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What Obama saw
The "lede" of this Reuters article on President Obama's trip to Dover Air Force Base last night made my skin crawl:
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Delaware -- President Barack Obama saw first hand the human cost of the Afghanistan war as he welcomed home on Thursday 18 soldiers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents killed in Afghanistan this week.
Obama, flying in his Marine One presidential helicopter, landed shortly after midnight in Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, home of the United States' largest military mortuary and main point of entry for U.S. service members killed abroad.
No, the president didn't see the human cost of war. He saw some coffins and a quiet ceremony -- that is, a small and sanitary portion of the toll. The human cost of war is far messier. It is blasted lives and unanswered questions. It is broken hearts and minds. It is widows raising children alone, and children who won't know their fathers. It is mothers outliving their sons. It is as painful as life can be.
I know I am probably overreacting to deadline journalism reaching for the closest cliché at hand. But rushed writing doesn't have to be sloppy writing, especially when the stakes are this high.
This is not a knock on Obama, whose quiet trip to Dover and private visit with the families of the dead strikes me as an appropriate gesture on his part.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
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“Weapons speak to the wise, but in general they need interpreters.”
—Pindar, Olympian Odes
Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.
Comments? Tips? Email ricksblog [at] cnas.org
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Agreed, but...
why don't you mention the real human cost of war when promoting escalating the war? It seems you only address the the potential risks in your many posts, rather than the known costs, in both money and human suffering.
Fair enough, NoSho
I do think about the costs, which is why I advocate pursuing the course that I think in the long run is most likely to reduce human suffering and losses.
Best,
Tom
So you're an IR moralist?
Didn't see that coming.
The long run in Afghanistan? Oh, folly! As Rory Stewart has said, Afghanistan is the graveyard of predictions.
But if you consider the long run of the planet, reducing the largest military in the world seems to be the most likely way to reduce human suffering and losses. Especially if even a small percentage is diverted to say - universal health insurance, global warming, nuclear non-proliferation, etcetera. And billions of dollars of cuts starts with not spending billions more.
Do you? Other than giving
Do you?
Other than giving us a rather specious analogy around Ike, FDR, George Marshall and the invasion of North Africa in 1942 without making it clear how a limited war of choice in Afghanistan is in any way whatsoever analogous to a total war - a war for national survival - such as WW II, there hasn't been a lot of hard arguing in this space (by you) for your POV. Just an assumption that it's correct.
I really don't mean to sound as harsh as I do - you are a fantastic, serious, and thoughtful journalist. But you still haven't really made a cogent argument for going "big" in Afghanistan. Or whether you think COIN can actually work there. Or if the present Afghan national government is enough of a real functioning operation to partner with the US - unless you think we ought to annex the place and really become an empire.
“It is blasted lives and
“It is blasted lives and unanswered questions. It is broken hearts and minds. It is widows raising children alone, and children who won't know their fathers. It is mothers outliving their sons. It is as painful as life can be.”
Tom’s words are very eloquent. For every family like ours who has a member at the point of the spear (in our case a Navy SEAL veteran of numerous deployments) Tom's words are a profound reminder of the hard reality of war in contrast to the daily bantering between hawks and doves nested in remote safety. Our constant fear is not only death and wounds but also whether the risks run are worth it?
An elegant paragraph, indeed
Yes, it's a wonderful paragraph. I'm grateful for having been introduced to the Yllescas family. Dena's word have made the losses these families have suffered very real to me--or, at least, as real as something that is happening to someone else can be.
also...
"Welcomed home" is probably not the most appropriate phrase. I saw this before you posted it and that immediately jumped out at me; the firsthand witness thing is absurd, too.
You're a poet
You speak so eloquently when you talk about the dilemnas and tragedy of war. Maybe the book after next you could really let loose.
I second the thanks to you for the introduction to the Yllescas family, and add thanks to Obama for the many demonstrations that he takes war seriously.
p.s. I never thought Obama was dilly-dallying--he is too courageous and directed for that.
