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Obama To Navy Grads: No Choice Between Security and Ideals
May 22, 2009 11:56 AM
ABC News' Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report:
President Obama delivered his third commencement address of the graduation season at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
“This class is about to become the latest link in a long, unbroken chain of heroism and victory,” the president told the graduating class of 1036. “Of all the privileges of serving as president, I have no greater honor than serving as your commander in chief."
Speaking at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the president said that at a time when too few citizens answer the call to service -- especially during a war -- these men and women should be honored, in addition to those who have done so in the past.
“As we near Memorial Day, we pay tribute to all those who have given their lives so that we might live free, including those aboard that navy helicopter who were lost this week in the waters off California. We send our prayers to their families and all who loved them.”
Describing a culture that is leaning more toward chasing “outward markers of success” like “titles and status materialism and money, fame and popularity” Mr. Obama said the graduates have shown that they have embraced the virtues that the United States needs right now -- “Self-discipline over self-interest. Work over comfort. Character over celebrity.”
“After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed and recklessness, it is no wonder that our military remains the most trusted institution in the nation,” Mr. Obama said, “And in a world when so many forces and voices seek to divide us, it is inspiring that this class came together and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world.”
Largely avoiding politics, the president made only a brief mention of his speech yesterday at the National Archives in which he responded to the recent debate over the administration's policy on Guantanamo Bay, detainees, and larger national security issues.
“I went there because as our nation debates how to deal with the security challenges that we face, we must remember this enduring truth: the values and ideals in those documents are not simply words written into aging parchment, they are the bedrock of our liberty and our security. We uphold our fundamental principles and values not just because we choose to, but because we swear to. Not because they feel good, but because they help keep us safe.”
The president said that the midshipmen’s pledge today as they become officers is the pledge to protect both the nation’s security and ideals. He, in turn, promised the graduates that he would not send them into war without the proper resources.
“And, today, this is the promise I make to you. It’s a promise that as long as I am your commander in chief, 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 you need to get the job done.”
Amid scattered applause, the president said that this included the promise to bring the Iraq war to a responsible end and defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We will also ensure you can meet the missions of today, which is why we’ve halted reductions in Navy personnel and increased the size of the Marine Corps. And we will ensure you can meet the missions of tomorrow, which is why we’re investing in the capabilities and technologies -- the littoral combat ships, the most advanced submarines and fighter aircraft -- so that you have what you need to succeed.”
The president recalled the Bravery of the U.S. Navy off the seas of Somalia last month with the pirate situation and the USS Bainbridge. The president said that after Captain Phillip was freed, he spoke to a number of the Navy SEALS who were there, as well as the skipper of the USS Bainbridge.
“The extraordinary precision and professionalism displayed that day was made possible, in no small measure, by the training, the discipline and the leadership skills that so many of those officers learned at the United States Naval Academy,” Mr. Obama said. “The success of that day belongs not only to a single commander or a small team of SEALs. It belongs to the many. It belongs to all the sailors -- officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several -- who diligently stood their watch.”
The president -– not famous for his gift-giving ability -– may have brought a gift that at least pleased the midshipmen.
“All midshipmen on restriction for minor conduct offenses are hereby officially absolved,” the president joked amid cheers. “I did say minor.”
Former campaign rival, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was in the crowd with his family to watch the graduation of John “Jack” Sidney McCain IV, a forth generation graduate of the academy in the McCain family. The president made no mention of his former campaign foe or his son at the McCain family's request.
-- Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller
May 22, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (68)
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Lydia, I must ask--- when you say, "Wonderful speech. I like hearing a President pledge to not send troops into war unprepared or under-supplied, and only to send them if there is no other alternative," have you ever heard a president pledge to send troops out unprepared? Have you ever heard a president suggest he intended to put people in harm's way for no good reason? Of course not.
They all plan to use American force judiciously, but different people face different circumstances and make different difficult decisions on when, where, and how to use military force. I have no problem with President Obama's words, but they are no different from the words of past presidents, nor do I believe his actions will be dramatically different in this regard, either.
Obama's willingness to increase troop strength in Afghanistan shows that he will use force when necessary, which is a good thing. Waiting to see if he'll commit troops to Darfur (not that I'm advocating it, but given his previous statements, it seems a logical place for him to use military force).
