Weakness has never been a successful formula for anything, which is why I am worried about the future of America. Our president and those upon whom he depends for advice put us all at risk as they display weakness at home and abroad.
President Barack Obama’s weakness is evidenced in his latest decisions involving foreign policy and illegal immigration.
His decision to swap five terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo for an American held captive by the Taliban is born from his core beliefs. Obama was willing to free the most dangerous of those incarcerated because he is soft. He believes that the prison at Guantanamo should be closed, and always has. Freeing these Taliban heroes opens the doors wide for letting out all the detainees there.
Our president believes that these terrorists did not receive proper legal representation and were deprived of real trials; besides, he thinks the Afghanistan war is over. Worst of all may be his lack of acceptance of the degree of danger represented by the release of these five terrorists.
This is the latest in a string of Obama’s foreign and domestic policy failures. First, it was the U.S. response to the killing of four American diplomats at Benghazi, Libya; followed by the aggressive actions of Vladimir Putin in Crimea and Ukraine; then the nation’s mess at our Veterans Affairs centers.
The president jeopardizes our safety and embarrasses us before the world.
We all know that weakness leads to failure and destruction. America must awaken before it is too late.
Meanwhile here at home, the “busing in” and release of a tidal wave of illegal immigrants led by children is occurring along the Texas and Arizona borders. Law enforcement is taxed to the limit handling this problem while being forced to neglect more serious crime.
We again show weakness by the absence of any plan to stem the tide. Obama believes that we should draw no lines on illegal immigration. No numbers are too many, and no trends too dangerous; all is good in the name of cultural diversity.
Much of this is touching closer to home. In Portland, the mayor and others are embracing the burgeoning influx of immigrants without determining their status.
Across the United States, the cost to our society from this march of illegal immigrants is overwhelming us.
Our borders are porous; they are not being defended.
Questioning of U.S. foreign policy toward certain nations or opposition to the immigration flood produces immediate cries of discrimination.
This is what happened to an acquaintance of mine, Larry Raymond, who was mayor of Lewiston several years ago. He merely questioned the effect of the influx of immigrants from Somalia on his city. He worried about the effect on education, health care costs and welfare assistance.
He was called racist, despite the fact that he has two adopted African-American grandchildren. His concerns were genuine, not discriminatory.
Raymond happened to be thrust into the immigration crucible at the dawn of a dilemma.
We are a great nation of immigrants, many of whom have contributed much to the beautiful tapestry of our diverse country.
There may be a point of no return, however, a saturation that eventually places an unsustainable burden on those already here. It is possible to reach an inequitable situation where, in fact, it is the citizens who are being discriminated against.
Compassion and assistance for those who seek a better way of life is indeed the Christian way. I share that mantra and belief.
However, common sense, limitations and the rule of law are also essential elements of a sustainable society. As things continue to spin out of control on our borders, we wonder how much social engineering can we afford? Legal immigration, the bedrock of our country, under control, is fine. Illegal immigration, out of control, is not.
President Obama’s recent decisions and positions on foreign policy foster aggression against us. His policies on illegal immigration are creating a catastrophic flood from within. The clock is ticking.
Weakness in foreign policy and chaos on our borders is a blueprint for disaster.
Don Roberts is a former city councilor and vice chairman of the Charter Commission in Augusta. He is a trustee of the Greater Augusta Utility District, and a representative to the Legislative Policy Committee of Maine Municipal Association.
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