POTUS at attention?
Is there any other time when the president offers a salute and remains "at attention" until the person being saluted passes. My understanding was that people in the military offer their superior the salute and the superior officer returns it. This looks awkward on Mr. Obama, and maybe a bit overdone. Do you have any thoughts on this? Did Pres. Bush salute as the coffins were carried past when he visited Dover? I can't help but think keeping his hands respectfully at his side is the thing for him to do here, but I really don't know.
Bush didn't do anything with the coffins
He only met with the families at the base.
The customary way to render a
The customary way to render a salute when not in uniform is to place one's hand over one's heart. But, I don't think there is any prescribed protocol for how a CinC shows his respect to the fallen. If this photo looks awkward, it is probably just because we've never seen him in such a rigid pose.
If this is the manner in which he felt he could better convey his respect, then that seems appropriate.
Squared away
Pretty good salute. Have known flag officers who couldn't match it.
Two other points:
On Afghanistan strategy...this is why it's worthwhile to get it right and take proper time to do so, rants by the Rs and wingnuts not withstanding (but I repeat myself).
On sacrifice and lives lost...no draft means these two now-senseless, seemingly endless wars impose their most costly price on just the few. The People have no skin in the game. War has been rendered too easy by the standing army (oops) All-volunteer Force. The American People were right on Vietnam; would be great if they gave a shit about these wars and these kids.
Who says we don't give a s**t?
I think we do. Polls seem to indicate war weariness, to put it mildly. As one American person, I have been loudly advocating against invading Iraq and nation-building in Afghanistan, both of which were utter follies. Costly ones, too.
The only thing we're succeeding at now is appearing to be hostile occupiers and insistent meddlers in the civil affairs of other nations. And now we're building more overseas bases, this time in Romania and Bulgaria. Globocop USA just knows no other way, I guess.
If we were serious about our national security (and we're not), we'd beef up security at our ports and borders. Even 9/11 wouldn't have happened had the faceless bureaucracy of the federal juggernaut listened to very accurate, repeated field reports about what known terrorist-linked Saudis were up to in this country. Now we're busy creating more terrorists. It's insanity.
DIsagree
As someone who works more with politics than foreign affairs, I can tell you that the current debate among Americans is not the war on Afghanistan. Americans are talking about jobs, health care, the economy, cap and trade (or, ahem, another tax, if you will), jobs, etc. Afghanistan is way down on the list--unfortunately. To say that we don't care is not entirely accurate. I think it is more that we just don't know what to do--there is no obvious answer--so plan B for many is too ignore it, pass on the buck, and hope for the best. At least Obama reminded Americans that people are dying with this subtle and PG version of the war.
As far as beefing up security on the borders and ports--that's folly. Our border is too large and open with land, water and air space.
Should he salute: He commands
Should he salute: He commands the forces of our country. Of course he can salute. And he is President, so yeah...
Of course the ranking officer is generally saluted by the subordinate, but the more accurate description is that the salute is rendered to somebody one wishes to honor. Many decades ago it was customary for an officer to salute ladies and for men to tip their hats to ladies to honor them. In this case, Obama honors the dead. Superiority doesn't matter here.
"It is widows raising
"It is widows raising children alone, and children who won't know their fathers. It is mothers outliving their sons."
On the upside, all those wives, mothers and daughters who are also lost in these wars only cost us 77 cents on the dollar!
Not bad
His salute is pretty good. As far as whether it's appropriate to salute in civvies, I say it's the Commander in Chiefs prerogative. Saluting is a mark of respect so there is no harm in his showing respect in this manner. It would have been nice to leave the cameras at home though.
Stinking Head Writer
I know Ricks intends no criticism of Obama, but whoever wrote the head for the link to this article certainly does:
"Obama Has No Clue What War Is"
Do you think we might get that replaced with something less loaded and insulting? I'd expect it in the comments section, not on the link.
