When the Cat's Away....

Statement

Friends,

Americans who are starving for a reminder of what America used to stand for had to look to France, where three Americans on a train dived on a would-be mass killer with an AK47 and stopped what would have been a terrorist bloodbath. They were like knights in shining armor, only without the armor. But they didn't need it.

And now, they really are knights. Monday, US Air Airman First Class Spencer Stone, Oregon National Guardsman and Afghanistan veteran Alek Skarlatos, their friend Anthony Sadler, and British businessman Chris Norman were knighted by French President Francois Hollande as Chevaliers of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor in France. It will also go to a French citizen and a duel American-French citizen who joined in the defense and were seriously wounded.

When he was asked what lesson could be taken from this, Anthony Sadler offered some words that should be shouted from rooftops around the world. He said, quote:

"Do something. Hiding, or sitting back, is not going to accomplish anything. And the gunman would've been successful if my friend Spencer had not gotten up. So I just want that lesson to be learned going forward, in times of…terror like that, please do something. Don't just stand by and watch." End quote.

But there is another lesson to be learned. The Briton, Chris Norman, said that when the shooting started, his first inclination was to hide behind the seats. But when he heard the Americans shout, "Get him!" and saw them rush toward the gunman, he followed them and joined in the fight.

In other words, all it took to rally others to stand up and fight back was the example of strong American leadership. That in a nutshell is why President Obama's "lead from behind" philosophy has been such a miserable and tragic failure all around the world. Why are there no limits to the atrocities committed by ISIS? Because as long as they know America won't take the lead in fighting them, why fear a headless opposition? Why did Iran get everything they demanded to a ridiculous degree, even "self-inspections," while not even releasing our hostages or agreeing to stop chanting "Death to America" even during the negotiations? Because the mullahs believed they weren't just dealing with a paper tiger, they were dealing with an inflatable pussy cat, full of hot air but ready to deflate at the slightest jab. The Obama Administration claims the only alternative to the terrible deal they struck with Iran is war. Why? Well, we can't reimpose sanctions because China, Russia and Europe would just defy us and trade with Iran anyway. So they admit we not only have no leverage over Iran, now we have no sway even at the UN or over our alleged allies. This Administration is actually using its own pathetic weakness as an argument in its favor.

They say when the cat's away, the mice will play. And when America abdicates its role as the leader of the free world, the rats run riot. America and the world cannot afford that kind of leadership anymore. We need a strong President who will lead with moral clarity.

Sincerely,
Mike Huckabee

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