President Donald Trump’s administration announced Thursday they’d secured the release of an American family held prisoner by the Taliban for five years — a humiliating blow to former President Barack Obama’s legacy.
For years, Obama failed to do anything about it.
In 10-months since he left office, the international respect of the United States and our military might has improved so much the Taliban voluntarily gave up five key hostages.
During a speech Wednesday in Pennyslvania, Trump said his generals were impressed. It was something you would have never seen under Obama, after all.
“Something happened today, where a country that totally disrespected us called with some very, very important news. One of my generals came in and they said, ‘You know, I have to tell you, a year ago they would’ve never done that.’ It was a great sign of respect,” Trump said.
“You’ll probably be hearing about it over the next few days. But this is a country that did not respect us. This is a country that respects us now. The world is starting to respect us again, believe me.”
Trump is right.
The couple had appeared on numerous videos during Obama’s second term pleading for his help and saying, “Please do not be the next Jimmy Carter”, a reference to the Carter administration’s failure to secure freedom for the Americans held in Iran in 1979.
Nothing was done – until now. Last week, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford appeared before Congress and promised that Islamic terrorists would no longer be allowed use Pakistan as a sanctuary.
The message was received — and now, an American woman and her children are finally coming home.
— The Horn editorial team