USA
TODAY
Obama likely to face record re-election jobless rate
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/obama-likely-to-face-record-re-election-jobless-rate/1#.T8xo681mlUE
Obama, Romney: More in common than you think
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/obama-romney-more-in-common-than-you-think/1#.T8xpKc1mlUE
Axelrod denies attending national security meetings
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/obama-aide-says-little-about-fight-with-holder/1#.T8xqWM1mlUE
USA
TODAY stories about Barack Obama
http://content.usatoday.com/topics/more+stories/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Executive/barack+obama/1
Biden's daughter gets married
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/Bidens-daughter-gets-married-707370/1#.T8xpW81mlUE
President Obama holds
a Press Conference with Prime Minister Noda of Japan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/04/30/president-obama-holds-press-conference-prime-minister-noda-japan#transcript
Remarks by President
Obama and Prime Minister Noda of Japan
at Joint Press
Conference,East Room
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody. It is a great pleasure to welcome Prime
Minister Noda of Japan, one
of America’s closest allies
in the Asia Pacific region but also around the
world. And, of course, one of the
reasons that we enjoy such a strong alliance between our nations is because it’s
rooted in the deep friendship between our peoples. I’ve felt it in my own life, during my visits
to Japan,
including as a young boy. And we’ve seen
that friendship on display very profoundly over the past year.
Last month, we marked the first anniversary of
the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami
and nuclear crisis that followed. All
across Japan,
people stopped and stood in silence at 2:46 p.m. -- the moment that the earth
shook. Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of
the American people, I want to say to you and the people of Japan -- we
continue to stand with you as well.
We stand with Japan in honoring the lost and the
missing -- 19,000 men, women and children who will never be forgotten. We stand with you as you rebuild -- what you,
Mr. Prime Minister, have called “the rebirth of Japan.” And we stand with Japan
-- in the Asia Pacific and beyond -- because even as it has focused on the hard
work at home, Japan
has never stopped leading in the world.
It is a great tribute to the Japanese people and to leaders like Prime
Minister Noda.
I’m told that over the past year many Japanese
have found strength in what they call "kizuna" -- the bonds of
solidarity between friends and neighbors; bonds which cannot be broken. Mr. Prime Minister, the same could be said of
the bonds between the United States
and Japan. And today we welcome you in that spirit.
As President, I’ve worked to strengthen the
ties between our two nations since my first days in office. And when Prime Minister Noda and I first met
last September we agreed to modernize our alliance to meet the needs of the
21st century. Mr. Prime Minister, I want
to thank you for the personal commitment that you’ve brought to this effort. You’ve called the alliance with the United States Japan’s “greatest asset.” And in our work together we’ve seen your
trademark determination and humility.
In fact, during our discussions today, the
Prime Minister compared his leadership style to that of a point guard in
basketball -- he may not be the flashiest player, but he stays focused and gets
the job done. He’s brought that same
sense of teamwork to our partnership, and it’s helped make this visit a
milestone in the history of our alliance.
I’m proud to announce that we have agreed to a
new joint vision to guide our alliance, and help shape the Asia
Pacific for decades to come. This is
part of the broader effort I discussed in Australia
last year in which the United States
is once again leading in the Asia Pacific.
First, we recognize that the U.S.-Japan
alliance will remain the foundation of the security and prosperity of our two
nations but also a cornerstone of regional peace and security. As such, we reviewed the agreement that our
governments reached last week to realign American forces in Japan. This reflects our effort to modernize America’s defense posture in the Asia Pacific with forces that are more broadly
distributed, more flexible and more sustainable. At the same time, it will reduce the impact
on local communities, like Okinawa.
Second, our joint vision commits us to
deepening our trade and investment.
We’re already among each other’s top trading partners, and our exports
to Japan and Japanese
companies here in the U.S.
support more than 1 million American jobs.
But there’s more we can do, especially as we work to double U.S.
exports. So I appreciate the Prime
Minister updating me on his reform efforts in Japan,
including liberalizing trade and playing a leading role in Asia
Pacific’s economy. We instructed our
teams to continue our consultation regarding Japan’s interest in joining the
Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would benefit both our economies and the
region. And we agreed to deepen our
cooperation on nuclear safety, clean energy and cyber security to enhance our economic
competitiveness.