Yep. Hey Tom, the webmaster
Yep. Hey Tom, the webmaster (at least the front page master) misrepresented your post, man.
But I bet a lot more people "clicked on" because of it.
Ian
Obama Has No Clue What War Is????
Why has FP created a front page title for this story which is completely at odds with Ricks' post? Ricks called President Obama's gesture appropriate and the headline reads as an incredibly offensive knock on the President (something Ricks explicitly said he was not doing). Whoever came up with that headline should be fired.
Come in off the ledge
Come in off the ledge and put the taco down, guys. I think we have it fixed. I agree with the criticism, but I don't think we should fire anyone for one little mistake.
Thanks,
Tom
PS--The Captcha password for this note is "score gras," which may explain the odd headlines.
The side-bar . . .
. . . says "Obama Has No Clue What War Is" which strikes me as equally inaccurate as the offending lede Tom highlighted. True, there's much more to "the human cost of war" than coffins at Dover. There's always more of everything, in fact, than what we can see. The writer, it seems, was just letting a part stand for the whole. I'd love to know what he says of this controversy: if it were me, I'd be saying, "Sheesh, guys: the point wasn't to imply 'he's seen all the destruction that war can do,' but to highlight the contrast between what you see from the Oval Office and what you see at Dover."
But "Obama Has No Clue What War Is" is not a rhetorical flourish, it's simply factually false. Any educated, reading person has, eg, some clue about "what war is." I wasn't at Gettysburg, but I think I have some clue about it. Mutatis mutandis.
Why was it a private visit
Why was it a private visit and yet the media was there to take this photo.
Obviously Obama does not know what a WAR is and it's costs. He's just there for the media limelight. It's all for himself. If you look closely, the cofins and ball bearers pictures are a bit blurry whilst Obama's own photo isn't.
Media
The family members of the soldier who President Obama is honoring in this photo gave permission for the media to be there. The photo is probably blurred because it was taken at night in low light conditions. The exposure was longer. The soldiers are moving, but the president is not therefore the soldiers are blurred.
Lord knows I am no fan of President Obama. However, when he does something right I think he should get credit for it. While I may disagree with many of his policies I feel he does what he does because he believes in it not out of some cynical desire for attention. Believe me, there is nothing more awkward than rendering honors to the fallen. You always find yourself asking if there is anything you could have done to prevent it even if you know you couldn't have.
Irresponsible Title
I agree with Ricks that President Obama's visit wasn't witnessing war "first hand". Though the visit was very much of honor and respect. Ricks suggested that labeling the visit "first hand" was sloppy journalism - The headline of Ricks article is of evident of "sloppy" journalism as well.
New requirement to be C in C
A lot of whiners who never served bitched about this, but I personally believe anybody who wants to be president should serve at least 4 years on active duty to fulfill the Commander in Chief requirement. If British royalty must serve in their 3 major branches, an American president can at least have served in one of ours. This idea was as popular as a fart in a submarine with a bunch of whiny liberals.
Good salute, must say. Glad
Good salute, must say. Glad he and his aides took a minute to learn to do that ceremony right.
The Dead
The worst job in the U.S. military is a casualty assistance officer - those who knock on doors to inform family members that their loved one is coming home in a box. If Obama tried that a few times, he'd bring U.S. troops home from their imperial adventures.
why was this his first trip? Can a journalist find out please.
I'd like some real, inquiring journalist to tell me if he has made any other trip to Dover before this one. If you read the Wash Post article, one finds that the accompanying video shows the Attorney Gen and the acting DEA Chief there at Dover.
Why did it take a tragedy that included the DEA officers to get the Pres to come out to pay respects? Did he do this because he was informed by Mr Holder that Holder was going to greet the remains and the Pres did not want to be reminded by the press that he'd never taken such a trip???
