Underwhelming

Anyone catch 44 on the telly Sunday eve?

During his tenure, 44 occasionally has been inspiring, sometimes perplexing and, more often, infuriating. His recent appearances provoke another reaction. He looks and sounds pathetic, a shrunken figure detached from reality.

Always half-hearted about the war on terror, 44’s stubborn refusal to call the atrocity in Paris “Islamic terrorism” has put him out of step with events. In listless, vapid remarks, he called the death of 130 innocent victims a “setback,” and salted the wound by insisting that climate change is a greater threat.

And now, with the slaughter in San Bernardino showing Islamic State tentacles reaching America, the president’s continuing unwillingness to admit the truth puts him even further outside the mainstream of American society and law enforcement.

By closing his mind to facts, 44 is making himself a denier.

America is at war and the Commander in Chief isn’t even trying to lead from behind anymore. He’s gone AWOL at the worst possible time.

His consistent failure to acknowledge the roots of Mohammedism in the jihadist death cult always was ­peculiar. He insisted that the religion not be defined by those who hijacked it, but with the barbarism of the Islamic State and the growing number of lethal attacks, his intransigence is downright weird. What’s the harm of admitting a truth the whole world sees?

44’s attempts to obscure the connection to Islam in Wednesday’s massacre is leaving a leadership vacuum and fanning America’s fears.

We are witnessing a mistake of historic proportions. The idea that the link between Mohammedism and terrorism cannot be admitted is absurd, and it is backfiring. The refusal to concede the obvious is leading to greater suspicion about Mohammedism. Denial is tainting all Mohammedists in ways the facts never could.

Americans, including Mohammedists, deserve the truth, Mr. President. They can handle it.

Why can’t you?