Nattens State of the nation

Jag gick inte upp inatt för att se Obamas State of the nation-tal. Jag ångrar mig nu.

Jag hade velat se det live. Jag skulle vilja se någon med motsvarande retoriska skicklighet i Sverige. Det är nästan för bra. Jag känner hur jag fastnar i talets form, precisa anslag och timing på bekostnad av innehållet.

Det Progressiva USA skriver: "President Obamas State of the Union tal till kongressens båda kamrar och till det amerikanska folket hölls i de rykande ruinerna av det USA som varit. Det är ett USA i fritt fall, en stormakt som på mindre än ett år har kollapsat till oigenkännlighet. USA har under de senaste åtta Bushåren genomgått en en helt ofattbar företagsplundring där ett helt samhälle har plundrats på triljardbelopp medan infrastrukturen, vård, skola, omsorg, allt har offrats på altaret till lägre skatter och mer pengar till de rikaste.


Ett utdrag (med några egna kursiveringar):

"For seven years, we've been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.

Along with our outstanding national security team, I am now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.

And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism, because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens halfway around the world. We will not allow it.

As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: We honor your service; we are inspired by your sacrifice; and you have our unyielding support.

To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.

To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend, because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. And that is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists, because living our values doesn't make us weaker. It makes us safer, and it makes us stronger.

And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture. We can make that commitment here tonight.

In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun, for we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America.

We cannot shun the negotiating table nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.

To seek progress towards a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century -- from terrorism to nuclear proliferation, from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty -- we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power."

SvD, DN, Ekot, The Independent