Friday, September 11, 2009

Thoughts on President Obama's 9/11 Remarks at the Pentagon Memorial

This morning President Obama gave a short speech during the wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

I was struck by this passage in particular:

Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act and who plot against us still. In defense of our nation we will never waver; in pursuit of al Qaeda and its extremist allies, we will never falter.

Let us renew our commitment to all those who serve in our defense -- our courageous men and women in uniform and their families and all those who protect us here at home. Mindful that the work of protecting America is never finished, we will do everything in our power to keep America safe.

Unfortunately, President Obama's words ring hollow. He has certainly waivered in defense of our nation by apologizing for it whenever he goes abroad. Let us recall when he said last June in Cairo:

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles. Nine-eleven was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of September 11, 2001, is currently housed at Guantanamo Bay, has been subject to enhanced interrogation techniques and as a result of said techniques revealed information that thwarted other planned terrorist attacks inside the United States and abroad.

Yet Attorney General Eric Holder is proceeding with plans that may result in the prosecution of those in the CIA who employed these enhanced interrogation tactics against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. In so doing the Obama Administration is demonstrating a greater resolve against our own intelligence community than it is against al Qaeda.

So, Mr. President, can you tell us where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is going when you close Guantanamo?

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