Obama, Dover, and the war dead
Was the president's salute a photo op, or an 'overdue' show of gratitude?
Barack Obama salutes during the dignified transfer of the remains of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin.
(EPA/Corbis/Michael Reynolds)
President Obama made an unannounced visit to Dover Air Force Base to salute flag-draped coffins of Americans killed in Afghanistan. He said the scene was "a sobering reminder" of the sacrifices U.S. soldiers make, and that the experience would influence his decision on sending more troops. Was this just a photo op—or a meaningful expression of respect? (Watch Obama arrive to salute fallen American troops)
Obama was doing the commander in chief's duty: Obama's "midnight mission to honor the war dead," say the editors of The New York Times, was "a long overdue display of national gratitude." Former President George W. Bush's ban on news coverage of the flag-draped coffins was a "shameful attempt" to "hide the pain of war." Obama's silent salute showed that he recognizes the "true cost of war."
"The commander's duty done"
Call it what it was—a photo op: President Obama took the press pool with him, says Jim Hoft in Gateway Pundit, which made this a photo op. Not only that, but only one of the 15 families went along with the show. Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, pointed out that George W. Bush paid his respects "without the cameras," and added: "the most important way for the president to pay tribute to those who sacrifice is to back them up" instead of "dithering" on sending more troops.
"Liz Cheney speaks out on Obama’s Dover photo-op"
This proves Obama knows it's his war now: Saluting flag-draped coffins shows that, "whatever his cherished domestic priorities," Obama knows "that he is a war president, like it or not," says Joel Mathis in Philadelphia Weekly. He understands that he's the one accountable for how the war turns out—"not just to the American public, but to every family that sacrifices a son or daughter" because of his decision to send troops into battle. So whether Obama scales down or "doubles down" in Afghanistan, at least we can be confident that "he understands the stakes."
"The meaning of Dover: Afghanistan is Obama’s war now"
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15 Comments
Posted by Deborah, Friday, October 30, 2009, 8:40 am Obama participated in all of the transfers. Not just the family that agreed to the media. The other families opted out before they were aware of his coming. This did not look or feel like a photo op. No matter what someone's personal opinion of a sitting president may be, I would hope they would want the CommanderinChief to participate in honoring men and women who sacrificed in our name and to make policy decisions with a degree of empathy as part of the process.
Posted by Melany, Friday, October 30, 2009, 12:57 pm 11 out of 18 okayed the media coverage before they found out obama was coming. After they found out only 1 family allowed for the body transfer to be filmed by the media.so 1 family subjected all the other familys to media harassment. The media is respectful? No they were their for personal gain and no other reason. They were not their to honor or mourn the fallen soldiers. There was a media ban on the reciving of fallen soldiers from Dover for almost 2 decades. There is a difference between showing the cost of war and disrespectiong someone's
Posted by David J, Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:16 pm Photo op. No more than show, as usual. Disrespect and ratings on the part of the media, as usual.
Posted by David J, Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:19 pm Let these people grieve without cameras. At the same time our 'commander in chief' snaps a sharp salute, he delays sending more troops to cover the back sides of these people who were killed. Man up, BHO. Either get in there to WIN, or get out and save the lives of the people who are there. MAN UP. WIN, or run away, but make some decision. Don't just leave our troops hanging over there.
Posted by Bill W, Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:20 pm Does he have to refuse the Peace Prize and the money now??
Posted by n/a, Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:20 pm No President would be in this position if G.W. Bush dind't create this mess
Posted by mjg, Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:43 pm Good for Obama and showing the tragedy of the war dead. If the public doesn't like to see dead bodies being boxed in, tell their representatives in Congress to stop the goddam war. It is a total waste of life, just like my war, the Vietnam War, was a total waste. Three million Vietnamese, North and South, and 58,000 Americans died, numerous maimed and brain dead, while fighting people who actually liked us. It was sick, sick, sick. Iraq was Bush and Cheney's ego trip of killing, and Afghanistan is just a drug country with no value, no hope
Posted by dj spellchecka, Friday, October 30, 2009, 4:53 pm re cheney: President Bush didn't used to do it without the cameras President Bush didn't do it at all. re hoft: Obama didn't show up with the White House Press Pool. The trip was not announced in advance the White House wasn't seeking publicity and only a small contingent of journalists were allowed to attend. In fact, most of the event was closed to media.
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