On a trip to Ireland during the 1990s, I was struck by how little public discussion there was about “The Troubles.” Coming from New York, I expected the dispute between Catholic Ireland and Protestant Northern Ireland to be the topic of the day, every day.
Back home, I asked an Irish-American friend why Ireland seemed less engaged — and enraged — than New York. He fairly spat out his answer: “That’s because if they talk about it, they’ll have to do something about it.”
My friend’s disgust came to mind as I watched President Obama dance around Russian involvement in the downing of the Malaysian airliner.
The basic facts were well known, yet just when you thought he would announce a firm American response, he pulled back, saying things such as he didn’t “want to get ahead of the facts,” and demanding an “honest investigation.”
To admit the truth would force him to do something. And we clearly have the wrong president for that kind of leadership, as events around the world illustrate.
From Ukraine to Iraq, from Syria to Asia and Latin America, not to mention our own southern border, the world is in chaos, and the president dithers, hesitates and then goes golfing.
To continue reading Michael Goodwin’s column in the New York Post, click here.
Leave a Reply