Obama attends arrival of fallen soldiers at Dover AFB

[LaughingCat]

Say whatever we want about him, he went in the middle of the night and showed respect for our fallen soldiers. It was most definitely a mix of respect and photo opportunity. But to the families of the fallen, it gives them some solace to see the Commander in Chief greet their loved ones as they arrive.

It's a huge sign of respect to greet them publically than to simply forbid the media from taking pictures. For whatever it's worth, I think it was a respectful gesture and we should all pause and salute those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

[Tom A.]

He should. I am glad that he did!

[Ted]

And I hope that it brings home the gravity of what it all means. He has absolutely the hardest job in the world in this respect. Hopefully staring it in the face like that will cause him to make a quick, and right, decision about the next step in this conflict.

[ChiefApache]

One of those soldiers is sadly landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 1:00 p.m. today.

Lance Cpl David Raymond Baker, 22, grew up and graduated from the city where we reside. Calling hours will be held Friday and his funeral on Saturday.

It is my understanding the parade route will be full.....as it should be.

Thank you Lance Cpl Baker and all the other solders for your ultimate sacrifice. You are all truly heros.

[LotoSteve]

Say whatever we want about him, he went in the middle of the night and showed respect for our fallen soldiers. It was most definitely a mix of respect and photo opportunity. But to the families of the fallen, it gives them some solace to see the Commander in Chief greet their loved ones as they arrive.

It's a huge sign of respect to greet them publically than to simply forbid the media from taking pictures. For whatever it's worth, I think it was a respectful gesture and we should all pause and salute those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

I dont buy it. If it was truly a secret visit why did the press know about before hand? Nothing more then a photo op trying to deflect the heat away from not making a decision about sending more troops for the past 2 months while he plays 24 rounds of golf. He also needed a narcisis fix.

[MarylandMark]

I almost posted this, this AM. I'm not O's biggest fan but salute him for being there to show respect regardless if it was just a photo op or not.



and at least she didn't go with a cocktail dress on...

[Offshoredrillin]

Hopefully staring it in the face like that will cause him to make a quick, and right, decision about the next step in this conflict.

I agree he should go, after all he is the one that is causing it by not giving the right things to "end" it, maybe he should listen to the General. He got the report 59 days ago, 55 soldiers have dies since that day, nearly one a day...finish it once and for all.

[cigdaze]

I think it was a respectful gesture and we should all pause and salute those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Agreed on both counts.

[Indy]

I dont buy it. If it was truly a secret visit why did the press know about before hand? Nothing more then a photo op trying to deflect the heat away from not making a decision about sending more troops for the past 2 months while he plays 24 rounds of golf. He also needed a narcisis fix.

No matter the reason, he'll be moved while in attendance. Lib, Conservative, radical, martian, doesn't matter...anybody would feel moved at being in the company of such honor and sacrifice. No question he'll feel awed by the responsibility and gravity of government decisions and will affect in some way his decision. I'm not a liberal fan, but you can't minimize the impact of this visit. I don't recall Bush doing this.

[jayboat]

I don't recall Bush doing this.

Correct. Because, if he had, you would have heard about it.

What bushco did, typically, is forbid ANY pictures at all of fallen soldiers returning. As if that would make a difference.

Very respectful, and what I would expect from Obama.

[Wobble]

What bushco did, typically, is forbid ANY pictures at all of fallen soldiers returning. As if that would make a difference.

.

FWIW

I believe that this thinking was well established as effective in maintaining moral during WW2 and earlier conflicts. Just another part of the soldiers sacrifice.

[cigdaze]

Sorry Jay, but you are incorrect, and I must offer a retort.

We sometimes have short memories (see pic, I have dozens more)...

No, we didn't hear much about it because we all know the tendencies of our wonderfully fair media that we have here in the U.S.

And if we'd all recall, the reason coverage of our dead soldiers was previously barred was wholly due to this aforementioned media making a spectacle out of the deaths of our fallen heroes every chance they could with a sentiment summarized by "Hey look, here's another one"...it was out of respect that the media was barred from sensationalizing the return of our soldeirs.

