Obama Expresses Frustration, Condemns Drone Warfare in Candid Interview

"We are killing more children than suspected terrorists"

(LEXINGTON KPLN Channel 4) - In what can only be described as an unusual turn of events, President Obama made what appears to be an attempt to distance himself from the war policies of the United States government. This seems to be more than just face-saving, with the President expressing deep misgivings over the wars and his inability to carry out his campaign promises to end the wars. He seems genuinely worried about how history will treat him and his administration.

The following interview was granted to a reporter from KPLN Channel 4 from Lexington, Kentucky. It was not on the President's schedule and was evidently unscripted, if not unplanned. It took place outside the Lexington Public Library where the president was presenting a Federal Grant for a renovation. There has been no official response to this yet, and when asked about it, White House spokesperson Marc Faber would only say that the President had no scheduled interviews with KPLN, so he could comment no further and would take no questions about it. Here is the interview.

Celeste Morgan, reporter KPLN: "Mr President, what would you say your main priorities are this second term?"

Obama : (laughs) "Damage control."

Celeste: "Could you be more clear, Mr. President."

Obama: "Well lets just say that a lot has been done in my name and allegedly with my blessing that I do not approve of...that I am not real keen on. And, a lot of things that I AM keen on, and promised the American people that I would do, I have not been allowed to do." Celeste: "Such as ?"

Obama: Well, Guantanemo Bay, ending the wars, this drone business...listen, being President doesn't mean much, I've found out. I am a figurehead, someone to read the script they give me, a puppet. " The President laughs, then clears his throat " Yep, a puppet...a puppet leader. And I'll tell you what gets me, is that I have no control over my own legacy ! I wanted to be the guy who came in and cleaned things up, got our priorities straightened out and our country back on track. I had the highest of hopes. Sure, part of it was an ego thing...I wanted to be the hero, but more than that, I love my country and wanted to be ...wanted my presidency to be, a time of healing and recovering for America. But it doesn't matter. I really have no say in much of anything."

Celeste: "Are you blaming the Republicans in Congress for stonewalling your efforts, as in the Hagel confirmation?"

Obama: "I wish it were that simple... and that benign. Look, there is a system.... I guess you could call it, in place that runs things. And I mean .....runs things. It was in place long before me and will continue after I am gone. It has nothing to do with political parties. Like I said, I am scripted, I am managed, micromanaged ,monitored and bugged (points to lapel pin).....and I know what I am saying and doing here is off the script, but frankly, I dont care. Lately I have been going online and reading news from around the world and so-called alternative news sites which has upset my handlers.. (laughs) Did you know that my internet use is monitored ? In the Oval Office, I do not have full internet service...my handlers censor the net for me, like a twelve year old kid. I see how they keep me busy with "appearances" and two-bit fundraisers and make sure I have no time to look outside the stage they have set up for me....keep me occupied so that I don't cause trouble...and do things like this."

Celeste: "Well we certainly appreciate this. So if it were entirely up to you, what things would be different at this point in time?" Obama: Well, a lot would be different. I intended to close Guantanemo Bay the first week of my presidency. I promised the American people that it would be one of the first things I would do. I was told to be patient and that the "process" would start. That was four years ago. I am still waiting for this "process" to take effect. I wanted to cut the military budget in half..there is no logical reason for us to spend so much ... twenty-five times more than China, our closest competitor in that category. I think this is unnecessary and wasteful, but it doesn't matter. But, I am the guy who has to go out there and tell the average Americans to tighten their belts and that good times are just around the corner when I know better. I'm not a happy camper. Sometimes I feel like a fall guy. I think George Bush, my predecessor, was a fall guy also. I'm like the Queen of England..a figurehead with only token powers. And of course, I say this with respect and fondness for the Queen, who I have had the honor of meeting several times."

Celeste: "You mentioned drones, could you share your feelings on that subject?"

Obama: "Lets be honest with ourselves here. I think any decent person should be repulsed by the idea of twenty-year old kids with joysticks killing entire families because someone in the house might possibly be involved with trying to get foreign invaders out of their country. When we did it, we were "patriots" ,"freedom fighters", when others do it, they are "insurgents..terrorists". It doesn't add up. The CIA drone program is totally out of anyone's control. They do what they want, and no one, not even me, has any say in the matter. We are killing more children than suspected terrorists. It begs the question, "Who exactly are the terrorists?" It just isn't worth it. I tuck my daughters into bed at night and no matter how hard I try, I cannot ignore the fact that we are killing other people's children, other people's daughters, other people's babies. What has happened to us? We are earning the disdain and disgust of the world, creating enemies in every single country of the world, we have lost any moral standing we may have had, and it looks like we are purposely trying to create more enemies and wars. I am afraid that we will soon end up like South Africa did, alone in the world, without friends.or allies. When that happens, the sad fact will be that we will simply be reaping what we have sown, in my opinion."

