As a result of that decision, the Muslim world is entirely dependent on the west for all of the technological marvels and conveniences that Islamic states enjoy today. From airplanes to oil refineries to skyscrapers to sewage treatment plants, Islamic-ruled lands could not function – would not exist – as anything even approaching the model of a modern, prosperous nation but for the expertise and initiative that the industrialized world provides. In that context, it’s hard to imagine what contributions the Muslim world could possibly make to NASA’s mission. On the other hand, involving Muslim nations – even the so-called moderate Islamic states – with NASA raises some frightening prospects. Heretofore, Iran has had to count on rogue states like North Korea and irresponsible industrialized nations like Russia and China to develop modern weapons systems. While not even Obama would be reckless or naïve enough to give Iran direct access to NASA’s technology, there is nothing to suggest that whatever lessons a “moderate” Muslim nation like Egypt or Saudi Arabia might learn won’t eventually make their way to Tehran.
But then the object of this exercise, Bolden said, was to make angry Muslims feel like esteemed members of the world community. The president spends a great deal of time trying to do that himself, with or without NASA’s help. Not that the Islamist movement lacks for self esteem in the first place. The problem would seem to be much the opposite. Due in no small part to the Obama administration’s continuing efforts at appeasement, fundamentalist Muslims have more faith than ever in the righteousness and ultimate success of their cause. Rather than tapping into their storehouse of knowledge regarding how to practice astronomy without a telescope, or mathematics without a calculator, perhaps we ought to focus on the blowing innocent people up in the name of God part. Just a thought.
At least the president was being consistent. He continually manages to use expensive federal assets in ways that no one ever envisioned and which has nothing to do with the organizations’ core mission statements. From tasking the CIA to study global warming to having NASA engage in diplomacy, Obama is like a five year old kid exploring a pile of new toys. Sure, that toy dump truck makes for a nice truck, but how effective might it be as a projectile weapon? There’s only one way to find out!
In a speech he delivered at Rice University in 1962, John F. Kennedy expressed a sentiment that every American would have identified with back then, but which would cause our current commander-in-chief to cringe and probably issue an apology to the United Nations. “Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space,” Kennedy said. “We mean to be a part of it–we mean to lead it.”
Clearly, Barack Obama has abandoned the idea that America should lead the way in science in general and in space in particular. Instead, he seems intent on throwing the proud history of American progress into reverse. Using NASA – the organization that has stood as the best example of American exceptionalism and innovation for decades – to engage a medieval culture is so very consistent with the president’s approach. Faced with the outrage that followed when this bizarre policy was further revealed, it’s easy to believe that Obama decided to throw Charles Bolden under the bus rather than face the political consequences of his failed policies himself.
What is the likelihood that Charles Bolden is lying, and Gibbs and the white house are not?
Would you guess ZERO? me too. Obama's credibility was squandered many lies ago.
It must be really getting crowded under the Obama banishment bus! He has thrown so many people under there since he threw his grandmother under just prior to her death before he was elected President when she disclosed that she was at Barack’s birth in Kenya.
Mr. Bolden, welcome to the "Under the Bus" Group, and join Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, Rod Blagojevich, Rashid Khalidi, Tariq Al-Mansour, Edward Said, Obama's white grandmother, and others who were "inconvenient" to the fable that was fed to the American public and the world through the repetitive chant of Hope and Change.
reach out to the JIHADISTS…maybe they can bomb the moon!!!!!
In private corporations or in family businesses when the head of the firm, because of age, dementia, or various ailments begins to act in ways that could sink the business, family members or shareholders will have him declared incompetent to save the company. It seems the list of moves by our president that are counterproductive to the safety of our country, counterproductive to the prosperity of our country, counterproductive to the future of our country has become long enough to warrant an effort to declare him incompetent and have him removed. By allowing him to continue for a full term my set the country back to a point of no return.
The following comment was deleted instantly which indicates I've been banned for some reason. I hereby reinsert it: In private corporations or in family businesses when the head of the firm, because of age, dementia, or various ailments begins to act in ways that could sink the business, family members or shareholders will have him declared incompetent to save the company. It seems the list of moves by our president that are counterproductive to the safety of our country, counterproductive to the prosperity of our country, counterproductive to the future of our country has become long enough to warrant an effort to declare him incompetent and have him removed. By allowing him to continue for a full term my set the country back to a point of no return.
I hope the people who voted our Muslim-in-chief into the White House are hanging their heads in shame.
My sentiments exactly. I've lost a lot of respect for Charlie recently but now have a bit of sympathy for him considering the White House is making him out as a scapegoat in this situation. Obama himself said a few months ago that he wanted to get the Muslim world more involved in science and technology, so would the administration believe that most people will buy the fact that Charlie just made this stuff up? The man is a 4 star Marine general, flew on the shuttle 4 times, he knows a thing or two about following orders, especially when those orders are from the Commander in Chief.
Since when do you have to make someone feel good about themselves? That's not something you can do, but rather, it's something that they do on their own.
Come on, Joe; that's what our schools have been doing for close on 20 years now. Of course that might be why the gang-bangers and hip-hoppers are so proud of themselves…
And also why so few high school grads can actually count or write a paragraph.
Of course Obama is separating himself from the head of NASA's remarks about giving foremost consideration to Muslim feelings. Obama always makes excuses and blames others for his decisions. All you have to do is check the few votes he DID make when he was a Senator, in which he retracted his vote when confronted by special groups who objected to it and his responses was always "I meant to vote the other way but made a mistake in pushing the button, or I wasn't aware of this or that provision in the bill, or I would vote the other way if given the opportunity again, or any other excuse he could think of making. He was too busy getting set up for the presidential campaign and raising all the money, illegal as well, that he could! He is a cry baby and his whining is really getting to me! hE NEEDS TO GROW UP!
Moslems have always believed that the sun revolved around earth. How can they make any meaninful contributions to modern science. Most of the so called moslem contributions were by Christian Armedians.
Very sad for Bolden, a real hero, to be dragged into the muck like this.
Hmm. Kind of a pattern here. The President throwing one of his staff under the bus. I am more inclined to give Mr. Bolden more credibility in this case.
It's too bad there isn't a stop button to push to end all of this nonsense in America and the world. It is going mad!