Third, our joint vision lays out the future we
seek in the Asia Pacific -- a region where international rules and norms are
upheld, where nations contribute to regional security, where commerce and
freedom of navigation is not impeded and where disputes are resolved
peacefully. As such, we continue our
close consultations on the provocative actions of North
Korea, which are a sign of weakness and not strength, and
only serve to deepen Pyongyang’s
isolation. And we discussed the changes
underway in Burma
and how our two nations can both reward progress there while encouraging more
reforms that improve the lives of the Burmese people.
Fourth, our joint vision reaffirms our role as
global partners bound by shared values and committed to international peace,
security and human rights. For example,
our nations are the largest donors in Afghanistan. As we plan for the NATO Summit
in Chicago and the next phase of the transition
in Afghanistan, Japan is
planning for a donor conference to sustain development there.
I also want to take this opportunity to
commend the Prime Minister and Japan
for showing such strong leadership with regard to Iran’s nuclear program. The regime in Tehran
is now feeling the economic screws tighten, and one of the reasons is that
countries like Japan made
the decision to reduce oil imports from Iran. This is just one more example of how, despite
challenging times at home, Japan
has continued to serve as a model and a true global leader.
Finally, our joint vision commits us to
deepening the ties between our peoples.
This includes new collaborations between our scientists, researchers and
entrepreneurs to foster innovation. And
it includes new exchanges that will bring thousands of our young people
together, including high school students, to help Japanese communities rebuild
after last year’s disasters.
So, again, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for
helping to revitalize our extraordinary alliance so that we enjoy even greater
security and prosperity for both our countries.
And I once again want to salute the people of Japan for the strength and the
resilience and the courage that they’ve shown during this past year. More than ever, the American people are proud
to call you a friend and honored to call you an ally.
And before I turn it over to the Prime
Minister, I just want to warn the American press that the Prime Minister once
considered himself a journalist, and instead he became a judo expert. He is a black belt. (Laughter.)
So if you get out of line -- (laughter) -- I’ve got some protection
here. (Laughter.)
Mr. Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER NODA: (As interpreted.) Well, following President Obama forward, I,
the point guard, Noda, will take over the microphone.
Now, this is the first visit to the United States by a Japanese Prime Minister in
the bilateral context since the change of government took place in Japan. I wish to thank President Obama for the warm
welcome and hospitality, as I know how busy he is with official duties.
I had a very good exchange of views with the
President today on bilateral relations between Japan
and the United States, the
situation in the Asia Pacific region and
various global challenges, among others.
We were able to confirm from broader perspectives the present-day
significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and where the Japan-U.S. relations
should be headed in the longer term.
The President just now spoke about his
support, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the
unsparing support given by the government and people of the United States,
starting with Operation Tomodachi conducted by U.S. forces at the time of the
Great East Japan Earthquake of last year.
Yesterday I met with the bereaved family of
Taylor Anderson, who unfortunately passed away, but who took care of children
until the very last moment following the Great East Japan
Earthquake. I also met with
representatives of the Fairfax
County Search and Rescue
Team who, immediately following the earthquake, deployed in the
disaster-affected region to help the people.
So I was able to meet myself with these true friends of Japan.
Now, I have always held the conviction that
our bilateral alliance is the lynchpin of Japan’s diplomacy. And in the conversation that I had with U.S. friends
yesterday, I felt anew that the U.S.-Japan alliance must be unshakeable,
indeed, that it is unshakeable. Because
of this belief, I am especially pleased that we’re able today to announce a
joint vision statement.
In this document, Japan
and the United States clearly
show their determination to utilize their respective capabilities and resources
to the maximum extent possible dividing up responsibilities and roles for the
peace and prosperity not only of the Asia
Pacific, but of the world.
This is our firm conviction. The United
States and Japan
are at both ends of the Asia Pacific region,
the world’s growth center. This region
also contains elements of instability such as North Korea, maritime conflicts and
military buildups -- in other words, major opportunities and challenges exist
side by side in the region.
To cope with such conditions we are
determined, as spelled out in the shared vision, to realize the new U.S. forces
realignment plan in accordance with the Security Consultative Committee, or
2-plus-2, joint statement released the other day and to step up bilateral
security and defense cooperation in a creative manner.
We also need to work with regional partners to
build a multi-layered network that is open, comprehensive and building on
international rules utilizing such frameworks as trilateral dialogues among
Japan-U.S.-ROK and Japan-U.S.-Australia, East Asia Summit and APEC. From this point of view, we shall also
cooperate with China,
which is an important partner.
