Obama State of the Union Address

Two observations about President Obama's State of the Union Address 2012:

1. Observe references to the military - is his militaristic portrayal the true color of his Administration or of America?

At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They're not consumed with personal ambition. They don't obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together... Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example... Which brings me back to where I began. Those of us who've been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn't matter if you're black or white;

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn't deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job - the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other - because you can't charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there's someone behind you, watching your back... So it is with America.

And I'm proud to announce that the Department of Defense, the world's largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history - with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year... The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it's inefficient, outdated and remote. That's why I've asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.

2. It is interesting that his reference to a "wave of change" virtually skipped sub-Saharan Africa: "Tunis to Cairo; Sana'a to Tripoli." His Accra speech promised much but delivered little. However, he still promises to "stand against violence and intimidation; stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings; support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty" - indeed, a perfect description of conditions in Ethiopia. Let us hope he means it this time though we wonder how he is going to do it with a full plate of domestic policies and a wish to leave an enduring legacy similar to that of Abraham Lincoln.

As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East andNorth Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from Sana'a to Tripoli. A year ago, Qadhafi was one of the world's longest-serving dictators - a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can't be reversed, and that human dignity can't be denied... How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome. And while it is ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings - men and women; Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.

Now watch in the coming weeks Meles, the copycat, using Obama's Address as a template to impress his club members, justify his actions, and gloat over the opposition. Click Click [para.7]