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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Monday, July 21, 2008

Picture of the Day - 2



(Bigger and better if you click it.)

(Gen. David Petraeus flies with Sens. Barack Obama and Chuck Hagel from Baghdad International Airport to the International Zone. (Photo: SSG Lorie Jewell, US Army))

posted by mikevotes at 1:20 PM

5 Comments:

  • We see what we want to see in pictures. And what I want to see in this picture is a genuine comfortability between Obama and Petraeus. I want to see Petraeus relaxed and relieved to finally be speaking to an intelligent politician. A politician who not only has strong, well reasoned, beliefs, but a sincere respect for honest differing opinions and the ability to process those opinions.

    So that's what I see. Who knows the reality...?

    By Blogger -epm, at 2:45 PM  

  • I see the next president of the USA with a very diplomatic soldier. Taking Hagel along for back-up was a darn good idea too.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:03 PM  

  • I'm impressed with Hagel's quiet, but obvious, support. To me there's a certain class about Obama -- and Hagel -- that, by comparison, seems so lacking in the bombastic and mindless chest-thumping of McCain/Lieberman campaign.

    By Blogger -epm, at 3:17 PM  

  • EPM, That's what I saw, too. Maybe a little bit of "charming" Petraeus, but definitely a match.

    But I don't know about now admiring Obama, but it does have the feel of very pleasantly surprised.

    Of course, I guess Petraeus has met a whole bunch of Congressmen over the last few years, so his expectations may have been very low.

    ....

    Anon, Hagel grants alot of defense to this trip. He's spending his political capital here.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 3:48 PM  

  • I doubt Petraeus "admires" Obama, nor was he star-struck or overpowered by a charm offensive (not that Obama wasn't being charming). I hope, however, Petraeus was pleasantly surprised with Obama -- as a person and with his ability to engage in intelligent conversation.

    Petraeus is as much a politician as a military man himself. I'm sure he, too, is capable of pouring on the charm as well, to traveling politicians. In the end the man has a job to do, and I'd imaging he'd appreciate any commander in chief who is smart, literate, and able to tolerate and integrate differing opinions.

    By Blogger -epm, at 4:12 PM  

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