Ace
Seven minutes vs. 16 hours
George Bush was relentlessly mocked for waiting seven minutes (actually waiting for his security detail to ready the exit and for his vehicle to be readied) before leaving the school he was visiting. He calmly finished reading My Pet Goat for the kids before going to his now-ready helicopter.
On the other hand, after Obama was told (most likely for the fifteenth time) that the CIA was really, really, really quite confident that Osama bin Ladin was at that compound in Abbottabad, he decided he needed to sleep on it.
Sixteen hours later (hours during which Osama might have fled– bear in mind, his courier’s name had just been outed by WikiLeaks), he made up his mind.
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Barack Obama kept military commanders hanging by declaring he would ‘sleep on it’ before taking 16 hours to give the go-ahead to raid Bin Laden’s compound.
The mission looked set to be given the all clear last Thursday when analysts confirmed beyond doubt that Bin Laden was in busy town of Abbottabad in northern Pakistan.
But the president stunned officials when he told a national security meeting that he wanted more time to think – and disappeared out of the room.
‘I’m not going to tell you what my decision is now – I’m going to go back and think about it some more,’ said Obama, according to the New York Times. He then added ‘I’m going to make a decision soon.’
Decisive leadership we can believe in!
cynccook on May 3, 2011 at 7:19 PM
He was absent 16 hours before voting present?
peski on May 3, 2011 at 7:22 PM
One of those in the building was a daughter of Bin Laden’s, thought to be 12, who saw her father fatally shot by U.S. forces, the official claimed.
As usual, I learn more from reading Rupert’s Daily Mail than from any U.S. MSM reports.
cynccook on May 3, 2011 at 7:22 PM
He exercised meticulous oversight of Biblical proportions.
Biblical, I tell you!
PBoilermaker on May 3, 2011 at 7:23 PM
A cynical person might suggest that Obama was trying to give Osama a sporting chance, or a head start, or something….
cynccook on May 3, 2011 at 7:23 PM
In fairness, it’s not like Osama was going anywhere. They had him on constant watch. And as long as Obama gave the order to launch the attack, I’m good.
I get the criticism, but I also don’t believe in unfair attacks, whether they come from our side or the Left.
nickj116 on May 3, 2011 at 7:26 PM
Geeeeez.
Sigh…
nickj116 on May 3, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Par for the course for President Present.
single stack on May 3, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Before we rush to judgment, it sounds to me that Obama was preoccupied…with the White House correspondents’ dinner.
BuckeyeSam on May 3, 2011 at 7:30 PM
That is so true. I don’t even know who actually was involved in the fighting.
And as for Obama dithering for 16 hours, they knew about this place for 9 months and did not go in there. That is a long time.
Terrye on May 3, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Or a moron…
A more reasonable person would say that Obama diddled. Again.
Good Lt on May 3, 2011 at 7:32 PM
The really funny comparison is how much praise Obama is getting for performing at the WHCD as if nothing was happening! He was a real ballsy hero for being able to pull that off.
MayBee on May 3, 2011 at 7:33 PM
Come on, guys. There was that White House Press dinner with his comic supporters. And his 66th golf outing.
SERIOUZ BIZNEZZ.
Bush’s 7 minutes in the midst of an unfolding national emergency = look at what a moron he is.
Obama’s 16 hours in the face of secret intel that he could either act on, choose another option, or not act on = tough, decisive leadership.
Good Lt on May 3, 2011 at 7:39 PM
How long will he have to think about the photos before he decides if he will release them?
The man can’t make a decision to save his life.
BuckNutty on May 3, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Team 6 had drilled for a month attacking a replica of Osama’s love nest, and they were on the ground waiting for Obama to finally make up his mind for 16 hours?
pedestrian on May 3, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Excellent point. Obama was more lucky than anything else that Osama was there when he was.
changer1701 on May 3, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Good one, Ace.
Blake on May 3, 2011 at 7:50 PM
You forget: Presidentin’ is hardddddd.
Blake on May 3, 2011 at 7:51 PM
It’s simple really:
G.W. Bush + 7 minutes + My Pet Goat = an incompetent buffoon.
B.H. Obama + 16 hours + WH Correspondence Dinner = worthy of the peace prize.
mizflame98 on May 3, 2011 at 7:56 PM
Give him a break. He had to write some more Trump jokes.
Jim Treacher on May 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Ace, you da man!
Schadenfreude on May 3, 2011 at 8:03 PM
This is where the SEALS screwed up. They should have incorporated a Presidential Diddle Factor into their training.
When President Bush was in office you’d be at diddle-con 0.1
When President Obama is in office you’d be at diddle-con 16
All very simple and avoidable. Better luck next time, boys.
turfmann on May 3, 2011 at 8:04 PM
He had to go lower the sea levels and heal the world (campaign promises first!) before doing a petty thing like decide something.
Weebork on May 3, 2011 at 8:04 PM
Come on. He was focused like a laser. For 16 hours.
Kenosha Kid on May 3, 2011 at 8:07 PM
It’s HARD to make decisions when you have no guiding principles….
landlines on May 3, 2011 at 8:13 PM
…AND…he had to figure out whether he needed to brief Oprah first….
landlines on May 3, 2011 at 8:16 PM
cynccook on May 3, 2011 at 8:18 PM