For Obama, it’s time to be like Ike
●Eisenhower made an open break with Israel in 1956 during the Suez crisis. He knew this was politically risky, but Thomas notes his frustration with Israeli military threats, quoting speechwriter Emmett Hughes: “The whole Middle Eastern scene obviously leaves him dismayed, baffled and fearful of great stupidity about to assert itself.”
I’d guess Obama has similar worries about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat to take unilateral military action against Iran and his reluctance to make peace with the Palestinians. Are these two headed for a 1956-style break? That would be bad for both sides, but the atmosphere is poisonous. A bitter nomination battle over Hagel won’t help.
●Eisenhower didn’t want to fight more land wars, and neither does Obama. But each faces continuing global threats — in Ike’s case from an expansionist Soviet Union, in Obama’s case from a still potent al-Qaeda — that require some way to project power. “Eisenhower preferred small-scale covert action over grand military maneuvers,” notes Thomas.
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Yeah…no longer president.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on January 10, 2013 at 8:07 PM
He should be like Ike, long removed from office.
Flange on January 10, 2013 at 8:08 PM
He is like IKE – (crack and cocaine years) IKE TURNER that is .
Pork-Chop on January 10, 2013 at 8:17 PM
Ah Gee. I thought I’d be able to post an original nasty snark here.
But the first two guys beat me to it.
LegendHasIt on January 10, 2013 at 8:17 PM
Aww, the best responses were already taken.
MelonCollie on January 10, 2013 at 8:17 PM
I hear you man. Got to be fast or someone else gets the low hanging fruit.
Flange on January 10, 2013 at 8:19 PM
That last paragraph showed that the author has no idea what he’s talking about. Eisenhower championed Massive Retaliation and the New Look. Both of which placed an emphasis on nuclear weapons to the exclusion of all else as a military strategy. “Preferred small-scale covert action to grand military maneuvers” is completely wrong and backwards. His whole policy was a massive strike with all of the firepower possible as a deterrent.
Smoochy32 on January 10, 2013 at 8:21 PM
Well, in my ‘defense’, I was going to also ask when Eisenhower shuffled off this mortal coil, but discretion is a good defense against the Secret Service ‘dropping by for a beer’.
LegendHasIt on January 10, 2013 at 8:24 PM
You mean go to West Point, work his way up the ranks, and actually EARN respect?
Really don’t see Obama doing that.
malclave on January 10, 2013 at 8:34 PM
Yes the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces European Theater is just like Obama. Ok.
Tacitus on January 10, 2013 at 8:35 PM
You mean write a letter to keep in his desk taking full responsibility if everything goes wrong, as Ike did with the D-Day assault?
Yeah..uh..no. Not Barky’s style.
Bishop on January 10, 2013 at 8:38 PM
Isn’t this fun?
We’re (well, some people) are still painting a blank canvas.
BO – the fairy tale that never ends for liberals.
Cody1991 on January 10, 2013 at 8:39 PM
Øbama looks more and more like Ike’s Veep, Richard Nixon.
.
From the Frost / Nixon interviews: ‘Frost asked Nixon about the legality of the president’s actions. Nixon replied: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” ‘
ExpressoBold on January 10, 2013 at 8:42 PM
“……. a still potent al-Qaeda”
Wait a minute, I thought Okabonga squished those bothersome pests?
fogw on January 10, 2013 at 9:33 PM
How about be like Nixon, and resign in disgrace?
INC on January 10, 2013 at 9:40 PM
If by ‘squished’ you mean refinanced and rearmed, then, Yeah, He did.
LegendHasIt on January 10, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Potent al-Qaeda? I thought Obama decimated them.
Wigglesworth on January 10, 2013 at 10:05 PM
In order to be anything Like Eisenhower, 0bama would need to develop;
A) Intelligence
B) Responsibility
C) Patriotism
Not a single one of those is within the realm of possibility.
Siddhartha Vicious on January 10, 2013 at 10:14 PM
I’d rather he be like Thomas Jefferson.
But I know that’s a pipe dream.
Badger40 on January 10, 2013 at 10:28 PM