Yesterday was Memorial day, a day when Americans are used to seeing their president move around Washington (sometimes the country) as he attends a host of ceremonies dedicated to our veterans.  For a while, this year seemed no different than most.  Obama held a breakfast for families who had lost loved ones in the service, went to Arlington, laid a wreath, and gave a nice speech.  Then, he…well…instead of making the usual Memorial Day rounds, he cleared his schedule, and spent the day on a golf course.

This alone wouldn’t be that big of a deal.  Presidents golf.  There’s no reason he shouldn’t be allowed to hit the links.  After all, George Bush was out there all the time, Obama obviously enjoys the same perks.  The problem is that while he’s out there, the rest of the world seems to be coming unglued.

North Korea has kept up its nuclear program, and has been test firing missiles again.

Despite Obama’s efforts, Iran has similarly continued its nuclear program, and is flexing its naval muscle by sending a contingent of warships into international waters.

Early in March, Chinese military vessels began harassing a US Navy mapping ship, and they are in the process of rapidly expanding their aircraft carrier fleet.

Benjamin Netanyahu has defied Obama’s push for a freeze on settlement activity in the West Bank, and his defense minister has told Israelis that they should be prepared for “all-out war.”

So what does Obama do in the face of all these many problems?  He takes a day devoted to this nation’s veterans and squanders it on a round of golf.  

This shouldn’t be surprising.  He’s not exactly a fan of the armed forces.  He made his feelings famously clear in his July 2, 2008 “civilian security force” speech when he claimed we could no longer rely on the military to protect us.  Later, he floated a plan that would have wounded soldiers who return from war paying for their own health care.   However, you would think that for just one day, while staring down a runaway train full of possible of global nuclear war, he might see Memorial Day as way to at least pretend he cares about the sacrifices our veterans make.

Apparently, he doesn’t think they’re worth the effort.

-Robert Laurie