“But in the darkest hours, the people of Berlin kept the flame of hope burning. The people of Berlin refused to give up. ….” – in reference to the Berlin airlift period. Why did the people of Berlin keep the flame of hope burning? They did because they believed that America would not abandon them despite the hardship and risk associated with the flights, that’s why. This from a man who was desperate to abandon Iraqis at the very moment that they were in their darkest hours. If Iraq is any indication, he would have abandoned Berlin. He has some chutzpah to even mention the benefits of fortitude in a speech.