The Obama Doctrine: Undermine the Military, Coddle Enemies and Distance Friends

Clint Lorance

Clint Lorance

On October 1, former Navy Lieutenant Commander and 22-year veteran Montel Williams addressed a congressional committee on the subject of Afghan war veteran and US marine, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. Tahmooressi was imprisoned by Mexican authorities in March 2014 after mistakenly veering into Mexican territory while driving along a poorly lit section of the border and was found to be in possession of firearms, illegal under Mexican law, but permitted under US law. In an impassioned plea punctuated by heartfelt emotion, Williams drew the logical conclusion concerning the Obama administration’s handling of the matter – that the government is unconcerned about the fate of its soldiers.

For six months, the administration has allowed a marine, diagnosed with PTSD, to languish in a Mexican jail when one phone call from the Commander-in-Chief could liberate him. Instead, the administration has allowed Tahmooressi’s case to wind its way through the notoriously corrupt and bureaucratic Mexican justice system. While the administration’s handling – or rather mishandling – of the Tahmooressi case can at best be described as neglectful, its handling of the case involving another US soldier is downright Kafkaesque and malevolent.

In July 2012 First Lieutenant and platoon commander Clint Lorance was leading his platoon on a patrol in Kandahar in an area known to be a hotbed of insurgent activity. Lt. Lorance was informed by pilots who reconnoitered the area that motorcycle-mounted Taliban terrorists were active in the vicinity. The Taliban routinely employ motorcycles to track US patrols. Moments later, Lorance spotted Afghans riding motorcycles near his patrol. With the information that he already had at his disposal and with the safety of his platoon being paramount, Lorance immediately made a command decision during the fog of war and ordered one of his snipers to neutralize what he considered to be a threat to the well-being of his men. Two Afghans, later found to be unarmed, were killed.

What happened next could have been taken out of a chapter from Orwell’s 1984. Shortly following the incident, Lorance was stripped of his weapon and assigned a desk job. In January 2013, he was charged with murder in connection with the incident and in August 2013, a military court found him guilty of murder and violating the army’s Rules of Engagement and handed down a 20-year sentence.

Lorance is a hero who volunteered to put his life on the line for the cause of freedom and to serve his nation. His lengthy army service has shown him to be nothing but an exemplary soldier whose service record is peppered with commendations and citations. But instead of being treated like a hero, he is treated like a criminal by the very government he swore to protect.

Nothing saps the morale of an army more than knowing that its government doesn’t have its back. This case, as well as the Tahmooressi case, demonstrates with utmost clarity that the Obama administration at best, doesn’t give a damn about its soldiers. A more cynical approach would suggest that the administration is actually working to undermine the morale of its troops.

Some might find these truths too hard to swallow. After all, why would the president keep the United States embroiled in the longest war of its history and then work to actively undermine the ability of the United States servicemen and women to perform their mission? A logical question, indeed. But when one takes a closer look at Obama’s foreign policy, where enemies are coddled and friends are distanced, nothing this administration does seems logical.

Consider also the case of Bowe Bergdahl, a confirmed deserter and possible collaborator, who placed members of his own unit in jeopardy after they launched a frantic search for him. The Obama administration, without informing Congress, released five hardened Taliban terrorists, who will likely return to terror and place additional US personnel in danger, to gain Bergdahl’s release. Heroes are prosecuted and allowed to languish in foreign prisons while Obama places his priorities on releasing deserters for hardened criminals.

During his impassioned address to the committee, Montel informed the members that his 21-year-old son had asked him if he should join the military, to which he responded, “No, because our government doesn’t respect you enough.” Sadly, Montel’s assessment hits the proverbial nail squarely on its head.

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  • http://JudeoChristianAmerica.org Alexander Gofen

    “Nothing saps the morale of an army more than knowing that its government doesn’t have its back”, or rather that its government stabs its back.

    The treasonous rules of engagement favoring islamic enemies rather than the American soldiers were in place also under Bush, just like baseless prosecution and imprisonment of servicemen following their duty. All the guilt is on the spineless military brass, those despicable yes-men, readily following any treasonous orders from above.

    There is however an irony in Obama doctrine “of undermining the military”. This is the way how this ingrate impostor repays the US military for betrayal since 2009 of their oath to uphold the Constitution and baking him (the impostor) instead. Unlike the Russian Army in 1917, the US Army disgracefully turned Red ENTIRELY. Now they just harvest what they had sown – see http://www.judeochristianamerica.org/2008vs1917.htm for more comparisons.

  • ggail

    This article is full of misinformation. Poorly lit section of the border? It’s the largest border crossing into Mexico and extremely well lit. There is no better lit section of the border. In possession of guns that were permitted under US law? Maybe in another state but not in CA. One of the three guns was NOT permitted in CA and the other two (along with the illegally possessed third gun) were loaded and not locked as required by CA law. This article began with such blatant false information, actually outright lies, unfortunately many will believe it.

