by Regina Sztajer

Thursday, July 24, 2008, Democratic Presidential Candidate Obama made a speech in Berlin Germany to over 200,000 people. He congratulated them for standing up to the Soviet Union during the blockade in 1948. He emphasized the fact the people of Berlin would not give up. But did he give the American military credit for flying transport after transport planes, defying the soviets, to bring food and coal to hungry, cold citizens of Berlin until Stalin finally gave in? This man finds it very hard to credit our brave men and women in the military for any accomplishments, now and in the past.

Obama should have given Baghdad the same support he gave Berlin!!! Traveling earlier this week in the Middle East he was asked by ABC’s Terry Moran, ” knowing what you know whether-he would reconsider his opposition to last year’s surge of U.S. troops in Iraq. “Well, no,” Obama replied ( The Wall Street Journal July 25 opinion page.) The surge he opposed saved Iraq just as President Harry Truman’s airlift saved Berlin during the Cold War. The surge saved American lives with combat fatalities down to an all time low. Obama did not have to wear body armor during a helicopter tour with Gen. David Petraeus because attacks on aircraft are down also. Obama knows Petraeus opposes a timetable for withdrawal of American troops. But Obama still insists on a 16 month withdrawal schedule. Military advice is ignored by Obama and the press has indicated Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seems to have endorsed Obama’s 2010 date for withdrawal. The debate goes on and while Obama insisted we must fight terrorism he is willing to give up Iraq.

In June 1987, Ronald Reagan gave an open-air speech in Berlin with his message being, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” (Wall St. Journal July 25) There were 10,000 police using tear gas to repel 100,000 violent protestors in the old capital of Bonn and the Soviet’s called it war-mongering!!! Two years later to the relief of the free world the wall fell. Reagan’s speech was statesmanship while Obama’s popularity. The new Messiah rock star Obama has gone to great lengths this week to reassure the American people he is capable of foreign policy!! But is he?

Do the American people think he really cares about our brave military when invited to the Landstuhl Medical Center at Ramstein to visit the wounded he decided to not go. He was told by the military he could not have media along and only a couple of Senate staff. The reason being political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops. No photo- op no Obama. He stayed in the hotel working out in the gym and having a drink with his pals. When he says he cares about the military I think not!!! Also, after his speech his campaign sent out an email to raise money off of it. I don’t think it was a coincidence!!!! This was supposed to be a non-political trip. This man has no shame!!! Iran is going nuclear, the Russians are getting uppity, their are problems galore with terrorism and the “citizen of the world,” Barack Obama is using saccharin tainted speeches of optimism without reality or substance to try to convince the American voting public he is the new Messiah. He has constantly complained the War in Iraq cost to much and the money should have been spent on roads, bridges, education and health care. I guess the citizen of the world does not think Iraq’s infrastructure is a good investment. In his speech in Berlin he is suddenly concerned about Afghanistan and proclaimed “America has no better partner than Europe ? What about Japan? Canada, Mexico, Israel, Poland and etc. Obama wouldn’t even make a good ambassador!!! He went traveling to prove himself but has avoided McCain’s invitations to participate in a series of joint town hall meetings. Maybe his campaign people want to keep him abroad until November?