It is also important that Japan and the United States cooperate to promote
necessary rules-making in the areas of non-traditional threats such as terrorism,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and piracy, as well as human
security and peace-building and development assistance -- ocean, space, and
cyber space.
In the economic area, we shall deepen
bilateral economic ties and fortify the growth and prosperity of the two
countries through their promotion of economic integration in the Asia Pacific region.
And to this end, both our countries will work on regional trade and
investment rules-making, with a view to building AFTA or the Free Trade Area of
the Asia Pacific. From this vantage point as well, we shall
advance consultations with a view to participating in the Trans-Pacific
Partnership negotiations.
The shared vision also calls for the
strengthening of energy cooperation. And
we discussed in our meeting today expanding LNG exports from the United States to Japan.
Last, but not the least, as stated in the
shared vision it is important to boost exchanges among next generation youth in
the interest of the future of the Japan-U.S. alliance. We will further step up people-to-people
exchanges among youth through such endeavors as Japan’s
Kizuna Project and U.S.
Tomodachi Initiative.
The Japan-U.S. alliance has reached new
heights. Together with President Obama,
I shall firmly advance these steps. I
thank you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So we’ve got two questions on each side. We’re going to start with Laura MacInnis of
Reuters.
Q
President Obama, could you confirm whether the blind Chinese dissident
Chen Guangcheng is under U.S.
protection in Beijing? And how do you foresee that situation being
resolved? Would the United States
grant him asylum if he asked for it?
And Prime Minister Noda, how likely do you
think it is that North Korea
will carry out a third nuclear test? How
would Japan
respond to such a test? And what would
you like the U.S.
to do to respond?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Obviously, I’m aware of the press reports on
the situation in China, but I’m not going to make a statement on the
issue. What I would like to emphasize is
that every time we meet with China,
the issue of human rights comes up. It
is our belief that not only is that the right thing to do because it comports
with our principles and our belief in freedom and human rights, but also
because we actually think China will be stronger as it opens up and liberalizes
its own system.
We want China to be strong and we want it
to be prosperous. And we’re very pleased
with all the areas of cooperation that we’ve been able to engage in. But we also believe that that relationship
will be that much stronger and China will be that much more prosperous and
strong as you see improvements on human rights issues in that country.
I know it wasn’t directed at me, but I’ll just
make a quick statement around North
Korea.
This was a topic of extensive discussion between myself and Prime
Minister Noda. Our consultation
throughout the failed missile launch was, I think, reflective of how important
our alliance is not just to our two countries, but to the region as a
whole. And what I’ve tried to do since I
came into office is to make sure that North Koreans understand that the old
pattern of provocation that then gets attention and somehow insists on the
world purchasing good behavior from them, that that pattern is broken.
And what we’ve said is, is that the more you
engage in provocative acts, the more isolated you will become, the stronger
sanctions will be in place, the more isolated you will be diplomatically,
politically and commercially. And so
although we can’t anticipate -- and I don’t want to hypothesize on what might
happen in the coming months -- I think Pyongyang is very clear that the United
States, Japan, South Korea, other countries in the region are unified in
insisting that it abide by its responsibilities, abide by international norms,
and that they will not be able to purchase anything from further provocative
acts.
PRIME MINISTER NODA: (As interpreted.) With regard to North Korea, between myself
and President Obama earlier we -- with regard to the so-called launch of
satellite -- the missile launch -- we share the view that it undermines the
efforts of the various countries concerned to achieve resolution through
dialogue.
Now, in the latest round of missile launch,
they also conducted a nuclear test, which means that there is a great
possibility they will conduct a nuclear test.
And I believe the international community as a whole, together, will
need to call for restraint on the part of DPRK, and more specifically I believe
the measures incorporated in the recent U.N. Security Council chairman’s
statement need to be complied with. And
among Japan, the U.S. and Korea,
as well as China and Russia, we need to communicate with each other
fully and also stress that China’s
role continues to be very important, and cooperate with China while also maintaining close coordination
with the United States. And we shared this view with President Obama.
And let me ask Mr. Imaichi of TBS, from Japan, to ask a
question.
Q (As
interpreted.) Imaichi, of TBS
Television, and I have a question for both President Obama and Prime Minister
Noda. How do you regard the Futenma
relocation issue in the context of this joint statement, although you did not
refer specifically to Futenma relocation?
