Obama's celebrated Berlin speech was impressive by the scale of the crowd.  It was a well crafted speech, with lots of applause lines.

However, it's troubling how little attention the media has given the context and setting for such a speech.  Prior to Saint Barak, the two most critical Berlin speeches given by American politicians were by President Kennedy and President Reagan.

President Kennedy delivered his speech at the Berlin wall after he had successfully beaten back the Soviet's efforts to install nuclear missiles in Cuba.

And President Reagan delivered his speech nearly seven years into his Presidency.  For years he had used both a carrot (missile reduction treaties) and the stick (Strategic Defense Initiative) to keep the Soviets on edge.  His strategy ultimately brought down the infamous wall.  

Kennedy and Reagan each delivered speeches at critical times in the Cold War.  Both speeches were intended to give courage to the isolated (yet free) citizens of West Berlin.  Each successfully delivered the message that the United States had a steel resolve to protect Berliners and freedom.

Now comes Barak Obama to Berlin.  Just six short months ago, he  advocated a quick and hasty retreat from Iraq.  His plan would have essentially handed Iraq back to the Muslim Terrorists.  
 
For this "cut and run" advocate to now speak from the symbolic stage of freedom, that is Berlin, is a slap in the face of Kennedy, Reagan and all those who died in defense of freedom because they refused to "cut and run".