Obama and West Point: A Symbol

Bill Clinton, who had carefully avoided being called to Vietnam, had a difficult relationship with the armed forces. George Bush, who had done the same, loved to wear the uniform, as demonstrated that memorable day on the aircraft carrier when he declared, in view of a fighter pilot, “Mission Accomplished,” though the Iraq War had only begun. He had an easier relationship with the military. Barack Obama, who addresses the nation Tuesday evening from West Point to announce a surge in Afghanistan, is another animal.

Obama has a much simpler rapport with the armed forces. He is not burdened with the baggage of his predecessors. Bush, for example, chose Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who had respect for the military, but also greatly exasperated them as he rarely listened. During one of his visits to Iraq, when questioned by a soldier complaining about the lack of equipment to counter the insurgency, “Rumy” waved off the soldier’s question. Meeting with men of rank had been, to say the least, rough. At the end of his mandate as head of the Pentagon, several retired generals spoke out against him, something that had never happened prior.

Barack Obama chose to keep Rumsfeld’s successor, Robert Gates, in his position. This former Boy Scout and ex-director of the CIA already served under Bush Senior. He is open, intelligent and possesses a natural authority. With Gates, Obama listens to the military and is close to Gen. McCrystal, leader of the Allied Forces in Afghanistan. Above all, the man at the top of the pyramid, Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, in many ways shares the president’s vision for the place of America in the world, despite being the sole member of the National Security Council not appointed by Obama. (Brief aside: Admiral Mullen is the son of a Hollywood agent whose clients included Anthony Quinn and Mary Poppins star Julie Andrews.)

Obama will speak from West Point, a strong symbol. He will announce the dispatch of 30,000 additional troops. This decision comes at a good time. After a significant drop in recruitment of those on track to become Army officers, the number of West Point candidates just climbed back 9.6 percent, while the Naval Academy has just experienced its strongest increase in applicants since 1988. Through this patriotic revival, President Obama will perhaps see that the Afghan War can be won. In any case, he will, in his heart, seek to not sacrifice this generation of West Pointers, as occurred when President Kennedy sent more troops to Vietnam.