Graceful Withdrawal
"George, would you explain what the heck is a graceful withdrawal as opposed to cut and run? Also, throw some light on that sentence about not having failed in Iraq and explain the meaning of helping the Iraqis succeed"
With his usual good humor the President smiled, put his hands together in prayer fashion and bowing to the smiling First Lady, said:
"Anyone knows what a graceful withdrawal is. Even Napoleon employed the phrase after Wellington erased his infantry, his cavalry and his artillery. In other words, he cut and ran. Do not tell anyone that I said this, please: they are both the same except that graceful withdrawal implies order, disciplined columns of brave soldiers marching away toward the sunset while the military bands play martial songs and flags wave in the distance. Which connotation is easier to feed the American public?"
"Who cares, George? When one is drowning and gets cramps in both legs, gets an arm bitten by a shark and has dizzy spells, he either becomes deeply religious or paddles like hell!" She laughed and delicately took another bite of that slice of Panettone di Parma. Then, she added:
'What is so secret about one or the other? Everyone knows that in the case of Napoleon, like in the case of most dictators that refuse to listen to reason and make stubbornness a political virtue, a rapid retreat is often the only solution. There was no graceful withdrawal and all Napoleon could do was to get on his bicycle and pedal like hell. That is where the phrase meeting your Waterloo originated"
"Great scholarship, First Lady. But forget about Napoleon. He did enough damage not only to his own country but also to many other countries."
"Glad you told me, President. Now, what about that story about not having failed? How about that Iraqi success?"
"Failure is an ugly word, dear. Save it for the baseball season. Iraqi success means that they get their country back if we leave and will have to rebuild it from scratch after we turned it into scratch."
The President was silent for a moment and then he asked the First lady:
"What did you say about that Waterloo?"
Related Tags: run, retreat, blow
Throughout his writing career, the author has penned many profiles of famous people. They are quick touches generally humorous and occasionally true.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Third Term - The Obasanjo Syndrome ... Ambition and the Place of God
I recently read a post in a blog (multibrand.blogspot.com) concerning President SBY of Indonesia amb - Black Veterans Still Not Receiving Their Due
With a Black President, many discussions have been re-kindled regarding the treatment of Blacks in v - Are Green Party Candidates Converting Voters?
Have you noticed that the Green Party Convention is hosting a few training sessions which include th - The National Debt: Young Americans Are Inheriting a Sinking Ship
The greatest fundamental weakness of the United States of America is its national debt. Debt weighs - America Must Return to Its Free Market Roots
The United States is the most prosperous country in the world. Its economy has been a constant engin - Policies Of President Obama And Democratic Congress Severely Undermine Job Opportunities For Young Americans
For Young Americans, this is the worst job market in decades. Despite politicians claiming we are on - The Virtues Of A Limited Federal Government And Why America Must Return To The Limited Federal Republic Laid Out In The Constitution
I consider the foundation of the Constitution . . . that 'all powers not delegated to the United Sta - Young Americans Have Largest Stake In Maintaining A Strong Military And Effective Homeland Security Policies
Americans are truly blessed to live in a country protected by the most powerful and effective milita - Why Hitler Wanted To Ban Guns
Whenever the name Adolf Hitler is mentioned one automatically makes a connection to the Holocaust, N - What Happened To The Mohave County Downwinders?
I always get a bit frustrated when I hear that the reason Mohave County was excluded from the Radiat
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Designer Shoes Come First In Global Poll Of Most Wanted Accessories
For both men and women, shoes have long been an essential fashion item. In fact, many women in popul - New US Ambassador for Indonesia Named
The US government has appointed Cameron R. Hume as the next ambassador to Indonesia, reliable source - 1984 By George Orwell
1984 by George Orwell In the book "1984" Orwell criticizes totalitarianism of all types and brings - Chaos Theory: Bush's delusions & Iraq's destiny (Part 2)
The classic counter-insurgency strategy of the US consists of the "ink-blotch" approach. This involv - Will Israel Attack Iran (Part 2)
In November of last year, I wrote an article speculating about whether or not the Israelis would tak - Rodrigues Island 'autonomy'
Rodrigues Island: 'Autonomy' The first few pages were qui - Obama Is Coming, Clear The Way!
"Obama biro, yawne yo!" (Obama is coming, clear the way)—Tens of thousands of cheering Luo "Tr - African Tribes
African Tribes In this article the economies and lifestyles of such African tribes as the Lele and - This Is Not Your Dad's Republican Party Anymore
Stock markets are strange because they reflect the sum total of all our hopes, fears and prejudices - How to Drastically Reduce our Foreign Oil Dependency While Saving you Money at the Pump
If you watch or listen to the news, discussions come up all the time about the price of a barrel of
