Who is this guy?

RedStateVT is dumbfounded by President Obama's Nobel Prize acceptance speech. Omitting a minor reference to torture here and one to global warming there, the speech could almost have been given by Ronald Reagan. It was in most respects a hard-nosed assessment of the threats that peace-loving nations face. Highlights include the following.

• A humble and realistic admission

"...I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage."

• A forceful reminder to the world

"...(Afghanistan) is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by 42 other countries -- including Norway -- in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks."

• An oblique reference to Ronald Reagan?

"The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall."

• An understanding of the threat!

"I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason."

• Damn straight!

"The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest -- because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if others' children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity."

• Amen!

"I -- like any head of state -- reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation."

• Time's running out for Ahmadinejad.

"But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system. Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted. Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia. Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war."

• American exceptionalism!

"So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal."

RedStateVT suspects that the Code Pink crowd is aghast at Obama's speech. But not to worry, if Obama continues in this vein he'll pick up lots of friends on the right!