Obama Naval Academy Commencement Speech: President Speaks To Military Graduates

[BlueJessamine]

Source: The Huffington Post

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — President Barack Obama promised graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday that, as their commander in chief, he will only send them "into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary."

In his first address to military graduates, Obama also pledged to invest in the men and women who defend America's liberty, not just in the weapons they take with them into battle.

"I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done," the president told more than 1,000 graduates during a sun-splashed ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Obama said he has halted reductions in the Navy, is building up the Marine Corps and investing in the hardware _ combat ships, submarines and fighter aircraft _ they'll need to do their jobs. He also promised higher pay, enhanced child care and improved support and other benefits.

"In short, we will maintain America's military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen," Obama said, as more than 30,000 watched from the stands.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/22/obama-naval-academy-addre_n_206644.html

[mike_c]

1. he's lying....

There is no necessity to occupy Iraq or Afghanistan, so he's already lying.

[stray cat]

2. or at least he has a different opinion than you. I assume you have different briefers

[chascarrillo]

7. Apparently. My briefers say that Iraq does not have WMDs.

[Rage for Order]

9. LOL...exactly!

I'm guessing the person to whom you replied now understands why Bush did what he did vis a vis his foreign policy, and now agrees with the wars. Bush had top secret briefings explaining why the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan were necessary. We didn't have access to the same information or we would have agreed with Bush as well. :eyes:

[No Elephants]

10. Speak for yourself.

[Odin2005]

13. No reason to be in Afghanistan?

I think psychologists call that Denial.

[mike_c]

15. that's correct-- there is no reason, other than imperialism, to be in Afghanistan....

When was Afghanistan ever a threat to the U.S.? And before you do the knee-jerk invocation of 9/11-- a Bush talking point if ever there was one-- tell us how many Afghans participated in that attack? How many planned it? How many had anything at all to do with it?

9/11 was a convenient excuse to start a war when an American president wanted to be a "war president" and Afghanistan was a conveniently scapegoated victim. The pre-war Afghan government even offered to hand OBL over to a third party for investigation and possible trial-- the U.S. bombed instead. Fox News kool-aid notwithstanding, here was NEVER any justification to attack Afghanistan. Period.

[Cha]

14. The fuck you say..I'm calling you out for

calling our President a "liar" 'cause you don't know what the fuck you're talkin' about.

[mike_c]

16. you'll be wanting some of this....

[Cha]

17. Fuck your

koolaid obsession.

[mike_c]

18. can you have a discussion without obscenity...?

Shit piss fuck-- I can do that too. Now, on a more substantive note, if you don't believe Obama is lying about his wars, that's your right, and I certainly respect it. I simply disagree. Respectfully.

[PearliePoo2]

3. Really Mr. President?

"I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary".............
well, troops are being sent into harm's way right now..today. Is it absolutely necessary?
I work with a kid who did 2 tours in Iraq and he's in the RESERVES. They want him back for another but he is pursuing every angle possible to avoid it.
He is a mess.
He can't sleep, he sweats constantly, he is fidgety, nervous and jumps out of his skin at the slightest noise.
He has taken to hiding guns all over his house so there is always one within reach. His new wife objects to handguns under their pillows.
He is tall, blond, blue-eyed and handsome. He broke down and cried when he told me his mother doesn't recognize him anymore as her son.
Mr. President....is destroying this young man's life absolutely necessary? (and the thousands more just like him?)
:cry:

[Old Coot]

4. Obama vows not to send people to war without cause

Source: Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – President Barack Obama promised graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday that, as their commander in chief, he will only send them "into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary." In his first address to military graduates, Obama also pledged to invest in the men and women who defend America's liberty, not just in the weapons they would take with them into battle against 21st century threats.

"I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done," the president told more than 1,000 graduates during a sun-splashed ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Obama said he has halted reductions in the Navy, is building up the Marine Corps and investing in the hardware — combat ships, submarines and fighter aircraft — they'll need to do their jobs. He promised higher pay, enhanced child care and improved support and other benefits.

"In short, we will maintain America's military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen," Obama said, as more than 30,000 watched from the stands.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090522/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_naval_academy;_ylt=AiHP1k5jHCkk8WUYtc8lhkGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJub2hjOWxwBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNTIyL3VzX29iYW1hX25hdmFsX2FjYWRlbXkEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2Z1bGxuYnNwc3Rvcg--

[maxsolomon]

5. if he won't send them without cause, why do we need so many of them?

let's stop bankrupting ourselves maintaining "America's military dominance". cut the pentagon in half. or by 2/3.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Without GOOD cause? n/t

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. meanwhile 80+ billion for massive troop buildup in Afghanistan

but no money for health care.

[No Elephants]

11. Did any President ever say he would put troops in harm's way for no good reason? If so,

THAT would be news. This isn't.

[The Croquist]

12. Obama and "Jack" McCain, a fourth-generation academy graduate, shared a handshake

Obama and "Jack" McCain, a fourth-generation academy graduate, shared a handshake, an embrace and a few words when the young man was called up to receive his diploma, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Class move by Obama.