I remember the words of Vice-President Biden
Written by Michael Vass
Do you recall what Vice-President Biden said back on the campaign trail? It was October 2008. And he asked every American to mark his words. I did.
“He’s gonna have to make some really tough - I don’t know what the decision’s gonna be, but I promise you it will occur. As a student of history and having served with seven presidents, I guarantee you it’s gonna happen.”
I recall that at the time I stated
“…Will Obama try to sit down and talk with a leader of a nation that hates America as say crude oil shipments are held hostage? Or perhaps North Korea will openly renew efforts to build a nuclear weapon…”
Well I called that right.
But over the past several months, North KOREA has made every effort to challenge the Obama Administration. They have openly restarted developing nuclear weapons, they have launched multiple missiles – each with further range than the last. They have insisted that the Korean War restart, and just today have threatened the U.S. with 1000-fold retaliation for any act that displeases the isolated nation.
A time for tough decisions indeed. Yet the response has been anything but decisive or remarkable. We allowed the missile launches. We chided North Korea verbally and at the U.N. We are awaiting a strong rebuke from China and/or Russia to North Korea. Essentially we are doing nothing.
Is that the equivalent of President Kennedy that Vice President Biden was referring to? Somehow I don’t see the actions of the Obama Administration being the equal, or even in the same ballpark, as that of President Kennedy. Without surprise, the results have been just as incomparable.
I posed this question at the time
“So the question should be, do we want a President that will be challenged internationally at a time when we are still reeling from monetary instability, engaged in 2 warfronts, and headed by an Administration that is internally conflicted?”
The answer seems to have been yes. President Obama was elected, though the promise of Vice President Biden was downplayed and ignored in the media. But now, 6 months into the Presidency, I am remembering the words of Biden – as he asked all Americans to do.
President Obama is in the middle of running 2 auto companies and several banking institutions. He is embarking on a crippling budget – even by the estimates of his own reports. The nation is continuing to experience rising unemployment, and the Obama Administration is cutting Defense projects while increasing the national debt. We are still engaged, and will be for an unknown amount of time to come, in 2 warfronts. We are confused in dealing with the detainees in Guantanamo Bay, even as the President has mandated their removal from the base. And for all the apologies and posturing to nations across the globe, we have gained no greater support than what we had a year ago.
So what will come of this growing crisis? Vice President Biden gave no answer. He had no solution. He gave no sign of hope or positive outcome. Which to me means he had no confidence.
But now that we are stuck in this Presidency, what can we expect? Vice President Biden is no longer allowed to discuss his thoughts on this. And all indications are that President Obama will allow North Korea to move ahead with their plans unfettered.
Not quite the symbol of President Kennedy is it? But at least we can chalk up 1 more of the few campaign promises that were kept by Obama-Biden. Don’t you feel warm and fuzzy, maybe a tingle going up your leg, just like in October?
