A Requirement. Of The Office

(A Requirement. Of The Office)

They say that time heals all things. That might be true. However, even after 22 years since the events of September 11th, 2001, there remains the melancholy displays of remembrance in New York, at the Pentagon, and Shanksville, for those who perished. Name by name, the same roster read, year after year. These events are traditionally attended by various political figures but supreme among them should be the President of the United States, Joe Biden. Who is finding himself in Alaska, a state which he is costing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost oil revenue.


Being the President on today of all days, is the only role he could fulfill, He needed to be in Arlington. Or New York. Or Pennsylvania. He needed to lay a wreath, make comments to up-lift a crowd. But that role he seems to be leaving to Vice President Harris. That being said, what is most troubling is the almost casual attitude, that this profound day of solemnity is almost seen as an inconvenience.


It is being argued that Presidents do not fly to O'ahu every December 7th. That was a military attack and the victims were military. The almost three thousand fatalities from September 11th were office workers, first responders, and those unfortunate enough to be on the wrong plane that morning. Biden needs to be taking responsibility. The road to Afghanistan began on that Tuesday morning.


Here is where one can connect the dots and take things full circle. Th al Qaeda/Taliban axis was the organization responsible for 2001 and the response had been the destruction of the Taliban regime. Until the President ordered the unilateral abandonment of the region. One more thing Biden did on his own without counsel.


Nevertheless, the President, regardless of the responsibility he bears for the current state of affairs, still has a duty to have the same reverence for the fallen as is present elsewhere. At this moment, those names continue to be read, at the "P's" currently. He needs to show sympathy. He needs to show that he has empathy for the families that are so poignant as the names of their loved ones are reported. This is what a President of the United States should do. A requirement of the Office.


But this is Joe Biden. Fortunately, only one man. Fortunately, the rest of the country knows better.

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