Barack Obama, Not Ready For Prime Time

The Russian invasion of the sovereign State of Georgia exposed just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the capacity and capability of the rookie, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), to protect and defend the interests of the United States.

So when Obama’s first reaction to Russia’s military invasion of Georgia was wishy washy, and over the course of three days evolved into something more like John McCain’s (and my) reaction on day one, you have to grade Obama’s ‘3a.m. phone call’ with an F.

Does Obama’s grasp, or lack thereof, of Russian and European conditions make you feel secure? Electing Obama is really electing his hundreds of advisers that tell him what to do and how to react, because he has no clue.

Monica Crowley writes about Obama’s foreign relations experience. How’s this for the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on European Affairs? Have you seen this reported anywhere?

Obama’s utter lack of experience and even interest in Russia and its “near abroad” has surfaced in two ways.

First, he took a trip to Russia in 2005 in order to talk to Vladimir Putin about decommissioning Russian nuclear weapons. The Kremlin is still laughing at that one. Of course, that doesn’t stop Obama from wanting to decommission AMERICA’S nuclear arsenal. To set an example, of course. More laughter from Moscow.

Second, for the past year and a half, Obama has been the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on European Affairs. And guess what? He’s never held a policy hearing. No meetings, no witnesses, no testimony, no nothing. This is why Obama himself is a “know-nothing” on what is turning out to be a central issue for the United States, our allies, and for the campaign. But Senator Clueless never bothered to take an interest in Europe or Russia. He just wants your kids to speak Spanish and for you to refrain from visiting Europe to keep our “ugly American” quotient down.

Then there is this short list in experience compared to McCain, for the one campaigning to become Commander In Chief. Military: McCain 26 years, Obama 0. Congress: McCain 22 years, Obama 143 days.

related links: Monica Crowley, Senator Clueless | Russia Chooses War Over Diplomacy

American Airlines Wins MRIOTD Award

American Airlines is charging extra baggage fees to troops going to Iraq to fight in the war. This forces soldiers heading for a war zone in Iraq to

try to get reimbursement from the military. Presumably in their spare time. I’m sorry. I believe in the capitalist system and business making a profit and all that, but on September 11, 2001, American Airlines flight 11 was hijacked by terrorists and crashed into the North Tower 1 World Trade Center. Fifty-one minutes later, American Airlines flight 77 was crashed into the Pentagon by the same group of terrorists.

America suffered the first 3000 casualties in the War On Terror that day, and the war was on. The VFW is trying to get American Airlines to waive the extra baggage fee for our brave men and women going to war.

What is American Airlines’ position?

‘Because the soldiers don’t pay a dime, our waiver of the fees amounts to a discount to the military, not a discount to soldiers,’ said Tim Wagner, spokesman for American Airlines. ‘Soldiers should not have to pay a penny of it.’

And their point is? There comes a time when being an American means more than a logo on the side of an airplane. The fact that American Airlines is showing itself to be ‘American’ in name only, by not waiving this fee, qualifies American Airlines for the Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day award.

Businesses should make a profit, that’s what business does. But businesses should also be good citizens in their community. Waiving this fee is not too much to expect, especially since these special passengers are risking it all to insure that American Airlines doesn’t lose more planes full of passengers.

link: Soldiers pay bag fee on travel to war