    • omarkos

      When people have to modify and/or embelish the story to make Tahmoressi “seem” more innocent, then he probably aint…

    • firedup49

      Before you claim false, better do your homework.
      Marine Lieutenant Montel Williams, yes former Marine, did verify Tahmooressi story before putting his reputation on the line

      • ggail

        Claim false? I’m going by California law. What does Montel Williams have to do with CA law? I don’t have to consult Montel on the size and lighting of the San Ysidro border crossing, I can look at it myself. You might want to do your own homework, just google the law and a picture of the crossing. I live here but you can google it and see for yourself.

      • omarkos

        Montel didn’t verify CRAP! Because there’s NOTHING that exists with which to verify Tahmooressi’s story. His story is based entirely on his own account. There are no witnesses, no evidence that he “accidentally” drove into Mexico.

        There are, however, witnesses for the prosecution who have already testified that he NEVER told them that he was lost NEVER said that he wanted to make a U-turn and NEVER said that he had weapons.

        Now you can believe who you want in this, but don’t claim that Monel verified Tahmooressi’s story, because if that story could be verified, he’d not be in prison right now.
        And as far as I am aware, and I’ve followed this story quite closely (done my homework as you say), and no one has even verified that Tahmooressi had actually been diagnosed with or was actually under treatment for PTSD.
        I personally think the kid is suffering from paraoid schizoprhenia, but I’m not doctor. Are you?

  • Docs357

    Words can’t fix this mess he belongs in a jail for multiple counts of tressons. A fair trail and bring back the rope. He qualifies as a mass murderer and crimes against humanity. Will be done I doubt it. To many low life liberals and Muslims as high officials enjoying there home. At this point we will never get this country back to its rightful owners without blood shed American blood patriots blood.
    We sat here and watched it happen. Shame on us. That photo says it all.

    • http://JudeoChristianAmerica.org Alexander Gofen

      Unfortunately, Islam’s inroads into America started much earlier

    • http://JudeoChristianAmerica.org Alexander Gofen

      Islam’s inroads into America started much earlier…

      • omarkos

        That photo above is photoshopped (poorly) is was originally a photo of Bush leaning in to say something to the Saudi Prince and their mouths were acaually quite close, and it appeared strangely intimate. Many people made fun of the actual photo and eventually, someone obviously thought it would be “cute” to mash them just a little closer to appear they were kissing on the lips.
        While the intimacy actually shown by the President is… well… awkward, these mouth kisses are clearly photosphopped.

        • http://JudeoChristianAmerica.org Alexander Gofen

          Not sure if your photo shop allegations are valid, yet letting out the Bin Laden family and failing to nuke Mecca and Medina on 9/12/2001 by Bush are hard facts, alas.

    • http://JudeoChristianAmerica.org Alexander Gofen

      Sorry for these multiple photos – a result of stumbled interface during posting. Don’t know how to delete all the extras…

    • 220VOLTS

      Doc … Don’t be so hard on Baby Bush. He was following his ‘sky father’s’ advice.

  • omarkos

    I 100% agree with you, I think what happened to Lorance was a total miscariage of justice and there was almost NO press about it.
    And this Tahmooressi kid is the media’s little darling; “Our Marine.”

    Even if his story is 100% true that he “accidentally” drove into Mexico, then that makes him one of the biggest dolts who ever lived and a true embarassment to the Corps.

    And even if his story is 100% true he was already in violation of numerous California weapons laws before he even made his “wrong turn” and deserves to be right where he is, in prison.

    But his story stinks to high heaven, and is likely a complete fabrication. Nobody makes a “wrong turn” into Mexico with 3 loaded guns “by accident”.

    I still don’t get why people still support him; especially after he admitted lying about how he wound up in Mexico in the first place and about how many times he had been there previously. He’s not even a very good liar. He admitted (indirectly) in a Greta interview to having driven across the border previosly:

    Greta: “and you had never been to this border crossing before”
    Our Marine: “the straight way, yeah, but never from that onramp”

    and later

    Greta: “and you never intended to drive into Mexico”
    Our Marine: “no, not that night, no”

    • Pete

      omarkos
      385 comments
      228 upvotes

      Starting about 3 months ago virtually all his comments are about Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. Before that there were 6 other comments on global warming and welfare.

      You remind me of ex-repug. He is a a government lawyer who only posts about the missing IRS emails.

      Question is: Who are you?

      • omarkos

        Well, at least I’m not a STALKER Pete…

        • Pete

          stalker

          1. a person who pursues game, prey, or a person stealthily.

          I look at people’s profiles if they are public to see where they are coming from. Sometimes I am not sure where they come down on an issue after reading their post. So I read the comments in their profile, if they are public.

          Your profile was public. So I looked at your profile and it is monomaniacally devoted to telling people on multiple websites that people should not support Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.

          So I have to ask why.

          I also have to point out to people when I think a person is not being honest about their intentions.

          BTW: You can make your profile private, but it is the internet and I still could find your posts and collect them. It is after all on a public forum and therefore not private property.

          I have actually done this. I have collected a dozen or so posting by a guy, who I believe is really smart. I believe that they are a stock trader and ex-military. I look forward to reading their postings on world events. Now they could be fake and I could be a fool.

