Obama, a man of peace, now defined by war

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By Barry O'Regan

It's been said the measure of a President is his ability to avoid war, for peace and diplomacy. Perhaps President Obama's speech to the nation last night offered some solace during these difficult times, when many were hoping for world peace upon President Obama's taking of the highest office. 

In July 2008, Barak Obama as a presidential hopeful was addressing students at the University of Colorado, and said the following words to great applause.  "A call to service must be backed by a sacred trust with anyone who puts on the uniform of the United States. A young person joining our military must know that we'll only send them into harm's way when we absolutely must".

British Columbian's during this time were polled and asked if they would prefer President hopeful Obama for Prime Minister and the results among the  Canadian poll takers was most favourably Yes! 

In Feb 2009. Liberals, including Opposition Politicians in Ottawa were falling over themselves hoping to meet President Obama during his visit to Ottawa. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and his best bud Liberal sidekick Bob Rae demanded and got a brief meeting with Obama to discuss (read; whine) Afghanistan, Khadr and bad boy Prime Minister Harper, as well as the Liberal's reluctance to support Afghanistan.  Both Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae came out of the 30 minute swept with Obamarama fever, commenting to the media after the meeting what a wonderful man U.S. President Obama is.

In the fall of 2008, Prime Minister Harper tells the Canadian public an end to the unpopular war in Afghanistan will come to a close, bringing our troops home by December 2011.

Months later in the 2009, Barak Obama becomes the President of the United States and before he takes office, unbeknownst to Barak Obama, he is nominated for a Nobel Peace prize as a world champion of peace and diplomacy. No one is more shocked than President Obama and many politician the world over.  Many politicians and the public wonder how someone can be awarded Nobel prize on good intentions in the fall of 2009 for what many feel was premature.

Dec 02, 2009, President Obama states to the world that the US will start troop withdrawl in mid 2011.   President Obama stated in his address to the nation that when he took office in early 2009, there were 32,000 troops in Afghanistan, on Dec 02, 2009 there are 71,000 troops, with May 2010 a total of 100,000 troops will be in Afghanistan.

Canada currently has 2,800 troops, with many in non combat and more of a supporting role, MASH units, administration and construction.

One wonders today if the liberal public in Canada who desire style over substance would still be quick to vote Prime Minister Obama for Canada if a new poll were taken taken. This, considering if Prime Minister Harper increased troop strength in Afghanistan even one iota, Harper would suffer the slings and arrows from those select Canadians and Opposition politicians. 

Bandwaggonry has it's uses, when celebrity and style over substance is something Political parties and their cadre of British Columbia's political followers seem to be good at. 

It is said British Columbia, in particular Vancouver and the lower mainland are a political quandary of social complexities, saying one thing, yet meaning another, especially when they as taxpayers have to pay for it. Certainly any politician in British Columbia has their work cut out for them to appease the unyielding ever changing masses.