The president talks a good game, and I do not say that in a negative way. His speech to the Muslim world was a big success, as the world press gave him high marks. So once again the president scores with words.
But actions are more difficult, especially when it comes to the War on Terror.
On Friday the president was in Germany trying to convince that reluctant nation to take a few Gitmo prisoners and to help out more in Afghanistan. Germany could be far more cooperative in those areas.
In fact, most nations could be more cooperative in fighting the War on Terror. On Friday Canada said no to taking any Gitmo prisoners, citing security concerns. Yeah, security concerns. That's why these guys are in Gitmo in the first place.
I guess the president thinks that closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay makes him a hero, but to me the facility is needed.
Since it opened, 779 detainees have passed through Gitmo; 540 have been either released or transferred to other prisons. But only a very few nations have helped out in this regard.
So the president is left almost pleading, as he did Friday with German Chancellor Merkel:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We have spoken to the European Union about the possibilities of working with us and helping us in managing the closure of Guantanamo. Chancellor Merkel has been very open to discussions with us. We have not asked her for hard commitments, and she has not given us any hard commitments beyond having a serious discussion about are there ways that we can solve this problem?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
And I hope there are because the Department of Defense says 14 percent of released Gitmo prisoners may have returned to killing people. Fourteen percent.
So it is clear that words are easy but actions have consequences. Like President Bush, President Obama is realizing the USA is the main force in the world against terrorism. Many other nations are cowardly and sometimes we have to go it alone. This is painful for some liberal Americans to acknowledge. That consensus does not always lead to safety and security.
As we said Thursday night, President Obama is right to try to engage the world and persuade people to support America. But he's naive if he thinks the world will rise up against the bad guys. It will not.
And that's "The Memo."
Pinheads & Patriots
President Obama got to tour some of the pyramids in Egypt this week, and while walking through the amazing structures he came upon an ancient drawing that looked a bit like him. See that, the side by side? Wow. Paging Shirley MacLaine and the reincarnation crew. Ancient guy is a patriot.
On the pinhead, I do not — I do not — want to pick on Joy Behar, but sometimes I have to:
Click here to watch "Pinheads & Patriots"!
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": We don't make the distinction between the extremists who come in Catholic gear. They come in Jewish gear. They come in Muslim gear.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": There's a woman in the audience who probably is a Muslim. Let's get a shot of her, because does that look like a jihadist to you? Look at that lady. A beautiful lady in a Muslim outfit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
You can decide whether Ms. Behar is a pinhead.
— You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" and "Pinheads & Patriots" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the FOX News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com
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