          Point is that if you post, your postings can be found and read. It is all public.

          I don’t know who you are and I really don’t want to know you or find you in real life. You are on some sort of jihad against Andrew Tahmooressi.

          What I would like to know is if you are running a fake online persona or something like that. Fake personas and influence operations are real. If you are one of them that is something I do not know.

          Now according to the legal definition I am not a stalker nor am I invading your privacy by reading you online comments. But if you want to got to court, let’s play.

          I liked your 1st 6 comments you ever posted, but are those the real you or are those window dressing?

        • Pete

          Solicitation Number: RTB220610

          Notice Type: Sources Sought

          Synopsis: Added: Jun 22, 2010 1:42 pm Modified: Jun 22, 2010 2:07 pm

          Track Changes 0001- Online Persona Management Service.

          50 User Licenses,

          10 Personas per user.

          • omarkos

            Sorry Pete, I’m not as “net savvy” as you are…
            What the heck does all that mean?

          • Pete

            You read and write just fine.

            I would put your reading score at 12 th grade or better. So spare me your “I am not educated routine”.

          • Pete

            How about we give examples of your posts and grade them with a lexile score to prove your reading comprehension. We have 385 plus to choose from.

            That way you will not have to do your “I don’t understand routine”.

        • Pete

          “This user’s activity is private.”

          omarkos figured it out.

          Nice :)

          LMAO

          So a little more net savvy, but still monomaniacal with your posts concerning US marine, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. Tahmooressi

          :/

  • Pete

    omarkos
    385 comments
    228 upvotes

    Starting about 3 months ago virtually all his comments are about Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. Before that there were 5 other comments on global warming and welfare.

  • Chris Gait

    I met someone who was an army warrant officer. He left the service because he was persecuted even though his unit followed all the absurd rules of engagement set down by the authorities. He left the military. He seemed like a very good person, and that kind of person doesn’t take well to being persecuted by people whose primary interest is finding fault with US troops and protecting Islamist murderers. In his case the rules of engagement forbid them from firing at unarmed attackers. So the enemy would come out, fire off a clip rapid fire, then throw the weapon down so the Americans couldn’t return fire. Looks like we need to lose a few more wars to learn the lesson.

  • 220VOLTS

    “Veered” into Mexico on a poorly lit road? Montel … you can feed that bull all you want, but it is politically driven lies. Years ago, I use to fly the Mexican border at night (on the US side) and never strayed “south of the border, down Mexico way.” So if, from the air (at night) If didn’t stray over the border, how do you do it in a car (trunk full of weapons). Nah, Lt., you’ve drunk too much of the Kool Aid.

  • USARetired

    Obama is a Muslim, no experience, bigot, with disdain for anything right and correct in America! He has no place in this Nation, Is in office illegally, and must be impeached prior to fulfilling his term. To allow him to leave with benefits would be the worst use of taxpayer funds ever!! Illegal Immigrants are not eligible for U.S. Benefits of any kind!

  • JayWye

    Didn’t anyone consider that the other Taliban Afghans would strip the dead of their weapons? They aren’t going to waste good,hard-to-get weapons,leave them behind. I suspect they had plenty of time to wait until the US soldiers left the area,go in,and grab up all the guns and ammo from their dead,and clear out. it was CRIMINAL of the Administration to try that soldier for murder.

    • Hank Rearden

      We don’t have the transcript of the court martial, so we don’t know if that question was raised, but if I had to bet, I would bet not.

      Heckuva thought. Very sharp.

      And now that you have opened that door which had not previously occurred to me (to mix a metaphor)…my understanding is that Afghanistan is a poor country – marginal standard of living, etc. I mean, wasn’t it a big issue with Noam Chomsky right at the beginning back in 2001, that people were starving in Afghanistan? He said it was because of us, but it turned out that they reason they weren’t starving was because we were bringing in the food.

      So…it’s common for a bunch of men (let’s be sexist and assume they were of the male persuasion) routinely, something that is in no way unusual, go joyriding around on motorcycles – no problem with getting the gas, wearing out the tires, etc.?

      When I was a youngster and first got my driver’s license, my father got upset if I was out in the car for, say, a half-hour obviously just driving around. “It costs a lot to run that car and it is not there for you to play with it.”

      But I guess that is not the case in Afghanistan. Who knew?

      Maybe that’s why they are starving: they are spending all their dough on motorcycles.

  • JayWye

    Comrade Obama IS the muslim Manchurian Candidate.

    There’s a reason why,post-college,Comrade Hussein traveled to Pakistan,of all places. it’s not because he was a Christian. There’s a reason why Comrade Hussein was aided in getting into college by Saudi money and influence.

    It’s all part of his efforts to weaken the US economically,politically,and militarily.
    “once is accidental,twice is coincidence,three times is enemy action.”

    “The Obama Doctrine can be described in just nine words: Embolden our enemies, undermine our friends, diminish our country.” Frank J. Gaffney Jr.