This is just astounding:
It was clear to the guests how aware Mr. Obama was of the critics who have charged him with demonstrating a lack of leadership. He brought up the criticism more than once with an edge of resentment in his voice.
“He’s definitely feeling it,” said one guest. At one point, Mr. Obama noted acidly that President Ronald Reagan sent Marines to Lebanon only to have hundreds of them killed in a terrorist attack because of terrible planning, and then withdrew the remaining ones, leaving behind a civil war that lasted years. But Reagan, he noted, is hailed as a titan striding the earth.
Leaders make mistakes in the process of leading. People understand that acting can sometimes result in setbacks. But real leaders are trusted to achieve victory despite mistakes and even disasters.
Voting "present" on the world stage is not leadership. And after 6 years, our president will not learn this. I pray our enemies don't exploit this observation as a window of opportunity.
Was President Reagan a titan? No. Time has allowed fans to forget flaws while remembering the big picture.
But perhaps Reagan looms so large in President Obama's eyes because of his own small stature on the world stage. At this rate, the president's fans need to worry more about whether he'll get top billing over the puppet show rather than whether he should be put on Mount Rushmore.
UPDATE: I think that we can win without ground combat brigades in action if we can do the things I've noted a number of times.
Sadly, getting those things requires presidential leadership. So it is possible we might need combat brigades in time.
Alas, you go to war with the president you have and not the president you wish you had.