Nonetheless, very appropriate and good gesture to see this.
everyone's too afraid to say
everyone's too afraid to say it, no one wants to look crude or mean spirited, but the fact is Obama went to Dover for a photo-op because he's about to announce an Afgan policy that the generals will have a hard time supporting - the purpose of the photo is to get the impression out there that Obama is acting in the best interests of the soldiers, that he cares about them - the photo is Obama's way of circumventing the generals and appealing directly to the enlisted. The military and the Obama administration are on a collision course. What I'm hearing from guys I know in the service is reflected in the Brooks op-ed in the Times today: they don't trust Obama, they think he's weak, they think he embraced the war as part of a political calculation and now he's looking for a way out of that commitment. My guess is Petraeus and the boys all had to suppress a gag reflex when they saw that photo.
If the generals have trouble
If the generals have trouble supporting Obama and if they want to act petulant if they don’t get their way then they can resign and go into civilian life get on FOX and bash him all they want. The nut jobs in the right wing of the GOP would love to add them to their ranks. Hopefully, Bob Gates lets them all know that they are not so good or indispensible that they cannot be replaced. The armed forces are filled with eager young officers looking for promotion.
Failure to understand correct answer when told
"The military and the Obama administration are on a collision course." Then the military loses.
'The Military' is neither a separate branch of government nor an independent, autonomous entity. Civilian control of the military is a bedrock principle of our democracy, handed down from the Founding Fathers. Failure to understand that ('failure to understand correct answer when told') is a firing offense for flags who get above their raisin'.
Nothing Supplements Reality
Not even your reactive feelings towards that article.
I don't believe that this was a photo-op as has been suggested by some. I believe that he is fully realizing his duties as Commander in Chief. And if this trip makes him even an iota wiser and a inkling of a better decision maker, our troops and the country will be all the better for it.
Yes, I agree
that's why the bad headline bothered me so much. more on this today.
thanks,
tom
Sidebar still "No clue"
On the general chatter stuff, remember this is the internet. Take large grains of salt with each over-the-top comment.
What Obama Saw
I want to second the comments criticizing the headline on FP's front page "Obama Has No Clue What War Is"
There is nothing, absolutely, to substantiate that statement in the body of your post.
Headers such as this one -- and it is not the first I've seen on FP -- not only mislead your readers but also erode the credibility of the entire FP project.
Doug Tunnell
Newberg, Oregon
President Obama at Dover
The President going to Dover to pay honor to the dead and then meeting with the families says more to those of us who have family serving than all of the "tough realistic" talk of certain ex-Vice Presidents and their ilk.
President Obama at Dover for photo-op?
Update: kristinn, at FreeRepublic.com reports that Barack Obama was nearly denied the photo-op he traveled to Dover Air Force Base for early this morning as all but one of the military and civilian families of the fallen refused permission for the media to report on the return of their loved ones.
The sole family to allow media coverage was the family of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin.
According to media reports, Griffin's casket was the last to be brought off the C-17 cargo plane that carried the bodies of 15 soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed this week in Afghanistan.
Barack Obama brought twenty-four reporters, photographers and videographers from fourteen media outlets to Dover Air Force Base to cover his surprise visit there early Thursday morning.
Cut out and posted in my cubicle
I lost a brother in Iraq, and few good friends too; however, I think it was an appropriate gesture. I saluted my brother's coffin after he came off the plane, though he didn't outrank me. It's the same rendering of honors for Medal of Honor winners as well. This is the norm.
As previously mentioned, the CINC can set his own precedent, and I believe he set a good one in this case. I can't find a photo credit, but perhaps the White House Communications staff took this picture. Commander's often have COMCAM teams document their otherwise private appearances. It doesn't mean that this was a calculation based on popularity. People are going to see what they like and read what they want into this photo.
As for my part, I read respect, and solemnity. Maybe his eyes closed as a result of the flash, but maybe he trying to get in touch with the cost of war.
So, I cut the picture out and posted it on my cubicle to remind me that there are service members paying with their lives just about every day, and this is the appropriate attitude for us all to maintain.