Obama a weak President?

I was up at 4:30 this morning and this is what I got when I turned on my S3 and check Gmail.

This is not as headline grabbing as killing Bin Laden but nevertheless a very risky, bold and courageous move. My thoughts immediately went back to the op-ed piece in the WSJ by Peggy Noonan (Reagan's famed speech writer) a few days ago. It was a withering piece against President Obama especially picking on his cowardice and feckless leadership for not attacking Syria.

From a very young age I had often needed to retell the story of Han Xin's youth to my children. The story can be found in their Asiapac books (this publisher have done far more for the moral education of our children than our school system).

President Obama had displayed extreme fortitude and self control not to launch an attack on Syria. It was a very courageous act versus stupid bravery.

As a time starved and lazy blogger, it is best to just quote from Wikipedia about Han Xin.

Han Xin lived a childhood in destitution as his father died early. He was despised by those around him as he often relied on others for his meals. He had a keen interest in military strategy and spent his time studying military treatises and practising sword techniques.

Once, when he was suffering from hunger, he met a woman who provided him with food. He promised to repay her for her kindness after he had made great achievements in life, but was scorned by her. On another occasion, a hooligan saw Han Xin carrying a sword and challenged him to either kill him or crawl through between his legs. Han Xin knew that he was at a disadvantage because his opponent was much stronger and bigger than him, hence instead of responding to the taunts, he meekly crawled through between the hooligan's legs and was laughed at.

Several years later, after becoming the King of Chu, Han Xin returned to his hometown and found the woman who fed him and rewarded her with 1,000 taels of gold. Han Xin also found the hooligan and instead of taking revenge, he appointed the hooligan as a zhongwei (中尉; equivalent to a present-day lieutenant). He said, "This man is a hero. Do you think I could not have killed him when he humiliated me? I would not become famous even if I killed him then. Hence, I endured the humiliation to preserve my life for making great achievements in future."

Now waiting for Peggy Noonan and the GOPs to eat crow. It is the height of irresponsibility to shut down the government. The real coward is the Speaker of the House.

He who laughs last, laughs best.