A few weeks ago, I was privileged to attend the funeral and burial of a fine and decent man whose life experience included serving as a crewman on a landing craft during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. I remember him speaking of his experiences that day, and of the men who he watched die that day seeking to liberate Europe. And while he was a Yellow Dog Democrat, I know that the words of President Reagan on the 40th anniversary of D-Day were quite moving to him.

That is how a real president -- a real patriot -- honors American fighting men who gave their lives for freedom.

And then there is Barack Obama.

White House officials travelled to France at the start of March to discuss a visit by Mr Obama to Omaha Beach, the site of the American Cemetery, established in 1944 just after D-Day and where 9,387 American personnel are buried. Among them is Theodore Roosevelt Jr the eldest son of the 26th US President.

French officials and senior American military officers walked with White House staff through the cemetery discussing how the two presidents might follow the same route. But even before their trip, the White House had decided that Mr Obama would not travel there this week.

"It wasn't going to happen," said an American official in Washington. "We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda.

Got that – they went through the motions of discussing a visit to a cemetery full of our honored dead, but never seriously considered doing so. Utterly shameful.

H/T Debbie Schlussel

Posted by: Greg at 11:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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