Republicans: Obama speech a ‘retreat’ from terror fight (via AFP)

Republican lawmakers warned that President Barack Obama capitulated to US enemies in his counterterrorism speech Thursday by renewing his call to close Guantanamo and retreating to a pre-9/11 mindset. Some of his critics on Capitol Hill appeared taken aback that Obama argued that Al-Qaeda in Pakistan…

Guest Voice
  • SteveK

    John McCain may be my Senator but he’s also the ‘asses horse.’ Just another old man wanting to send our children and grandchildren to war.

    The good news… This is his last term in office and his last chance to be 50% right / 50% wrong for Arizona, and for the United States of America.

  • The_Ohioan

    Sometimes you need a bludgeon, sometimes you need a scalpel. The trick is to know when to use which. These GOP folk haven’t figured that out yet.

    If the President is willing to give up AUMF (he’s probably the only one ever who would), let’s get it done, quick, quick. And never do such a stupid thing again. I know, fat chance.

  • dduck

    Frankly Scarlet, I don’t give a damn what any of these politicians say. Speeches are the tip of the iceberg, the 75% below sight is what counts. Walking the walk is more important than talking the talk. I like that after all the commenters have said that drones and Gitmo may be creating more enemies than we kill, has finally been voiced publically by Obama. Of course it may not be wise to keep the high level of counter-terrorism that 9/11 engendered and the fact that the old AQ leadership and structure has been seriously hurt, but this is a new phase of AQ and the like and we need to remain vigilant and adapt to the newer types of splintered smaller threats. That’s where the government’s efforts should be quiet and effective instead of loud and ballyhooed; just do it, cause bad PR also creates new enemies.
    The Rep critics could be all wrong if the silent war continues, but hey are responding to a “perceived” sign of weakness. My hope is that there is a iron fist inside Obama’s kid glove.
    Sorry for such a long-winded comment.

  • slamfu

    Once again a senior GOP legislator proves he has no idea what he is talking about. Guess if we aren’t blowing up nations or racking up a body count nothing it getting done. How dare Obama try to bring some sanity back, imply we are going to put more emphasis on human rights and normalcy instead of waging and unrelenting war and detainment!

    There are many areas where Obama has let me down. Killing terrorists and taking out AQ is not one of them. The GOP has no idea what it is talking about. It’s like arguing with children.

  • bluebelle

    Isn’t the Republican response just another attempt to try to regain lost ground on national security?? They will never signal that we can partially dismantle any of the defenses that we’ve built up since 9/11– since that is all they have to run on

  • zephyr

    If Obama says the sky is blue republicans will call him irresponsible and color blind. Yes, it’s really that simple.

  • dduck

    “There are blue skies up above…and as long as we’re in love.” After that, not so much.