Obama: 'Because We're Leading the Right Way, More Nations Are Joining Our Coalition'

In his weekly address, Saturday, President Obama once again tried to separate himself from the “previous administration” by telling the American people he would avoid making “the mistakes of the past” and crowing that he is “leading the right way” so “more nations are joining our coalition.”  He said this despite reports his counter-terrorism effort is receiving only tepid support from even our staunchest allies.

Via Breitbart TV: (Emphasis mine.)

To meet a threat like this, we have to be smart.  We have to use our power wisely.  And we have to avoid the mistakes of the past.  American military power is unmatched, but this can’t be America’s fight alone.  And the best way to defeat a group like ISIL isn’t by sending large numbers of American combat forces to wage a ground war in the heart of the Middle East.  That wouldn’t serve our interests.  In fact, it would only risk fueling extremism even more.

Insufferable. This is Obama’s passive aggressive way of dissing the stronger and more decisive president who came before him. “We have to be smart and use our power wisely unlike you-know-who.” It would be nice if by “avoid the mistakes of the past,” he meant the mistakes of his own past – like pulling out of Iraq too soon, and underestimating ISIS – but alas, no. He of course means G.W. Bush’s mistakes. Barack Obama doesn’t admit to his own mistakes – but he’s sure good at pointing out the mistakes of others.

We’re moving ahead with our campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists, and we’re prepared to take action against ISIL in Syria as well.  The additional American forces I’ve ordered to Iraq will help Iraqi and Kurdish forces with the training, intelligence and equipment they need to take the fight to these terrorists on the ground.  We’re working with Congress to expand our efforts to train and equip the Syrian opposition. We’ll continue to strengthen our defenses here at home.  And we’ll keep providing the humanitarian relief to help Iraqi civilians who have been driven from their homes and who remain in extreme danger.

As I’ve already noted, it’s being reported that the Syrian rebels have signed a non-aggression pact with ISIS. So unless Obama’s referring to the Syrian Kurds, I don’t see how arming and training “Syrian opposition” is going to work.

And what does he mean by “continue to strengthen our defenses at home? The borders are wide open and the power grid is as vulnerable as ever. The fact that little old ladies, boy scouts and toddlers continue to get patted-down during airport security checks, while real threats are ignored, does nothing to instill confidence or any sense of security. It’s just an annoying inconvenience.

Because we’re leading the right way, more nations are joining our coalition….

This week, Arab nations agreed to strengthen their support for the new Iraqi government and to do their part in the fight against ISIL, including aspects of the military campaign.  Saudi Arabia will join the effort to help train and equip moderate Syrian opposition forces.  And retired Marine general John Allen–who during the Iraq war worked with Sunnis in Iraq as they fought to reclaim their communities from terrorists–will serve as our special envoy to help build and coordinate our growing coalition.

John Hayward went on the record today questioning the president’s sanity. I want to know what he’s smoking – so I can have some. This “support” from the Arab nations Obama’s crowing about is described in the New York Times, as “tepid” and “less than enthusiastic.”

Many Arab governments grumbled quietly in 2011 as the United States left Iraq, fearful it might fall deeper into chaos or Iranian influence. Now, the United States is back and getting a less than enthusiastic welcome, with leading allies like Egypt, Jordan and Turkey all finding ways on Thursday to avoid specific commitments to President Obama’s expanded military campaign against Sunni extremists.

As the prospect of the first American strikes inside Syria crackled through the region, the mixed reactions underscored the challenges of a new military intervention in the Middle East, where 13 years of chaos, from Sept. 11 through the Arab Spring revolts, have deepened political and sectarian divisions and increased mistrust of the United States on all sides.

Turkey, which borders both Iraq and Syria, has denied the U.S. permission to launch strikes from air bases in the country. Turkey is also a NATO member. As for Egypt and Jordan:

Others were less than forthcoming. The foreign minister of Egypt — already at odds with Mr. Obama over the American decision to withhold some aid after the Egyptian military’s ouster last year of the elected president — complained that Egypt’s hands were full with its own fight against “terrorism,” referring to the Islamist opposition.

 In Jordan, the state news agency reported that in a meeting about the extremists on Wednesday, King Abdullah II had told Secretary of State John Kerry “that the Palestinian cause remains the core of the conflict in the region” and that Jordan was focusing on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

As Thomas Rose reported at Breitbart National Security, only nine nations have thus far signed on to Obama’s “broad coalition,” although what actual support those states have actually offered remains unclear. 

Normally, international military coalitions are forged prior to their being formally announced. In the case of the anti-ISIS coalition, President Obama proclaimed the establishment of a US-led “broad coalition” of nations committed to the military defeat of the terrorist ISIS army before any specific agreements were reached with any partners. More significant perhaps than the list of states that have signed on is the list of those who have not. The most important and reliable US allied nations have almost all begged off; as have critical regional allies. 

It cannot be repeated often enough that President Bush’s much ridiculed (by Obama, Biden and Kerry among others) “Coalition of the Willing” for the the US-led 2003 operation to liberate Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein, included 49 nations “that provided material military support including troops, intelligence cooperation, material, logistics, ground facilities, and financial assistance.”

If there is such a thing as Karma, I’d say Obama and his ilk are experiencing it now.

To quote John Lennon: Instant Karma’s gonna get you. Gonna look you right in the face. Better get yourself together darlin’. Join the human race. How in the world you gonna see? Laughin’ at fools like me.