And the interim report on U.S.
Forces Japan
realignment leaves this question open to some extent. And what do you think of the possibility that
Futenma Air Station ultimately will be relocated to a place other than Henoko
as agreed between Japan and
the United States?
PRIME MINISTER NODA: (As interpreted.) Now, it is most meaningful that in the
2-plus-2 joint statement, as well as the summit meeting today, that we were
able to confirm that our two countries will cooperate in the context of a
deepening bilateral alliance towards the realization of the optimum U.S. force
posture in the region and the reduction of burden on Okinawa, and we’ll
continue to work for an early resolution of this issue by taking into account
the development of the (inaudible) date.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: The realignment approach that's being taken
is consistent with the security interests of both Japan
and the United States. We think we’ve found an effective mechanism
to move this process forward in a way that is respectful of the situation in
Okinawa, the views of residents there, but also is able to optimize the defense
cooperation between our two countries and the alliance that's the lynchpin not
just of our own security but also security in the region as a whole.
So we’re confident that we can move forward
with an approach that realigns our base posture or our deployments, but also is
continuing to serve the broad-based interests of our alliance as a whole.
And I want to thank publicly Prime Minister
Noda for having taken such a constructive approach to an issue that has been
lingering in our bilateral relationship for quite some time.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Christi Parsons.
Q
Thank you, Mr. President. We’re
coming up on the one-year anniversary of the killing of bin Laden. I wonder if you would share some thoughts on
that anniversary. And I also wanted to
mention that your likely opponent says, “Anybody would have made that call,
even Jimmy Carter.” So I’m curious to
see what you would say about that.
And, Mr. Prime Minister, if I may, on the same
topic, you mentioned the international fight against terrorism in your opening
remarks, and I wonder if you could reflect on President Obama’s record here and
if you think from an international perspective the U.S. is playing it right in
marking this anniversary? Or if you
think it -- you might advise against excessive celebration?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, let me make a couple of points. First of all, Christi, I hardly think that
you’ve seen any excessive celebration taking place here. I think that people -- the American people
rightly remember what we as a country accomplished in bringing to justice
somebody who killed over 3,000 of our citizens.
And it’s a mark of the excellence of our intelligence teams and our
military teams; a political process that worked. And I think for us to use that time for some
reflection to give thanks to those who participated is entirely appropriate,
and that's what’s been taking place.
As far as my personal role and what other
folks would do, I’d just recommend that everybody take a look at people’s
previous statements in terms of whether they thought it was appropriate to go
into Pakistan
and take out bin Laden. I assume that
people meant what they said when they said it.
That's been at least my practice.
I said that I’d go after bin Laden if we had a clear shot at him, and I
did.
If there are others who have said one thing
and now suggest they’d do something else, then I’d go ahead and let them
explain it.
PRIME MINISTER NODA: (As interpreted.) President Obama has been standing at the very
forefront in the fight against terrorism, and I hold him in very high regard
for that.
Now, although bin Laden has been killed,
terrorism has not been rooted out, and I think continued efforts will be needed
in cooperation with the United
States.
We also would like to continue all our efforts against terrorism. I think the forms of terrorism are being very
diverse -- amongst them, cyber terrorism, for example. This (inaudible) between Japan and the United States not just in the cyber
-- in the space and ocean, but we also decided to cooperate in cyber security
as well. So inclusive of all these, Japan and the United States shall work together
to root out terrorism of all sorts.
Let me call on Takatsuka-san of Mainichi
Shimbun.
Q I’m
Takatsuka with Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, and I would like to ask a question
for Prime Minister Noda and President Obama.
There’s no direct reference to China in this
joint statement. What sort of exchange
of views did you have on China
in the context of working for stability in the Asia
Pacific connected with their advances in the oceans and also their military
buildup? I wonder what sort of
interlocution you had on the subject.
PRIME MINISTER NODA: (As interpreted.) Let me answer first. As you correctly pointed out, the shared
vision does not refer to any specific country, but we recognize China as a
major partner in the region. And in our
exchange of views, both of us, in fact, confirmed that viewpoint. China’s
development is an opportunity for the international community and for Japan and for the Asia
Pacific.
