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Obama Honors Troops at Arlington
Barack Obama unexpectedly visited the section of Arlington National Cemetery where troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried on Wednesday as part of his first Veterans Day as president. After performing the traditional role of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns, the president and Michelle Obama surprised family members of recently fallen soldiers who were paying their respects and took some time to speak with them. During the conventional portion of his day at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Obama said, "There is no tribute, no commemoration, no praise that can truly match the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice." He also promised veterans and troops that, "America will not let you down."
Garvagh
Is Obama suggesting that for the US to act intelligently in Afghanistan, would be "letting down" the families of troops killed in that war?
byersl
What is wrong with you?
khepri
Yep. The troops have already been "let down." They were "let down" when they were sent to both Afghanistan and Iraq. Getting them out would be an act of good faith.
cbl99201
I've heard it said that there are no stupid questions, but sadly, you have proven that wrong.
Plantagenet
Thank you President Obama, for honoring our fallen military heroes by your visit to Arlington.
AlanD2
I agree, Plant. Our soldiers who gave their lives deserve no less.
DrToketee
Photo op.
Move on, nothing to see here.
perezp
Well of course it's a photo op. I see that phrase popping up as an implied accusation ever since Obama took office. The fact is that the President, as a head of state, does have a function as a ceremonial representative of the nation as a whole at certain events and in certain places. On Veteran's Day it is part of his job to represent the American people's gratitude for the the sacrifice of our fallen service people. Criticizing him for this makes as about as much sense as criticizing him for delivering the State of the Union address.
Sure take all the shots you want at him about your disagreement on the issues, but if we can't as a country agree that honoring veterans on Veteran's Day is an appropriate thing to do, then what CAN we agree on?
oaklynne
Yet can you imagine the trash talk from Dr. Toke had Obama not visited Arlington?
mfkpadrefan
Pathetic response...remember when America rallied around Bush after 9/11...that last for me until you wingnuts morphed Max Cleland into Osama Bin Laden...possibly the most disgusting political ad ever...Obama's speech at Fort Hood was great and appreciated...as I said...you people are pathetic.
perezp
No doubt I'll get jumped on for this by those who can't bear to see Obama as a human being, but there is something poignant and even a bit reassuring about seeing a President- faced with the kind of decision Obama faces- taking time to look at a very tangible symbol for the consequences of his decision.
UNITEDCREATIONS
"No doubt I'll get jumped on for this by those who can't bear to see Obama as a human being"
and you wonder why??
perezp
I never said I wonder why. Just that it would happen.
Dreamer4Ever
Thanks for saying it, Perez. Even if, yeah, it's gonna get you tarred and feathered by some people.
The very people who thought Obama, sharing a plane with the flag-draped coffins of Iraq war casualties and saluting their caskets as they were carried past him was a callus photo-op. Like any human could sit in a cargo bay, alone, with what were soldiers, soldiers under HIM as the Commander in Chief, and be consumed with how much the photo is going to rock.
How did things get this bad? If he talks, it's awful, if he doesn't talk, it's awful, if he acts, it's wrong, if he doesn't, it's wrong. Obama may be one of the most gifted communicators ever to ascend to the presidency, but if a certain group is simply not listening then really, what can he do?
In his determination to somehow reach the unreachable, he's dragging his whole agenda down. But turning his back on them would just justify their "he's a dictator!" paranoia. I can't see any way out of this that doesn't make things worse.
Sajwert
Dreamer4ever, I've come to the conclusion that with some people, President Obama could not do anything right, will never do anything right, will always do the wrong thing, will always say the wrong thing, or will fail to do something. And the list gets longer.
I once had a friend commenting about a mutual friend who said "for some people, that poor guy couldn't commit suicide without someone complaining about how he did it or what he did it with."
Here in New England, we that that being between a rock and a hard place.
cbl99201
Great posting, Perezp. I had exactly the same reaction you did. Keep up the good work.
UNITEDCREATIONS
Did you stop at Ranger Tillman's grave Sir???
Did you stop and wonder .. where is his Journal Sir?
Did you stop and wonder .. at three weeks before he was to return with that Journal why was he shot three times at close range??..
Did you stop and wonder... why were his equipment and BDU's burned immediately after his death??
Did you Sir???
Dreamer4Ever
Ranger Tillman died in April 2004. Obama wasn't even a senator yet.
UNITEDCREATIONS
Dreamer4Ever,..
I know when he died.. I'm just asking did you think about the mysteriousness that surrounds his death.. because a Veteran Paratrooper on this Veterans Day I sure am ;)
America is never a fan of good people whom have a 'voice'... like he would have had 'if' he had returned being as High Profile as he was..
oaklynne
It's fun to watch UNITEDCREATIONS backpeddle.
AlanD2
UNITEDCREATIONS: If Obama were to look into crimes from the Bush era, it is likely that both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney would wind up in prison.
Perhaps you would rather we didn't go there...
GrinningTurtle
Great comment Perezp!
Demsdisorder
can you say Photo-op
amanda07070
Can you say get over it? He could walk on water and cure cancer and you'd still have something ridiculously inappropriate to say.
Read perezp 1st statement. He says it better than me. You take sour grapes to a level never before known. It's sad really.
oaklynne
can you say hypocrite? what would you have said if he hadn't gone to Arlington- don't answer, I already know, you troll.
Demsdisorder
I guess that he isn't the uniter he claimed to be. is he anything he claimed to be?
oaklynne
wow, that's a truly pathetic retort, troll disorder.
AlanD2
Demsdisorder: Obama has certainly tried to be a uniter. Unfortunately, it takes two to unite, and Republicans / conservatives have shown they would die before doing anything to assist Obama in governing America.
mfkpadrefan
To United Creations...are you aware who signed the phony documents that led to the propaganda fiasco about Tillman's death?...General McChrystal...scary!
angels81
As a Vietnam wounded combat vet, I say thank you President Obama for honoring the fallen. This is something that I expect all Presidents of this country to do no matter if they have a R or a D after their name. On this day when we honor the true heroes of this country, politics take a back seat.
Demsdisorder
angel you are 100% right. i wish i could remove my previous post.
AlanD2
Demsdisorder: My compliments on your positive post, the first I can remember from you. Keep up the good work.
Sajwert
angels81, thank you for serving time in hell called Vietnam for a country that might have seemed not to have cared about you and your buddies as much as we might have. But we who objected to the war really did care, and wanted you home where you belonged.
I believe that every president that goes to Arlington on Veterans Day or any other day cannot help but be awed by the greatest sacrifice of all that these crosses signify. It way be a photo op for some, but I seriously doubt that any president uses it as a political point getting activity. To accuse a president of doing so is not only disrespectful, but shows a narrow mind.
cbl99201
Obama is doing an outstanding job.
cbl99201
What a blessing to have a vigorous young president with democratic values.
AlanD2
I'll drink to that, cbl99201.
briansays
Age
Number of Uninsured Veterans, 2008
Percent of Uninsured who are Veterans
Deaths/100,000 Population
Excess Deaths Among All Uninsured Americans
Excess Deaths Among Uninsured Veterans, 2008
18 to 24* 54,022
0.65% 81.4 2,388 16
25 to 34 224,351 2.06% 104.4 3,842 79
35 to 44 300,859 3.68% 193.3 5,685 209
45 to 54 426,348 5.90% 432.0 10,201 602
55 to 64 456,034 10.32% 906.9 13,175 1,360
Total (Under 65) 1,461,615 3.70% 44,798 2,266
Total (All Ages) 1,540,795 3.84%
Thank you.
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