly rendered out of sight and out of mind.
Perhaps my criticism is unfair, but I also found it striking that Obama chose to limit his context to the American public. Certainly, communicating to his people here at home was the priority, however, all the world’s a stage so he wasn’t short an audience. Yet beyond a vague commitment to the Iraqi people and a pat on the back for the “caretaker government,” he provided little of substance. Apparently, a “new push for peace in the Middle East” begins today, but I seriously doubt that calmed any nerves in Riyadh given Iran’s naked nuclear ambitions that were similarly ignored. What we did get, however, were some vaguely populist musings about new jobs, a stronger middle class, an end to our dependence on foreign oil, and education for the kids. All the feel good bullet-points that might distract attention from the fact that Obama is uncomfortable playing war-time president, despite the fact that tens of thousands of Americans are still fighting wars overseas.
But perhaps I’m being unfair. After seven and a half years, thousands of Americans killed and tens of thousands left broken and battered, what’s left to say?
Maybe he should have started with “I’m sorry?”