Dec 7, 2009

Scrambling to say what Obama meant to say

Since the recent speech at West Point by Barack Obama, others in the administration have been scrambling to say what Mr. Obama meant to say.

Photo shows unimpressed West Point cadets during Obama’s speech.

The pro-Obama main stream media in this country mostly glossed over Obama’s 18-month Afghan withdrawal strategy outlined in the speech.

Foreign media has not been as kind. A report from the UK in the Daily Telegraph is titled Obama team’s alarmingly muddled message on Afghanistan.

As Senator John McCain says in an interview, Barack Obama got it right on Afghanistan apart from one potentially ruinous error – setting a date for beginning to withdraw US troops.

Since that controversial speech, Defense Secretary Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been scrambling to say what Mr. Obama meant to say.

On Sunday’s talk shows Hillary Clinton said “we are not talking about an exit strategy and a drop-dead deadline”.

Robert Gates said the date was firm but admitted the number of withdrawals could be miniscule.

This is not the first time others in the administration have needed to follow Mr. Obama around with a broom and mop.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is often forced to stammer around trying to alibi for Mr. Obama.

Link