So while I take a break from my music duties to actually write, considering that's what I do, I got a chance to do a little news digging. One of the stories that captivated me and the rest of the nation is the ongoing problem of pirates. Yes. Pirates.
First of all, I'd like to remember this little moment in time. When is the last time you've heard anything serious in regards to PIRATES?
Apparently, pirates do exist in reality, and it seems to be a problem, especially near unstable regions such as Somalia. This most recent US involvement with this dilema arose when a group of 4 Somali pirates boarded a US-based ship and took the Captain hostage. By now, we all know the results, a win for the US, as Navy SEAL tactical squad took out three pirates and recovered the hostage.
What we didn't get a chance to go in depth with was the response given by the US military, captained by President Obama. The original response by the White House represented the true change of the guard. This change was most evident in the response and its delievery.
The response by the White House was muted and subdued at the VERY least. It seemed as if White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was reading a grocery list to the assembled media when addressing the pirate situation. President Obama also downplayed his role in the decision-making process, ultimately serving one purpose; decifering the situation and issues surrounding the problem and green-lighted the solution. From a media standpoint, his response was laissez-faire and even called inappropriate for the gravity of the situation.
In reality, his response turned out to be the best for the situation. Dealing with multiple and much more important issues, President Obama handled the problem with top-notch efficiency. The result was a quick, measured action. So what is the problem?
The last 8 years has established a central policy for the US to deal with adversity. The bravado and swagger of George W. Bush represented an arrogance that Americans have been consistantly pigeon-holed with; that Americans are simple, cocky, and heavy handed, using our power to grandstand. That perception was upheld post 9-11, when many Americans' exhibition of patroitism became an exhibition of jingoism.
So instead of the idoitic "Mission Accomplished" grandstand, this response is a fresh view of what is supposed to happen. A classy response. Thank the military. Say something about protecting the US and its' citizens. Off to the next problem. No need to fly to some aircarrier in military gear, knowing that you dodged out of that same outfit some 30 years ago.
The question is, why is this difference a positive? For me, there's a time for swagger and grandstanding, but it is not in the face of an on-going problem that you most likely aren't going to solve. The "Mission Accomplsihed" debacle was an awkward spectacle that turned into an international symbol of the lack of accountability and efficiency that was evident in the last administration....at least before the crashing of US financial strength. This response seems to be a definite change of the way we do business and it represents what I can only view as evidence that President Obama has learned exactly how to navigate through our defense problems. At least the positive outcome of the situation should give some sort of solice to our worried military about the state of our government's stance in protecting the nation, foreign and abroad.
In a 24-7 news world, the immediate response is en vogue, but there is still a need for measured, thoughtful insight and action. In the end, after three days of media scrutiny, the situation was handled and the best case scenario took place, no American causualties and recovery of the American hostage without great damage to US property. I can only hope to look forward to further such humility from the White House in handling national defense and other such issues. Gold star for you, Brotha Barack. Keep up the good work. Remember, bravado works when competency can abound. Bravado without competency is more of the same.
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