After the unfortunate events Monday, where 18 Americans were killed in Afghanistan, President Obama departed D.C by Marine One to Dover Air Force Base in the late hours Wednesday night to meet the bodies. Those 18 Americans add to the death toll as the most fatal month in Afghanistan for Americans. In the current events leading up to this Dover visit, Obama has received much criticism for his actions on proceeding in Afghanistan.

In mixed responses, some praise the President’s efforts for paying respect to the American heroes upon their arrival to their homeland, and appreciate the humanity of the Commander in Chief. Sadly, others believe it is just another publicity stunt as if Obama is still campaigning to the Americans and is beating around the Bush (no pun intended) in his decision for Afghanistan. Regardless of Obama’s agenda, those fallen sons and daughters deserve the utmost respect and honor for their service to our nation.

The GOP is really laying the pressure on Obama because they believe the troops overseas are in danger if they do not get more help. The additional 18 Americans killed Monday only reinforce their beliefs. Senator John McCain (AZ) is one who has strongly criticized Obama for taking too much time in his decision making, as he believes if decisions are made more swiftly, the President has an opportunity to prevent similar events.

Even the lefts are supporting the troop surge, as Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) stated on the deployment of more troops, ” In my mind, you should pay for the cost whatever way.” This is a valid statement from chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee, in control of funding operations in Afghanistan. Murtha says, “You can take it out of other programs or you can raise taxes.”

From the White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, who accompanied Obama to Dover Air Force Base, stated the President’s decision proceeding in Afghanistan is near its end. But has it already been to long?

In the opinion of former Vice President Dick Cheney, President Obama appears “afraid to make a decision” on the proceedings in Afghanistan. Thank you Captain Obvious!

During a conservative gathering, President Barack Obama’s harshest critic, Cheney, is never hesitant to spare his two cents when it comes to the President’s actions. He declared, “The White House must stop dithering while America’s armed force are in danger.” Yes, it would seem impulsive for Obama to pull the trigger without much consideration (i.e. he doesn’t want to shoot his friend in the face). However, with the recommendations of General Stanley McChrystal, commander of troops in Afghanistan, this certainly is a time sensitive matter.

Obama does have an obligation to generate a solution or come to consensus for his commander. Cheney said, “Having announced his Afghanistan strategy last March, President Obama now seems afraid to make a decision, and unable to provide his commander on the ground with the troops he needs to complete his mission.” Surely, General McChrystal offered a lengthy explanation for his recommendation to deploy more troops, therefore Cheney’s statements are redundant. Cheney, have you been in a cave for the last two weeks?

Certainly, the President is playing a bit of a waiting game, however Obama’s decision truly will reflect whether he can “make good on his promise” as Cheney said. The critical element in this situation is prioritizing the support of the men and women overseas. If they need more support as General McChrystal recommends, it would be in the President’s best interest to act swiftly and responsibly.

Does the president really deserve to be titled a peacemaker?

The president, of just nine months, receiving a Nobel Peace Prize brings a lot of shock value. However, Barack Obama is not the first nor the last president to receive this prestigious prize. The real shock is what has he accomplished to receive this honor? It seems premature to award someone for their plans and ideas to win hearts and minds which don’t have much to be supported by at this point in time. Obama’s mouth has signed a check his actions can’t cash, yet. What happens if his presidential term finishes before anything positive results from his “ideas”? Does the Nobel Committee take his prize back, or give him a pat on the back and say, “Good effort, anyway”? He has received praise and congratulations from both Democrats and Republicans, but he has also drawn a lot of criticism.

The underlying element is Obama’s vision to end extreme ideologies isn’t his own. The desire to establish Israeli-Palestinian peace is not breaking news. Not only was it not Obama’s idea to fight extreme ideologies in Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving a Nobel Peace Prize on the same day as meeting with his war council to deploy 40,000 additional troops to a war seems worse than ironic. Did he define what winning would mean? He received an honor for something he figuratively represents. If he is in fact such a peacemaker, and worthy of this honor, why would he agree to deploy more troops? Not only is he pissing off the people who support him, he’s still pissing off the people who don’t. However, many people believe he should end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or at least establish some success, in order to be awarded this prize. Public opinion varies as some say his prize is well deserved, and some say it is a Nobel Speech Prize.

As if the demands from General McChrystal to deploy more troops were not enough pressure for the president, he is now holding the weight of this controversial peace prize as he makes a significant decision affecting the future of the war in Afghanistan. Therefore in the wake of this prize, the United States has a commander in chief playing rocks, paper, scissors in the Oval Office.

In his speech at the Rose Garden, Obama’s statement was, “I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments”. We understand Mr. President, that’s because nothing has been accomplished. Congratulations President Obama… for not being George Bush. Only the future will tell, but for now it appears a Nobel Peace Prize can just fall out of a Cracker Jacks box.

Setting a “supreme” example for all Americans selected to jury duty, recently appointed Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, was summoned to jury duty this week. After throwing away several letters, she finally appeared when she received the threat of facing serious penalties, “whatever that means” she said. She exhausted a list of excuses to be relieved of her civil duty, fabricating an infirm grandmother, claiming she has “psychological problems”, sciatica issues, and she didn’t think she “could be fair and impartial if the defendant was white”. No, I’m not making this up. She then goes on to say, “The guy is totally guilty, by the way. You can tell just by looking at him”. Therefore, the defendant is probably white. She adds, “this all just goes to show what a huge joke the justice system is”. Has she heard that she works for the justice system?

Adding to her list of complaints, she claims the payout at $80 a day isn’t nearly enough to cover living expenses. Hopefully, her $208,100 salary as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court can assist with her financial troubles. Sotomayor additionally complains, “It’s so boring. I’m totally daydreaming most of the time,” she continues “Honestly, I don’t know how anyone could possibly pay attention to all that testimony and evidence and legal mumbo jumbo all day long.”

Justice system aside for the moment, this interview is a joke. As President Obama’s nominated Associate Justice, Sotomayor publicly claiming psychological problems and professing racism is not going help resolve the issues in the justice system or the American civil duty as a juror for that matter. How did she qualify for jury duty, let alone the Supreme Court?

As if Sotomayor had a choice, she has accepted serving as a juror and she prays “to God this thing doesn’t make it all the way to the Supreme Court.” Is she done talking yet?