WHEN YOU GET UP THIS MORNING AND REVISIT YOUR DAILY COMPLAINTS AT BREAKFAST, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOUR 'COMMANDER IN CHIEF' WAS SPENDING THE MIDNIGHT HOUR SALUTING THOSE WHO HAVE MORE RECENTLY FALLEN IN AFGHANISTAN. IT WAS AT THIS HOUR THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA FLEW TO DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE TO STAND IN RESPECTFUL SALUTE TO THE FLAG DRAPED COFFINS ARRIVING AT THE MILITARY'S LARGEST INTAKE MORTUARY.
IT IS TIMES LIKE THESE THAT YOU WILL FIND THAT A TRULY COMPASSIONATE PRESIDENT WHO WEEPS WHEN HIS OWN COUNTRY IS AT WAR USUALLY NEVER SLEEPS WELL. THIS HAD TO BE A SOMBER RIDE IN THE MARINE ONE HELICOPTER AS THE PRESIDENT PREPARED TO MEET WITH 18 WAR TIME FATALITIES THAT HAVE TAKEN A FINAL TRIP HOME TO THEIR LOVED ONES.
THERE HE STOOD IN THE DELAWARE DIN OF DARKNESS SALUTING MILITARY ESCORTS AS THEY DISEMBARKED, CARRYING SOMEONE'S HUSBAND,SOMEONE'S FATHER...SOMEONE'S CHILD WHO GREW UP AND DECIDED TO GIVE IT ALL FOR THEIR COUNTRY. THE PRESS WAS KEPT AT BAY FROM MOST OF THE HEART WRENCHING CEREMONY. THERE IS ONE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PRESIDENT SALUTING THE REMAINS OF U.S. ARMY SGT. DALE R. GRIFFIN OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.
THE GRIEF IS OBVIOUS IN THE FACE OF THIS DARKLY DRESSED PRESIDENT WHO IS BURDENED WITH MORE DECISIONS REGARDING THE STRATEGY IN THIS WAR. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THE TEMPLED TINT OF SILVER HAIR THIS PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY EARNED IN HIS SHORT 10 MONTH TERM IN OFFICE. IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THESE INHERITED WARS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL ON THIS PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE FEELS THE PAIN OF MIDNIGHT HOURS SUCH AS THIS.
THE PRESIDENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER AND DEA ACTING ADMINISTRATOR MICHELE LEONHART. THREE OF THOSE FATALITIES WERE DEA AGENTS WHO DIED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH. A MILITARY CHAPLAIN WHO ARRIVED WITH THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID A PRAYER OVER EACH COFFIN DURING THIS FINAL ARRIVAL TO THEIR HOMELAND. THE PRESIDENT ALSO MET WITH THE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND AT A CHAPEL LOCATED ON THE BASE. THIS WAS A PRIVATE MEETING OUT OF DEEP RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE.
INDEED THESE ARE THE DAUNTING,DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING MOMENTS FOR THIS PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR TAKING HIS TIME TO DECIDE ON CONTINUED WAR STRATEGY. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT HE VALUES EACH AND EVERY LIFE OF A SOLDIER. HE DOESN'T INTEND TO RUSH TO JUDGEMENT ON THE REQUESTS FOR A TROOP INCREASE IN AFGHANISTAN UNTIL HE MEASURES ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF STRATEGIC INPUT. BECAUSE HE FEELS RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH AND EVERY LIFE THAT BEARS A UNIFORM, HE WILL MORE THAN LIKELY SUFFER MANY SIMILAR MIDNIGHT HOURS UNTIL HE REACHES A FINAL DECISION.
OCTOBER HAS BEEN A DEADLY MONTH IN AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN AND IRAQ AS WELL. IT'S AS IF THE ENEMY WERE TAUNTING AND TUGGING AT ANY POSSIBLE AMERICAN SUCCESS. OBVIOUSLY, EXTREMISTS ARE BUSY TURNING UP THE HEAT AGAINST AMERICAN PROGRESS IN IRAQ. THE QUAGMIRE BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED WITH THE TURMOIL INVOLVED IN THE ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. ACCUSATIONS TARGETING A FRAUDULANT ELECTION PROCESS HAVE NOW LED TO A REPEAT, RUN-OFF ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 7TH. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS REITERATED THE NEED FOR A SOUND AND TRUSTWORTHY GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO WORK WITH AFGHANISTAN. WITHOUT THAT 'PIECE OF THE PUZZLE,' THE PRESIDENT IS CONFRONTED WITH SEVERAL CHALLENGES WHILE WEIGHING FURTHER TROOP INVESTMENT.
IT IS TIMES LIKE THESE THAT I THINK ABOUT HOW TRIVIAL OTHER PROBLEMS CAN BE IN OUR LIVES. I PLACE MYSELF AT THE OTHER END OF THAT MILITARY RECEPTION LINE. SOMEONE EXPERIENCING INDESCRIBIBLE GRIEF AND LOSS IS NOW FACING A PERMANENT EMPTINESS. THEY WILL TAKE THEIR BELOVED SOLDIER HOME TO A FINAL RESTING PLACE. WHILE THEY SIT AT THE TABLE NEXT TO THE EMPTY CHAIR, THEY WILL SEARCH PHOTO ALBUMS AND TRY TO BRING BACK THOSE DAYS THAT WERE...AND ARE NO MORE. THEY WILL PROBABLY GO TO A CLOSET AND HUG WHAT IS LEFT OF THEIR CLOTHES. THEY WILL PROBABLY TOSS AND TURN AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR AND LEAVE TEARS ON THEIR PILLOW....WHILE THE OTHER PILLOW REMAINS HOMELESS.
THE PRESIDENT WILL GO HOME AND HUG HIS FAMILY,LOOK AT HIS CHILDREN AND THINK ABOUT HOW HE MUST 'CHANGE' THINGS. IN HIS QUIET HOURS, HE WILL THINK ABOUT THE DARKNESS SPENT AT DOVER AIRFORCE BASE AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO WEIGH THOSE DECISIONS THAT NOONE ELSE CAN MAKE. HIS BURDEN WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOLACE AND TEARS AS HE THINKS ABOUT THE FAMILIES HE MET. HUMAN LIFE IS SO PRICELESS AND FRAGILE. THESE ARE TORMENTING THOUGHTS THAT WILL FOLLOW HIM UNTIL THE NEXT MIDNIGHT HOUR AND ....THE NEXT.
MAY GOD DEEPLY BLESS PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AND PLACE A COMFORTING HAND ON HIS SHOULDER AS HE FACES THESE DECISIONS. THIS IS INDEED A COMPASSIONATE AND THOUGHT PROVOKING PRESIDENT WHO WILL TAKE HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO HEART FOR THE SAKE OF HIS COUNTRY THAT HE LOVES DEARLY. MAY GOD DEEPLY BLESS THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