At this point, two men... possibly Secret Service, approach and talk quietly to the President

Obama: (speaking quietly) "Well, I have been informed that we need to roll. You have my permission to use this, regardless of what anyone says as soon as I leave. Make copies."

Celeste: Thank you, Mr. President. Following comment by Hank Freeman, Station Manager at KPLN "Indeed, just moments after the interview, we were approached by the Secret Service and ordered to hand over any recordings, sound or video. We were told that failure to do so could result in criminal charges. We were told that the President is tired and "a little fuzzy" today. We gave them the original video tape, but kept an audio recording of the interview. We at KPLN feel that the content is worthy of a bit of risk and should be released. We are relying on the President's own word, his permission to use this content for legal protection. It seemed to us that he wanted this to be released. We are proceeding as Americans carrying out the will of our President. I take full responsibility for this decision."

OK, this is an April Fools "joke"....this interview never happened, but wouldn't it be great if it had ? And how exactly DOES Obama tuck his daughters in at night knowing that his administration has overseen the slaughter of hundreds of children?

When I criticize Obama, many of the same people who screamed bloody murder over everything Bush did try to make excuses for him... "He inherited these wars, aint his fault, etc...he just needs a little more time.." BULLS##T !! And if, like this article suggests, he is essentially powerless, well then he should tell us that. But it should be said now, not in some memoir ten years down the road.

Obama has taken everything Bush did and multiplied it many times over. It has been over four years now, and yes we are getting "Change", but it is in the wrong direction. We have more wars, more drone attacks, more money going to the military than EVER before. Change depends on us, not the treasonous bought and paid for politicians that have sold out our country to the highest bidder.

With too few exceptions, our Congress men and women and our Senators are self-serving opportunists intent on nothing more than building up their personal wealth and power. Many should be in prison. We will see no Knight in Shining Armor rescuing us. If indeed one appeared and won our hearts and votes, I predict he or she would not live much beyond Inauguration Day. The CIA would take care of that "problem" like they take care of their rivals in the narcotics business. If we want to be free from rule by international bankers and sociopathic warlords, WE are going to have to do it.

The Obama presidency should have dispelled any Polyanna-ish notions of change through the ballot box. Democracy is dead if lying is allowed and not punished. Anyone can promise anything...! If you or I lie to a police officer, we will be arrested. But if you are a President or a Secretary of State, you can lie to the world, start wars for profit for no other reason than the profit, kill hundreds of thousands of mostly innocent people, loot the American economy and let embezzlers and extortionists walk free because they are your friends and contributors.

You are above the law. Isn't it glaringly apparent how little regard they have for us ? Isn't it glaringly apparent that a war of sorts has been declared against the American people ? We are nothing more to them than cattle are to ranchers. We are workers, taxpayers and soldiers.... beyond that we and our children are simply "useless eaters" as Barbara Bush so eloquently stated it.

The people in power do not care about us, they cannot relate to us and they think that there are too many of us. They have declared war on us at the same time they masquerade as our benefactors and saviors. They will keep tightening the screws so that they can have more while we work harder for less. I see a preview of what is in store for us here in Mexico. Mexico is an exporting country, not a poor country as is commonly believed, yet most of the citizens are poor. The absolute basics needed for survival are cheap, but anything else is expensive.

Things cost as much or more than in the US, yet workers here average only about $12 - $15 per day. Most people here are hand to mouth and work hard simply to live another day and have food . In Oregon, a gallon of enamel paint (I am a sign painter) cost me one fifth of my average daily earnings. Here in Mexico I have to work two full DAYS to buy that same can of paint.

That is our future if we sit back and let the thieves and liars that have nearly completely infested our government run rampant without oversight or consequences. A nation of sheep, it is said, begets a government of wolves. That is what we have now. As long as we keep playing by their rules, we will ALWAYS lose. That is the way it is set up. And that, my friends, is no joke.

Vic Pittman is a freelance writer from Scotts Mills, Oregon who resides in Mexico today. He is the holder of no literary awards, journalistic awards or college degrees. He has at one time or another been a honor student, inmate, biker, Christian, pothead, father, radical, pacifist, anarchist, artist, heavy metal guitarist, model citizen, lawbreaker, business owner, illegal marijuana grower, and volunteer for various causes. He is proud to be a "common man" and be among those striving to make this world a better place if at all possible. He was fortunate enough to have been raised by awesome parents who instilled what he feels to be essential values and encouraged him to feel a kinship with not just family or Oregonians or Americans or whites, but every person on Earth, and to act accordingly. He and his wife Glenda currently live in Nayarit Mexico.

You can write to Vic at this address: tropicats08@hotmail.com