But of course the media quickly changes their tune when they're sucking-off the current administration anticipating their media bailout.

In any event, not that any of that matters or is even relevant, I say it was a nice, respectful gesture, and we should all continue to pause to salute the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.

[LaughingCat]

Jay and Cig,

two good opposing views on the rationale from the previous Administration. Regardless of the reasons, I think the heroes are the ones who lose.

The role of president goes far beyond decision-making and execution. He is a symbol. he mere presence shows you, without a doubt, that the focus of our country at that moment is on whatever he is doing/attending. If this country elected David Duke president and I had the horrible misfortune of seeing my son/daughter die at war, I would still be deeply moved if he was there as his remains were brought home.

For all the things I disliked about Bush, if he attended the arrival of fallen soldiers, I would been moved by his presence and simultaneously disgusted if the media acted like it was just a photo op. It is what it is.

[cigdaze]

Well said, LC.

[jayboat]

Sorry Jay, but you are incorrect, and I must offer a retort.

We sometimes have short memories (see pic, I have dozens more)...

No, we didn't hear much about it because we all know the tendencies of our wonderfully fair media that we have here in the U.S.

And if we'd all recall, the reason coverage of our dead soldiers was previously barred was wholly due to this aforementioned media making a spectacle out of the deaths of our fallen heroes every chance they could with a sentiment summarized by "Hey look, here's another one"...it was out of respect that the media was barred from sensationalizing the return of our soldeirs.

But of course the media quickly changes their tune when they're sucking-off the current administration anticipating their media bailout.

In any event, not that any of that matters or is even relevant, I say it was a nice, respectful gesture, and we should all continue to pause to salute the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.

Fair enough, Nick. I stand corrected on that one, although I question just how 'fair' or 'unfair' the arrival of caskets could be portrayed.

But as far as Wobble's assessment of the practice of banning photographs of the returning fallen... my personal opinion is that it had more to do with 'public opinion' than 'morale'... again, just my opinion.

I am also of the opinion that we all owe our soldiers immeasurable gratitude for the sacrifices they have, and are, making on our behalf.

[cigdaze]

Fair enough, Nick. I stand corrected on that one, although I question just how 'fair' or 'unfair' the arrival of caskets could be portrayed.

But as far as Wobble's assessment of the practice of banning photographs of the returning fallen... my personal opinion is that it had more to do with 'public opinion' than 'morale'... again, just my opinion.

I am also of the opinion that we all owe our soldiers immeasurable gratitude for the sacrifices they have, and are, making on our behalf.

Right on, Jay.

And I, too, believe that the decision was implemented at the behest of public opinion/perception more than any other reason.

[Chris]

If you watch onew movie this year, this one should be it-

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

It's about one soldier escorting another's body home for burial.

[Wobble]

If you watch onew movie this year, this one should be it-

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

It's about one soldier escorting another's body home for burial.

It was on cable a few weeks ago. Excellent

[catastrophe]

The airforce base that our boys return to is a distance from major populations.

It is Trenton Airforce Base.

The stretch of highway between Trenton and Toronto is the 401 which is our country's main artery.
That stretch of road has been officially renamed The Highway of Heroes.

When our soldiers that have been killed overseas come home there is a motorcade that brings them to Toronto.
Everytime that happens ,every overpass for 150 km is packed with people , flags and flowers with everyone saluting.
The crowds are getting bigger and bigger.

Its very sad .

God bless the boys from our countries and their moms and dads who give up so much for all of us.

[cigdaze]

If you watch onew movie this year, this one should be it-

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

It's about one soldier escorting another's body home for burial.

The movie is absolutely incredible. It's one of the most moving accounts I've ever seen.

Here's the quick synopsis from the HBO Site:

In April 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC, came across the name of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany Chance's remains to his family in Dubois, Wyo.

Witnessing the spontaneous outpouring of support and respect for the fallen Marine - from the groundskeepers he passed along the road to the cargo handlers at the airport - Strobl was moved to capture the experience in his personal journal. His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military's policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media.

'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families.