Leadership

Ike talking to the Paratroopers who would be dropped behind the Atlantic Wall  the night before D-Day.

Leadership is more than the ability to to make great speech.  Dwight Eisenhower was a terrible speaker. However, he led the liberation of Europe as Supreme Allied Commander. He launched the D-Day invasion of Normandy in France. Not  know knowing if the landings on the coast of France would be successful he wrote a press release in the event he had to withdraw the American and British forces from the beaches of Normandy. In the statement he took full responsibility for the failure when he wrote:

“My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

However, President Barak Obama had a very lawyerly memo drawn up that was meant to cover himself if the raid to capture or kill Osama bin Laden was a failure

“The timing, operational decision making and control are in Admiral McRaven’s hands. The approval is provided on the risk profile presented to the president. Any additional risks are to be brought back to the president for his consideration. The direction is to go in and get bin Laden and if he is not there, to get out.”

 "Risk profile presented to the president" ??? Give me a break..... this was a CYA memo by someone who couldn't vote "present". He may be able to make great speeches but he is no leader!