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Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Incompetence or brilliant strategist?
During a “60 Minutes” interview, the occupant of the Oval Office blamed his surprise of what he once called the “JV team” rising to power so quickly on a failure in the intel community to recognize the growing threat of the Islamic State. So smugly, he said, “I think our head of the intelligence community, Jim Clapper, has acknowledged that I think they underestimated what had been taking place in Syria.” Since this statement, the “president” has been taken to task by the intel community and even anonymous members of his own security staff voicing concern to the news media. Even so, a new government watchdog report indicates the “president” is willfully uninformed when it comes to national security.
Presidential Daily Briefings (PDBs) are the top secret briefings on national security and foreign intelligence provided daily by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the FBI and the CIA. These briefs are summaries that are delivered electronically, in paper form, and given in person. This briefing has been conducted since after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion and before the Cuban missile crisis in June 1961. Since the beginning of 2014, the “president” has attended only 37.5 % of the PDBs, preferring to receive them on his tablet instead. This is no small thing as a President must protect the national security at all costs and understanding these briefings is paramount to decision-making.
Notwithstanding, watchdog Government Accountability Institute updated an analysis of how much time the “president” has spent attending his Presidential Daily Briefs (PDBs), as recorded on the White House official calendar and Politico’s comprehensive calendar. The updated study covered his first 2,079 days in office, running from January 20, 2009 through September 29, 2014. Of those, he attended a total of 875 Presidential Daily Briefs for an overall 42.09% attendance rate. During his first term, he attended 42.43% of the 1,461 briefings. During his second term, he attended to date only 41.26% of a possible 618 briefings, according to GAI.
Many will say that the “president” is just incompetent and disengaged when it comes to national security and foreign policy. If, however, one analyzes the body of work in foreign policy and national security by this “president,” a conclusion could be drawn that he is intent on elevating Islam at the expense of the United States. Too many Islamic foreign policy initiatives have occurred with his assistance to be coincidence–Arab Spring, the Islamic State, Benghazi, Muslim Brotherhood appointees to the Administration, Islamic visits to the White House and on and on. Jesus said in Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” So incompetent or brilliant strategist, either way deception is the common denominator.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Wilson and www.dailyjot.com