When Did The French Become The Tough Guys?
The French have long been the butt of many a joke here in the United States. Typically viewed as weak on defense and foreign policy, I have personally been guilty of making more than a few statements about how we saved their country, and chiding them about their lack of courage. Yet somehow, the tables have turned here all of a sudden. When Chuck Schumer sounded the death knoll on America's "strong foreign policy" it could have easily been dismissed as the rantings of another power mad inside the beltway left wing moonbat. It was not. This is seriously the direction that Obama and his "O Team" in Congress wish to take this Country. It is now their stated objective to make us weak. I will not hold my breath waiting for an apology from you leftists who mocked me when I stated this to be their goal before the election.
Follow me here. Notice this statement from Peter Pham, a national security professor at James Madison University. “This is something that hasn’t happened since the United States Navy and Marines were founded to fight the pirates two centuries ago”. The question becomes, why is it the first in 200 + years? The linked article goes on to state that there has been a heightened level of Piracy since the 90's. There were 7 ships attacked by pirates this week alone (at the time of my writing). Why only one U.S. ship? And why none prior to this? Better yet, why none prior to our President parading around the world apologizing for the United States strong foreign policy? Why none prior to our President declaring that we are not at odds with radical Islam? Now I know what is coming here. Leftist will cry that this has nothing to do with Islaam. Think again. Read this quote. "I believe that the pirates are not wrong to hijack the ships because there is no reason for the international ships to use Somalia's waters,". It comes from Sheikh Muktar Robow, spokesman for Somalia's hard line Islamist group Shebab.
Adding to the embarrassment to any American who has prided themselves on our strong national defense was the French reaction to a hijacking of one of their own ships. Fearing that pirates would reach land and complicate the situation with the hostage, the French (yes, you read that right) stormed the sailboat taking out the pirates. One of the hostages died in the encounter, yet the French Government (again, you read that right) is defending their strong actions. Apparently, the French got it this time. There is a reason why the U.S. went 200 years without pirate attacks. It is called survival instinct. Pirates wishing to live to steal another day knew better than to attack ships sailing under the Stars and Stripes. But a new day has dawned in America. A day where, under the guidance of leftist apologists like Obama and Schumer, weakness is seen as a virtue. A day where strong foreign policy is called arrogance and treasonous backstabbing on foreign land is called heroic. A day where 3 Naval battleships are needed for a standoff with 4 pirates in a lifeboat. A day where the Commander in Chief on the once feared and respected U.S. Military is more concerned with a press conference about how he plans to pay off Peggy Joseph's mortgage than answering questions about an international crisis.
Yes, leftist, your wish is granted. This question is not to the lunatic fringe. To the moderate Democrat who understands the value of a strong foreign policy, is this what you wanted? I'm not talking to the radicals out there who watched the freed Iraqi's complain about U.S. occupation. I am talking to the moderate who watched the suppressed Iraqi people celebrate our arrival. I am talking to those who realize the underlying emotion that explains the actions of those people. It is called the deep yearning to be free. It is a staple of human nature. The oppressed welcome the arrival of the U.S. troops who will free them. The newly freed people then want them gone so they can govern themselves. Yet generations of freedom has softened the left in this country. They have no idea nor concern with the cost of the freedom they now both enjoy and curse. They see that cost as born by the military and generations gone before. Yet the simple truth of the matter is this. The cost of our liberty is paid each and every day by each and every one of us. Being man enough to stand up to the world and say "I don't give a damn what you think" is part of that cost. As a sovereign nation, we protected our ships and sailors for 200+ years. As an apologist slave to international opinion, we managed two months.
So now, in a twist of irony that even I would never have predicted, we must beg our President to look to the French as an example of strength. The sad fact is, I don't believe he has it in him. Mr President, the next time you get the urge to wander the globe spewing your rhetoric, remember this. Actions speak louder than words, sir. Where did your shameless pandering to the Islamic world get you? What grace and favor did it earn you in their eyes? None. They saw your weakness and pounced. Your "Obama In Wonderland" approach to national security is a fantasy, and it is one that we the people must pay for each day. If ever there was a wake up call capable of knocking a man out of his left wing rhetoric induced coma and back into reality, certainly being shown up by the French must be the one. Wake up, President Obama. The world sees you as weak because you are. Grow a spine and take our ship back and send a message to these pirates and the rest of the world. America is only weak when leftists want us to be. We have given you the helm of the most powerful military in the world. Only you could be held for ransom by four kids in a lifeboat with such an arsenal. Wake up, Mr. President. Wake up.