Posted by: moderate | May 24, 2009 2:05:18 PM
Wonderful speech. I like hearing a President pledge to not send troops into war unprepared or under-supplied, and only to send them if there is no other alternative. We should expect no less for those who risk their lives for us, whether they be in the armed services or our police and firemen.
Posted by: Lydia | May 23, 2009 11:51:26 PM
His pandering has no limit or degree of shame.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 23, 2009 3:33:08 PM
More lies!!!When will the rest of the
nation take the blinders off their
eyes. They follow him like the Pied
Piper. Stop listening to the music
and stand up for your rights and freedoms that are being destroyed.
Posted by: Linda | May 23, 2009 12:07:05 PM
I think if waterboarding is out on the table and is so important then the country should no the where abouts and the goings on of our special forces.I mean if were not allowed to know what they do then why is this so important?I'm pretty sure what they do is sometimes not legal.
Posted by: jason Bourne | May 23, 2009 1:30:10 AM
He didnt say anything about john and his family at their request. Im suprised at some of your comments on not being in the service, didnt bother you that our last 2 clowns didnt serve either, least we forget.
Posted by: ED | May 22, 2009 11:57:22 PM
NO ! (he just wants us to believe it).
YES ! (he believes we will belive it).
Got caught up in the moment and hit the enter key to soon earlier.
Posted by: d | May 22, 2009 10:41:35 PM
Obama - NO
Jack - YES
Posted by: d | May 22, 2009 8:47:17 PM
Garbage ?
Posted by: d | May 22, 2009 8:27:44 PM
Does any one of you believe that he firmly believes what he just said?
Posted by: Jack | May 22, 2009 8:22:21 PM
obama never served, and was proud of it.
Now he is endorsing a belief that military vets., are our largest source of potential trouble makers. His only use for the military will be to enforce his domestic leftist dreams.
This was just a photo op., he his never ending re election campaign.
Posted by: LL | May 22, 2009 7:13:16 PM
I wonder why Obama did not acknowledge the McCain family's four generations of service in the Navy? It would have been the gracious and kind thing to do.
Posted by: BabyRuth | May 22, 2009 5:50:07 PM
Amazing - the midshipmen were not permitted to wear their ceremonial swords for graduation! What a slap in the face! That says more clearly than anything else that he has no trust in our troops. An incredible insult to the Navy and it's traditions.
Posted by: Lou | May 22, 2009 5:39:12 PM
This man is a liar. I don't listen to anything he says anymore.
Posted by: bubbles | May 22, 2009 5:03:59 PM
What is this thing with newly elected presidents and the U.S. Navy? I see many parallels between Obama and Clinton. Both came from poor backgrounds. Both achieved high academic educations. Both chose to become democrats. Both came from questionable political "nests". Both would rather give a "talk" than get dirt under their finger nails. In a sense, I must admit, they're smarter than I.
Posted by: LongT | May 22, 2009 5:01:40 PM
DaveM- The Franklin quote is not a kind of sentimentality, it's more along the lines of a natural law.That the 'protector' who must take the law into his (or their) own hands quickly becomes the tyrant follows as night to day. To surrender one's ideals is not to give up a 'piece' of your humanity, but the whole of humanity.
Posted by: MarkLeavenworth | May 22, 2009 4:30:26 PM
Torture is a Criminal choice. Sending men and women to a war based on lies, many to their deaths is A CHOICE/ A choice to lie and create war without justification or Our Security. Good example that these find young men and women will now have. A "principled" commander in chief.
Posted by: tychisum | May 22, 2009 4:12:32 PM
Every time I hear President Barack Obama speak I become more proud to be an American secure in the knowledge that I did the right thing in November 2008, when I voted for him to be President of the United States. And, I'm reminded of the garbage called our government that was in power for 8 years before President Obama was elected.
Posted by: Caliguy55 | May 22, 2009 4:07:36 PM
But I will note that even Benjamin Franklin's quote acknowledges there are choices to be made. He certainly didn't indicate it was a false choice.
Posted by: MayBee | May 22, 2009 3:55:01 PM
"do you think Benjamin Franklin would have gotten queasy over belly slaps and sleep deprivation?
Didn't he come from the days of tarring and feathering and putting people in stocks in the town square?"
The indefinite detention and waterboarding may not have been looked on as kindly given how the colonist viewed impressment.
Posted by: Ryan C | May 22, 2009 3:53:03 PM
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