horse of george

"... apologies for being the cynic but I'd guess any noise Obama makes regarding a long term military strategy encompassing a realistic maritime policy that actually addresses the threat will be done in the name of politics, not action. Two reasons for this: one, they're assuming Romney is going to be the opponent in 2012 and ol' Mitt is already staking out this territory for purposes of mounting an attack on Obama and the chosen one's unique interpretation of American vital interests... so the administration needs to look like it's engaged if it hopes to avoid envelopment of its foreign policy flank... look engaged you understand, not actually be so... and two, you cannot fashion a coherent naval strategy while at same time keeping the left wing base happy as concerns military expenditures and Obama cannot win in 2012 without his base... therefore my guess is you'll hear some talking of the talk but little walking of the walk on this issue... expect more leading from behind and theatrics, as in recent announcement of establishing American naval base in Australia ... nothing wrong with this per se, it's just that it looks to me like a typical Obama feint... do enough to give the appearance of something substantial, but then don't follow up on it with the numerous ancillary moves needed to keep the substance from devolving into mere tokenism... not unlike his approach to Afghanistan..."