It’s being reported tonight that President Obama today declared victory as he and his family took off out west on their family Christmas vacation.
I get that he’s anxious to finish his final full year as president on a high note. I question, though, whether there’s a victory yet to declare.
The president held his annual end-of-year press conference touting a few key victories: the Iran nuclear deal, the continuing enrollment of the Affordable Care Act, the recent budget deal worked out by Congress, re-establishing ties with Cuba, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and some other things.
They’ve all produced good signs of progress. But victory?
Not yet.
There’s still that ongoing fight with the Islamic State. He pledged yet again that the United States is hitting ISIL “harder than ever” and vowed to ramp up the pounding that U.S. and allied nations are delivering to the terrorist monsters. That fight is far from over. Indeed, it might never end. It won’t end by the time the current president leaves office and likely won’t end by the time the next one departs the White House.
It all reminds me of the time the late U.S. Sen. George Aiken, R-Vt., once declared that it would be in the best interest of the country to “declare victory” in Vietnam and just go home.
Well, at least don’t have to “go home.” Still, there’s much more work to do before the 44th president hands the White House keys over the 45th.
Enjoy the time with your family, Mr. President. Come on back, though, and get to work.
Oh … and Merry Christmas to you as well.
