Early this morning, President Obama attended a brief dignified ceremony as the remains of 18 soldiers killed in Afghanistan were returned to Dover Air Force Base. There’s a picture of him saluting the casket of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Indiana in this story in The New York Times after Sgt. Griffin’s family consented to have his casket photographed as part of the official rite the military conducts every time a soldier’s body is returned. From blip.tv:
(h/t for video to Jim Staro)
No doubt this is great news for Republicans.
(cont.)
Or as Glenn Beck might say, this is just another example of Obama’s use of Fascist techniques in his ongoing attempt to subvert the Constitution, create a permanent tyranny and destroy our Grand Republic, even though he didn’t give them the Nazi salute as the caskets were carried past him on the tarmac:
President Obama traveled to Dover Air Force Base early Thursday morning, where he met with family members and paid his respects as the bodies of 18 Americans killed this week in Afghanistan were returned to the United States. […]
As the Commander-in-chief stood on the darkened tarmac and saluted, the flag-draped case was unloaded from the cargo plane in what the military calls a “dignified transfer,” as six soldiers in white gloves and camouflage fatigues carried the remains in precision. Mr. Obama and uniformed officers stood at attention as the case was placed in a white mortuary van parked nearby.
The transfer of the bodies — a solemn, 15-minute proceeding — took place after Mr. Obama spent nearly two hours meeting privately with several family members in the chapel of the Air Force base.
Or as Michelle Malkin might say “How Dare HE!!!!!” The Greatest President Evah never stooped so low, after all.
On a serious note, the ban on photographing the return of those soldiers killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was lifted by the Obama administration earlier this year. Initially there was a number of media outlets who would appear at the arrival home of these soldiers, but now only the Associated Press sends anyone to attend and photograph the returning war dead after obtaining permission from family members.
I don’t know the reasons why Obama chose to do this beyond a simple show of respect for those who surrendered their lives in service to their country, but I support any effort to publicize to the American Public the cost that these wars have inflicted on so many members of the military and their families. I’d like to believe it is a sign that this administration will not rush to judgment to escalate the war in Afghanistan, but only time will tell if that is the case.
