Joe talks to Obama

July 16, 2010

I was awakened this morning by a vivid dream that I was in the midst of a conversation with President Obama. Never mind the context of when where and how. My dream directors provided a story line for bringing it about. All that matters is that we were alone in a small room sitting on metal folding chairs so close to each other that our knees touched. Obama was dressed as we often see him – in a good pair of navy blue pants, black leather shoes, and a white shirt with the top button unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

I was doing all the talking. Obama was listening intently. As I spoke, expressions of interest, distress, and pain passed across his face.

Of course, I cannot write an exact transcription of what I said. I remember that I started by quoting what John McCain wrote in the foreword of The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam:
“War is far too horrible a thing to drag out unnecessarily,” he said. “It was a shameful thing to ask men to suffer and die, to persevere through god-awful afflictions and heartache, to endure the dehumanizing experiences that are unavoidable in combat, for a cause that the country wouldn’t support over time and that our leaders so wrongly believed could be achieved at a smaller cost than our enemy was prepared to make us pay.
“No other national endeavor requires as much unshakable resolve as war. If the nation and the government lack that resolve, it is criminal to expect men in the field to carry it alone.”

I told Obama: If you accept the view of war that McCain stated, then you sir, are a criminal.

The Best and the Brightest was a book about the Vietnam War. One basic fact that we should never forget is that THE UNITED STATES LOST THAT WAR! The Vietnam War tore our country apart. The military-industrial complex learned its lesson. American militarism survived by the abolishment of the draft. As long as their sons are not getting drafted, most Americans are willing to ignore America’s wars while they go shopping.

So Obama, how worthless is our war on Afghanistan? How much support is there from our people for that war? How can you order any American to die for the Karzai regime? How can you waste money that is desperately needed to fix our own country?

You blew it Obama. You could have been a good President just like LBJ could have been. And now,like LBJ, you’re going to say that we can’t just pull out because that would be disastrous. Maybe you’re right. The alternative is WE LOSE….AGAIN!

Obama said: So Joe, what should I do?

Hey, I know it’s not easy, Obama. Tell the people that you’ve made a mistake. You are suspending all American military operations overseas. Say that we are beginning a retraining program to put our military personnel into peaceful work to rebuild our own nation. Say that we will maintain a smaller military appropriately equipped as a security force to protect us from attacks. Military spending will be drastically cut and the funds redirected to support public education, parks, libraries and infrastructure.

And finally Obama, you will tell the people that once and for all we must convert to alternative energy sources, no matter what sacrifices that may require. Peace is more important than material abundance and there will be no peace until we give up our unsustainable oil-dependent lifestyle.

And then, Mr. O, we will see what happens. If the American public is worthy of you, you will be reelected and go on to earn your Nobel Peace Prize. If not, you will be voted out and America and the world will suffer the consequences.

Good luck.