In this earlier thread I commented on the incredible ignorant statement by Obama that FDR and Truman talked to our enemies:
The other side can label and name-call all they want, but I trust the American people to recognize that it’s not surrender to end the war in Iraq so that we can rebuild our military and go after al Qaeda’s leaders. I trust the American people to understand that it’s not weakness, but wisdom to talk not just to our friends, but our enemies – like Roosevelt did, and Kennedy did, and Truman did.
Its a breathtaking quote and one that should not be glossed over. Not only is he completely wrong on his history (maybe the result of 20+ years of lessons from Rev. Wright), he is basically telling us what his policy will be once gaining the White House. To sit down and discuss our differences with our enemies. Let me see. With Iran we’ve talked to them, cajoled them, placed many carrots in front of them, and begged them….results left much to be desired.
Iran is one enemy, al-Qaeda is another. Talking to AQ is akin to madness and treason.
But there it is, in black and white, the evidence that this man would sit down with those who deserve no sit-downs.
As far as the history goes Jack Kelly slaps the messiah down a bit:
I assume the Roosevelt to whom Sen. Obama referred is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Our enemies in World War II were Nazi Germany, headed by Adolf Hitler; fascist Italy, headed by Benito Mussolini, and militarist Japan, headed by Hideki Tojo. FDR talked directly with none of them before the outbreak of hostilities, and his policy once war began was unconditional surrender.
FDR died before victory was achieved, and was succeeded by Harry Truman. Truman did not modify the policy of unconditional surrender. He ended that war not with negotiation, but with the atomic bomb.
Harry Truman also was president when North Korea invaded South Korea in June, 1950. President Truman’s response was not to call up North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung for a chat. It was to send troops.
Perhaps Sen. Obama is thinking of the meeting FDR and Churchill had with Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in Tehran in December, 1943, and the meetings Truman and Roosevelt had with Stalin at Yalta and Potsdam in February and July, 1945. But Stalin was then a U.S. ally, though one of whom we should have been more wary than FDR and Truman were. Few historians think the agreements reached at Yalta and Potsdam, which in effect consigned Eastern Europe to slavery, are diplomatic models we ought to follow. Even fewer Eastern Europeans think so.
When Stalin’s designs became unmistakably clear, President Truman’s response wasn’t to seek a summit meeting. He sent military aid to Greece, ordered the Berlin airlift and the Marshall Plan, and sent troops to South Korea.
So, in actuality, FDR and Truman did the complete opposite of what Obama is alleging. Instead of talking to our enemies, instead of running from a fight, they took the fight to the enemy and did not stop until a unconditional surrender was achieved.
I have a feeling we wouldn’t get the same resolve from a President Obama.
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