Now, I explained in the meeting to President
Obama that when I visited China last December, I broached to the Chinese
leaders my six-point initiative, including confidence-building and cooperation
in the East China Sea in order to further advance our mutually beneficial
relationship based on common strategic interests, and that I’ll work steadily
to implement this.
I also told to the President that I wish to
realize his strategic dialogue among Japan,
U.S. and China. Now, EAS last year, we -- where the view that
was a success -- and of course ASEAN countries also participated in discussions
that we need to seek a rules-based response for behavior from the Chinese. And we had these exchange of views.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I think that I’ve said in the past and firmly
believe that we welcome a peacefully-rising China. And we have developed a very important
strategic and economic dialogue with China. We think what they’ve accomplished in terms
of lifting millions of people out of poverty is good for its own sake and it’s
also potentially good for the world and for the region.
As Prime Minister Noda and I noted, we do
believe that as China continues to grow, as its influence continues to expand,
that it has to be a strong partner in abiding by international rules and norms
-- whether those are economic norms like respecting intellectual property;
whether these are norms of dispute resolution.
So in maritime disputes, ensuring that small
countries and large countries are both respected in international fora in
resolving these issues; that across the board, we want China to be a partner
with us in a set of international rules and norms that everybody follows. And I think as China makes that transition from a
developing country into a major power, that it will see that over the long term
it is in its interest as well to abide by these rules and norms.
And so all of our actions are not designed to
in any way contain China, but they are designed to ensure that they are part of
a broader international community in which rules, norms are respected, in which
all countries can prosper and succeed.
Thank you very much, everybody.
President Obama on
Ending the War in Afghanistan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/05/01/president-obama-ending-war-afghanistan
Remarks by President
Obama in Address to the Nation from Afghanistan
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan,1st
May,2012.
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening from Bagram Air
Base. This outpost is more than 7,000 miles from home, but for over a decade
it's been close to our hearts. Because here, in Afghanistan, more than half a
million of our sons and daughters have sacrificed to protect our country.
Today, I signed a
historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new
kind of relationship between our countries -- a future in which Afghans are
responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership
between two sovereign states; a future in which war ends, and a new chapter
begins.
Tonight, I'd like to speak to you about this
transition. But first, let us remember why we came here. It was here, in Afghanistan,
where Osama bin Laden established a safe haven for his terrorist organization.
It was here, in Afghanistan,
where al Qaeda brought new recruits, trained them, and plotted acts of terror.
It was here, from within these borders, that al Qaeda launched the attacks that
killed nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children.
And so, 10 years ago,
the United States
and our allies went to war to make sure that al Qaeda could never again use
this country to launch attacks against us. Despite initial success, for a
number of reasons, this war has taken longer than most anticipated. In 2002,
bin Laden and his lieutenants escaped across the border and established safe
haven in Pakistan.
America spent nearly eight
years fighting a different war in Iraq. And al Qaeda’s extremist
allies within the Taliban have waged a brutal insurgency.
But over the last
three years, the tide has turned. We broke the Taliban’s momentum. We’ve built
strong Afghan security forces. We devastated al Qaeda’s leadership, taking out
over 20 of their top 30 leaders. And one year ago, from a base here in Afghanistan,
our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I
set -- to defeat al Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild -- is now within our
reach.
Still, there will be
difficult days ahead. The enormous sacrifices of our men and women are not
over. But tonight, I’d like to tell you how we will complete our mission and
end the war in Afghanistan.
First, we've begun a
transition to Afghan responsibility for security. Already, nearly half of the
Afghan people live in places where Afghan security forces are moving into the
lead. This month, at a NATO Summit in Chicago, our coalition
will set a goal for Afghan forces to be in the lead for combat operations
across the country next year. International troops will continue to train,
advise and assist the Afghans, and fight alongside them when needed. But we
will shift into a support role as Afghans step forward.
As we do, our troops will be coming home. Last
year, we removed 10,000 U.S.
troops from Afghanistan.
Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. After that, reductions will
continue at a steady pace, with more and more of our troops coming home. And as
our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible
for the security of their country.
Second, we are
training Afghan security forces to get the job done. Those forces have surged,
and will peak at 352,000 this year. The Afghans will sustain that level for
three years, and then reduce the size of their military. And in Chicago, we will endorse
a proposal to support a strong and sustainable long-term Afghan force.
