Reading some of these excerpts from Tony Blair's speech at the Republican retreat for members of the House and Senate in Hershey, PA, you can't help but contrast his clarity and vision with that of President Obama.

There's no doubt the president comes in a distant second.

Roll Call:

Blair’s speech, which was closed to the public and the media, included a call for America to lead on the world stage rather than to try to be loved there, according to a person in attendance. Rep. Tom Cole said Blair focused on the importance of fighting against extremism around the world at an event said to be well attended by members and staffers alike.

“Tony Blair just gave one of the most masterful presentations on the spread of Islamic terrorism,” the Oklahoma Republican said, calling it “Churchillian.”

Another person in the room told CQ Roll Call a “handful” of questions from lawmakers followed the formal remarks about the Middle East, including about Blair’s views on President Barack Obama’s performance in world affairs and addressing threats from radicals.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Blair gave an “excellent” presentation about fighting terrorism.

“He contends that … countries throughout the world, freedom-loving countries, are going to have to work together. There is going to have to be a sustained effort, it’s going to take time. There is both a military aspect to it, you have to stand up to Islamic extremism and terrorism where it occurs,” Hoeven said. “And you also have to have the aspect where you reach out and connect with people in the Middle East on the idea of freedom and liberty and human rights.”

Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn was live-tweeting snippets of Blair’s remarks, including a comment about the humanitarian crisis caused by the myriad challenges in Syria. According to Cornyn, Blair said half of the country’s population has left as Syria has been torn by torn by fighting between rebel groups; the Islamic State terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The entire rest of the Western world has no trouble identifying the terrorism going on in most of the world as being perpetrated by Islamic extremists.  But the president continues to play his word games, calling the attacks "violent extremism."  Just whom does he think he's fooling?  Does he think the world will give him credit for his weasel words?

He makes the United States look pathetic.