Obama's Speech: Obligatory, Not Satisfying

President Obama’s speech was a somewhat cover-all-the-bases address. It will not change the direction of U.S. domestic or international policy.

President Obama hinted at going on “the offensive” because of the ending of the combat mission in Iraq. But he was unclear what this really means, since he is not likely to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. Indeed, he reaffirmed his West Point speech pledge to withdraw forces in mid-2011. He said, in fact, that there would also be a transition in Afghanistan in August of next year.

The speech was delivered in President Obama’s now well-known flat delivery style. In trying to avoid his predecessor’s “mission accomplished” rhetoric, Obama leaned too far the other way. There was no great mood of satisfaction evoked by the president, although he did praise several times the valor and sacrifice of American troops in Iraq.

While he said that former President George W. Bush was committed to the forces, Obama never said anything about Bush’s doubling down on the “surge” operation that helped save Iraq from being totally engulfed in blood and fire. Bush demonstrated enormous courage in that decision.