Third, we’re building
an enduring partnership. The agreement we signed today sends a clear message to
the Afghan people: As you stand up, you will not stand alone. It establishes
the basis for our cooperation over the next decade, including shared
commitments to combat terrorism and strengthen democratic institutions. It
supports Afghan efforts to advance development and dignity for their people.
And it includes Afghan commitments to transparency and accountability, and to
protect the human rights of all Afghans -- men and women, boys and girls.
Within this
framework, we’ll work with the Afghans to determine what support they need to
accomplish two narrow security missions beyond 2014 -- counter-terrorism and
continued training. But we will not build permanent bases in this country, nor
will we be patrolling its cities and mountains. That will be the job of the
Afghan people.
Fourth, we’re pursuing a negotiated peace. In
coordination with the Afghan government, my administration has been in direct
discussions with the Taliban. We’ve made it clear that they can be a part of
this future if they break with al Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by Afghan
laws. Many members of the Taliban -- from foot soldiers to leaders -- have
indicated an interest in reconciliation. The path to peace is now set before
them. Those who refuse to walk it will face strong Afghan security forces, backed
by the United States
and our allies.
Fifth, we are
building a global consensus to support peace and stability in South
Asia. In Chicago, the international
community will express support for this plan and for Afghanistan’s future. And I have
made it clear to its neighbor -- Pakistan
-- that it can and should be an equal partner in this process in a way that
respects Pakistan’s
sovereignty, interests and democratic institutions. In pursuit of a durable
peace, America
has no designs beyond an end to al Qaeda safe havens and respect for Afghan
sovereignty.
As we move forward, some people will ask why
we need a firm timeline. The answer is clear: Our goal is not to build a
country in America’s
image, or to eradicate every vestige of the Taliban. These objectives would
require many more years, many more dollars, and most importantly, many more
American lives. Our goal is to destroy al Qaeda, and we are on a path to do
exactly that. Afghans want to assert their sovereignty and build a lasting
peace. That requires a clear timeline to wind down the war.
Others will ask, why
don’t we leave immediately? That answer is also clear: We must give Afghanistan the
opportunity to stabilize. Otherwise, our gains could be lost and al Qaeda could
establish itself once more. And as Commander-in-Chief, I refuse to let that
happen.
I recognize that many Americans are tired of
war. As President, nothing is more wrenching than signing a letter to a family
of the fallen, or looking into the eyes of a child who will grow up without a
mother or father. I will not keep Americans in harm’s way a single day longer
than is absolutely required for our national security. But we must finish the
job we started in Afghanistan
and end this war responsibly.
My fellow Americans,
we’ve travelled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. Yet
here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light
of a new day on the horizon. The Iraq war is over. The number of our
troops in harm’s way has been cut in half, and more will soon be coming home.
We have a clear path to fulfill our mission in Afghanistan, while delivering
justice to al Qaeda.
This future is only
within reach because of our men and women in uniform. Time and again, they have
answered the call to serve in distant and dangerous places. In an age when so
many institutions have come up short, these Americans stood tall. They met
their responsibilities to one another, and to the flag they serve under. I just
met with some of them and told them that as Commander-in-Chief, I could not be
prouder. And in their faces, we see what is best in ourselves and our country.
Our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen,
Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians in Afghanistan have done their duty.
Now we must summon that same sense of common purpose. We must give our veterans
and military families the support they deserve, and the opportunities they have
earned. And we must redouble our efforts to build a nation worthy of their
sacrifice.
As we emerge from a
decade of conflict abroad and economic crisis at home, it’s time to renew
America -- an America where our children live free from fear and have the
skills to claim their dreams. A united America
of grit and resilience, where sunlight glistens off soaring new towers in
downtown Manhattan,
and we build our future as one people, as one nation.
Here in Afghanistan,
Americans answered the call to defend their fellow citizens and uphold human
dignity. Today, we recall the fallen and those who suffered wounds, both seen
and unseen. But through dark days, we have drawn strength from their example
and the ideals that have guided our nation and led the world -- a belief that
all people are treated equal and deserve the freedom to determine their
destiny. That is the light that guides us still.
This time of war
began in Afghanistan
and this is where it will end. With faith in each other and our eyes fixed on
the future, let us finish the work at hand and forge a just and lasting peace.
May God bless our troops, and may God bless
the United States of America.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/05/01/president-obama-pays-surprise-visit-us-troops-afghanistan
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/purdum/2012/05/obama-kabul-speech-afghanistan-war-colin-powell