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military service branch -- was gratitude for the service and sacrifice of troops and military families, who he said were responsible for national freedoms that sometimes are taken for granted.
He also suggested that he would relieve some of the pressure placed on the military by more evenly distributing responsibility among other U.S. government elements.
“We have for a long time put enormous pressure on our military to carry out a whole set of missions, sometimes not with the sort of strategic support and the use of all aspects of American power to make sure that they’re not carrying the full load,” he said. “And that’s something that I spoke to the chiefs about and that I intend to change as president of the United States.”
The president added that those involved in this afternoon’s meeting in “The Tank,” the secure area in the Joint Chiefs of Staff wing of the Pentagon, agreed to make sure “the health of our force is always in our sights.” Participants included Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps. The commandant of the Coast Guard, though not a member of the Joint Chiefs, also participated.
“I know [they] are constantly thinking about what we need to do to make sure that people who are in uniform for the United States are getting the kinds of support that they need and that [their families need], and that’s something that I absolutely am committed to, and I know that Vice President Biden is as well,” he said.
Some of the most urgent issues facing White House and Pentagon officials include the ways forward in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We’re going to have some difficult decisions that we’re going to have to make surrounding Iraq and Afghanistan most immediately,” Obama said. “Obviously, our efforts to continue to go after extremist organizations that would do harm to the homeland is uppermost in our minds.
“I have every confidence that our military is going to do their job, and I intend to make sure that the civilian side of the ledger does its job to support what they are doing,” he added.
Obama added that he had a “wonderful discussion” with the Joint Chiefs about short- and long-term threats facing the United States. [[WOTN: Huh?!?!]]
“We talked about some of the broader, global risks that may arise, and the kind of planning and coordination that’s going to be required between our military and our civilian forces in order to accomplish our long term national security agendas,” he said.
The president has been engaged with Defense Department and military officials since taking office Jan. 20.
During a meeting at the White House on his first full day in office, Obama directed key defense and military officials to plan for a “responsible military drawdown in Iraq.” The participants included Gates and Mullen, as well as Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command.
Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, also joined the Jan. 21 meeting via teleconference. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker, key Cabinet members and senior national security officials also participated, collectively providing what Obama called “a full update on the situation in Iraq.”
Biographies:
Robert M. Gates
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus
Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno
Related Sites:
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Related Articles:
President to Meet With Defense Secretary, Joint Chiefs at Pentagon
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President Barack Obama addresses the media Jan. 28, 2009, during his first visit to the Pentagon since becoming commander-in-chief. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with the Joint Chiefs, getting their input on the way ahead in Afghanistan and Iraq. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution |
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President Barack Obama addresses the media, Jan. 28, 2009, during his first visit to the Pentagon since becoming commander-in-chief. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and all the service chiefs, getting their input on the way ahead in Afghanistan and Iraq. Here, Obama is flanked by Gen. Norton Schwartz, U.S. Air Force chief of staff; Gen. George W. Casey, U.S. Army chief of staff; U.S. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution |
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President Barack Obama waves goodbye after greeting servicemembers during his first visit to the Pentagon, Jan. 28, 2009. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and all the service chiefs, getting their input on the way ahead in Afghanistan and Iraq. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution |
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President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden greet servicemembers during their first visit to the Pentagon, Jan. 28, 2009. Obama met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all of the service chiefs, getting their input on the way ahead in Afghanistan and Iraq. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution |
WOTN: All emphasis, bold, underline is the work of WOTN, not the original author.
Will Obama oppose his own party that is actively working against the Troops & Veterans?
Stumble It!
