[March 20, 2015] Shortly after U.S. President Obama gave the “green light” to capture or kill the terrorist Osama Bin Laden – who was subsequently killed – the president used a sports metaphor to explain the decision not to release photos of the body. President Obama said, “We don’t need to spike the football.”1
In other words, since the United States took direct action in response to Bin Laden’s funding and planning of terrorist attacks against its citizens, killing him finished the job. Thus, there was no need to publically brag about it. In this bit of advice from the U.S. president, it is implied that pointless celebration can actually work to antagonize the enemy and destroy any benefit gained.
This is good advice. In another example, U.S. President Reagan was responsible for pushing the Soviet Union into allowing Pentecostal Christians to emigrate from Russia as opposed to being forced into gulag labor camps. Reagan told the Soviet Ambassador that, “If you’ll let them emigrate, we won’t brag about it and crow about it … you let them out and we won’t crow.”2 The Christians were allowed to depart for Israel shortly thereafter.
Quietly and professionally sorting out disagreements are often best resolved through one-on-one conversations without resorting to emotional talk or thoughtless actions such as taunting your enemies or opponents. It shows a respect that is achieved through trust; once people can show that they will take specific actions as agreed upon. Once that trust is established, it begins a long process of sorting through misunderstandings and differences on issues of any level of importance.
Both U.S. presidents showed the world that they acted in a responsible and mature way; as each were role models on how to do the hard work required of senior leaders. Lesson learned … don’t spike the football otherwise you will be seen as immature and lacking in the seriousness required of a leader.
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[2] http://www.booknotes.org/Watch/44051-1/George+Shultz.aspx