By Tom Toth
Does the principle of “Leave no man behind” end when a member of the United States military leaves the battlefield?
It apparently does in the present Commander-in-Chief’s mind.
United States Marine Corps Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi served two tours in Iraq, was meritoriously promoted while there, and was tragically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon his return from combat.
When Sgt. Tahmooressi accidentally took a wrong turn into Mexico with three firearms and ammunition that were legal in the United States, he was detained by Mexican authorities and sent to a Mexican prison, where he’s been for six months.
Apparently Eric Holder is the only one allowed to illegally send firearms into Mexico.
How could this happen?
The ridiculous excuse perpetuated from the White House is that the United States must allow Mexico (the same Mexico that makes a handbook on how to properly cross the United States border illegally and can’t control militant drug cartels in their own country) to complete its sovereign legal proceedings without pressure from the United States.
Ludicrous.
Tahmooressi is a decorated member of the United States military. His release is one phone call from the Oval Office away from being a reality. Do you think that one Mexican gun charge would withstand serious pressure from Mexico’s single greatest economic partner? No it would not.
Amid continued speculation that Tahmooressi might be released soon, Republicans in the House Committee on Foreign Relations recognize the opportunity, and have introduced a resolution that states in that “the President should utilize the full powers and authorities of his office” to ensure Tahmooressi’s timely release.
But Barack Obama has made the conscious decision for six months to not involve himself in this matter. Strong-arming another international leader, even on behalf of a soldier who put his life in the hands of Obama’s leadership while in Iraq, is unpalatable to the great apologizer-in-chief who despises America’s role of unipolar leadership on the international stage.
The 9-1-1 call from Tahmooressi from the Mexican border as he was about to be detained is tough to listen to. Stories of his attempted suicide from fear of rape and torture in prison is even more so. What is the full cost of American weakness in foreign policy? A complete answer to that question will probably not be known for years.
But for Sgt. Tahmooressi, the cost and stakes could not be more dire — and they increase every day he spends in Mexican detention.
What’s apparent from this situation, however, is that as long as he’s not negotiating with terrorists the release of dangerous radical Islamists from Guantanamo Bay for an accused deserter, “leave no man behind” are only words for Mr. Obama.
Tom Toth is the digital content director and a contributing editor for Americans for Limited Government.