Obama: War Only If "Absolutely Necessary"

(CBS/ AP)  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, Mr. 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.

Mr. 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.

"In short, we will maintain America's military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen."

He said the United States must overcome "the full spectrum of threats" in the world, ranging from the "conventional and the unconventional" and as diverse as 18th century piracy and 21st century cyberwarfare.

Mr. Obama also promised to increase support for military families.

"As you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know too that we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war," he said.

The president thanked the graduates for their service and praised them for embracing character over celebrity and country over self.

"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," he 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."

It was Mr. Obama's first address to military graduates, who include the son of presidential rival Sen. John McCain. The Arizona Republican was a part of the audience. Had he defeated Obama, McCain, a former naval academy graduate himself, could have been the speaker.

This was the third such speech by Mr. Obama in the past nine days. He used the previous two commencement addresses to tackle issues that threatened to overshadow both events.

At the University of Notre Dame last Sunday, abortion opponents protested the president's appearance because he supports abortion rights. He didn't avoid the debate, however, telling graduates of the country's leading Roman Catholic university that people on both sides of the abortion issue must stop demonizing one another.

The issue at Arizona State University, where the president spoke on May 13, was the school's decision not to award him an honorary degree on grounds that he hadn't accomplished enough. Mr. Obama said he agreed, saying no one's body of work is ever complete.

Presidents typically deliver a commencement address at one of the service academies each year.

Mr. Obama delivered a different kind of speech on Thursday, one in which he sought to regain control of the emotional debate over closing the detention center for suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He denounced "fear-mongering" by political opponents and insisted that maximum-security prisons on the U.S. mainland can safely house the dangerous detainees he wants transferred out of Guantanamo.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a speech the same day denouncing some of Obama's actions since taking office as "unwise in the extreme" and repeating his contention that the new president is endangering the country by turning aside Bush-era policies.

Mr. Obama and his family were to spend the holiday weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains, traveling there on Saturday and returning Monday.

[joeydog999]

No matter how you look at it, ,Obama is STILL an idiot. The 3 stooges lives..
OBAMA. The vice president and Nancy Peolsi..

[auto1234abc]

...
Bush/Cheney had no choice but to take steps to protect Americans.
...


Posted by WeeWillowWinkle at 7:37 AM : May 23, 2009

More and more as the details of the Bush administration become public, I find that the appraisals of the Bush Administration acting in PANIC mode post-9/11 to be more and more credible. Falsehood after falsehood being revealed as more and more documents are released about the real timeframe of the events that occurred (TORTURE BEFORE THE (BLATANTLY FLAWED) LEGAL JUSTIFICATION, TORTURE TO EXTRACT FALSE CONFESSIONS TO CONFIRM BUSH ADMINISTRATION LIES, ETC). Instead of the fabrications and obstruction of hiding lawless behavior behind false claims of national security of the Bush years

[auto1234abc]

Oh sure, Obama, and YOU are the only authority on the planet that gets to decide whether war is necessary or NOT....

Posted by WeeWillowWinkle at 7:19 AM : May 23, 2009

ACTUALLY THE US CONSTITUTION DISAGREES IT APPEARS THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS HAVE SPECIFIC ROLES IN THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

Congress and the President choose who is an appropriate and qualified advisor in the process -- elections do have consequences.


US CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1

Section 8 - Powers of Congress

...

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;



US CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 2

Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

[iam4honesty]

(Let's see if he runs with that)

LOL

[iam4honesty]

Didnt the Democrats Vote for toppling Sadam as Well. Why do the libs on this board keep pointing fingers at Bush and Cheney. Why not Obama, Hillary, Gore, and most of the Democrats, hell even Polosi supported waterboarding. Democrats are liers and decievers and use the Media against America to spread there lies.
Posted by enriquieGonzales


You republicans should get at least a little education before presenting your thoughts to the world. Enrique, it's 'liars' not 'liers', and 'they're lies', not 'there lies'.

[woodjd42]

WHat the media fails to tell us about Cheney is what his intentions were. He was trying to protect us from another 911. Unlike Obama who was pals with Terrorist and supports Hamas activities. IE - Look up Rev Wright and HAMAS LA TIMES.
Posted by enriquieGonzales

You are an idiot.
The intentions of bush/chaney had nothing to do with protecting this country.

[Trust_me_]

Why did Germany lose ww2? to many fronts.
Posted by mike18881

Actually,
Germany lost because of dissimilarity in the way Hitler commanded his troops as opposed to Truman. Hitler wanted to micro manage his troops and gave no one control to make decisions on troop movements but Hitler himself, where as Truman gave all of the decisions to his generals to handle in the field.
This in the end lead to Hitlers loss on the beaches of Normandy, because Hitler was asleep during this event and could not be awakened. The defenses could not be properly put in place until it was too late and therefore Hitler suffered defeat at his own doing!

This mistake is being repeated at this very time in history and no one seems to even see it coming.
Micro manage an end to a great nation and you will be remembered forever!

OBAMA the GREAT!

[Trust_me_]

I think thta Obama plan for war sounds a lot better then his predessor. The GWB adminstration apparently had no quams about throwing away the lives of many people in the armed forces in a vain attempt to remake the middle east, I can understand the GWB did not like Saddam. I think very few people in the world approved of what Saddam did. Starting a major war to get even with someone you are justibly ad at just soes not cut it as a good policy.
Posted by imnho

Just as good a plan as his gitmo plan, aah what was that again?

[imnho]

"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,"

. GWB started an unecessary underfunded war without an adequate force and no post war planning. It created a nightmare. Members of the armed forces should not have to go to trash dumps looking for armour to protect themselves.

I think thta Obama plan for war sounds a lot better then his predessor. The GWB adminstration apparently had no quams about throwing away the lives of many people in the armed forces in a vain attempt to remake the middle east, I can understand the GWB did not like Saddam. I think very few people in the world approved of what Saddam did. Starting a major war to get even with someone you are justibly ad at just soes not cut it as a good policy.

[estai777]

WHat the media fails to tell us about Cheney is what his intentions were. He was trying to protect us from another 911. Unlike Obama who was pals with Terrorist and supports Hamas activities. IE - Look up Rev Wright and HAMAS LA TIMES.
Posted by enriquieGonzales at 6:01 PM : May 22, 2009
We would have never had a 9/11 if Cheney and Bush were NOT in office at the time. They let it happen!