“We’re invading. I’ve weighed the pros and cons and there is no perfect answer. We have to send a signal to our enemies – and they do exist – that their conduct will not be tolerated and that there will be retaliation. That signal has to be sent. We also have to make our best attempt to influence who ends up filling the power vacuum once we succeed in removing the threat. And we will succeed. There will be casualties on both sides, even if we attempt to minimize the damage, but that is a small price to pay when our national security is at stake. And no, this has nothing to do with oil or any other type of natural resource.”
- some fictional president
Some might say that Barack Obama’s job as President of the United States is to run the country effectively, not to tell you the truth. Sometimes effectively running a country and straight-shooting work well in tandem, but that isn’t always the case. That’s not an Obama thing; it’s a president thing. And as much as our leaders’ unwillingness to be straight-forward all the time pains significant portions of the public, leaders often need to employ the slight of hand to effectively and efficiently lead in a world of competing interests. Of course, this isn’t the only model of leadership, but history tells us that it sure is a popular one. (more…)
