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Weekly Address
August 28, 2010
On Tuesday, after more than seven years, the United States of America will end its combat mission in Iraq and take an important step forward in responsibly ending the Iraq war. As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war. As President, that is what I am doing. We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office. We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases. In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security. In the months ahead, our troops will continue to support and train Iraqi forces, partner with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protect our civilian and military efforts. But the bottom line is this: the war is ending. Like any sovereign, independent nation, Iraq is free to chart its own course. And by the end of next year, all of our troops will be home. As we mark the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq, a grateful nation must pay tribute to all who have served there. Because part of responsibly ending this war is meeting our responsibility to those who have fought it. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now make up America’s longest continuous combat engagement. For the better part of a decade, our troops and their families have served tour after tour with honor and heroism, risking and often giving their lives for the defense of our freedom and security. More than one million Americans in uniform have served in Iraq – far more than any conflict since Vietnam. And more than one million who have served in both wars have now finished their service and joined the proud ranks of America’s veterans. What this new generation of veterans must know is this: our nation’s commitment to all who wear its uniform is a sacred trust that is as old as our republic itself. It is one that, as President, I consider a moral obligation to uphold. At the same time, these are new wars; with new missions, new methods, and new perils. And what today’s veterans have earned – what they have every right to expect – is new care, new opportunity, and a new commitment to their service when they come home. That’s why, from the earliest days of my Administration, we’ve been strengthening that sacred trust with our veterans by making our veterans policy more responsive and ready for this new century.
[What I'm not telling you: My teleprompter editors have written several intentionally misleading statements into this week's blather session--the first being: 'On Tuesday......the United States of America will end it's combat mission in Iraq....' That's just so much bovine feces!! The remaining troops will be in far greater danger than they were on Monday, last!! The threat level remains the same; the combat troop level is greatly reduced--A greater danger to a reduced force!! The next ambiguous statement: 'We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office,'..... See, the average reader or listener, will take that statement to mean these troops were returned to military facilities in the United States. While they were, the bulk of the members were replaced by other soldiers and Marines!! One of the worst statements an experienced military leader can make is to establish a conflict's 'end date.' This just notifies the enemy that they have just to wait until that date and they'll have free reign over the entire country's military, economic, political, et al, segments!! How's my 142 days of federal legislative experience and ZERO days of military leadership experience workin' for ya, now?!?! There are many 'sacred trusts' that I've cast asunder, so I wouldn't "bet the farm" on me keeping any other trusts sacred!!]
We’re building a 21st century VA, modernizing and expanding VA hospitals and health care, and adapting care to better meet the unique needs of female veterans. We’re creating a single electronic health record that our troops and veterans can keep for life. We’re breaking the claims backlog and reforming the process with new paperless systems. And we are building new wounded warrior facilities through the Department of Defense But for many of our troops and their families, the war doesn’t end when they come home. Too many suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – the signature injuries of today’s wars – and too few receive proper screening or care. We’re changing that. We’re directing significant resources to treatment, hiring more mental health professionals, and making major investments in awareness, outreach, and suicide prevention. And we’re making it easier for a vet with PTSD to get the benefits he or she needs. To make sure our troops, veterans, and their families have full access to the American Dream they’ve fought to defend, we’re working to extend them new opportunity. Michelle and Jill Biden have forged a national commitment to support military families while a loved one is away. We’ve guaranteed new support to caregivers who put their lives on hold for a loved one’s long recovery. We’re funding and implementing the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is already helping some 300,000 veterans and their family members pursue their dream of a college education.
[What I'm not telling you: GAWD.......er.......ALLAH....!! Don'cha just gotta laugh?!?! 'full access to the American Dream they've faught to defend.....??' Where the Hell IS that 'American Dream??' I'll tell ya...... by the Handler Group's design, it's all but gone!! They've had me going--willy-nilly--through the economy, through the banking and auto industries; either outright destroying their capacity to produce or strangling economic and banking sectors by inane, mostly unnecessary, additional regulations. Remember back in March of Oh-Nine, when I tried to eliminate veterans' health and life insurance, plus employment benefits?? Man-0-Man, did that ever cause a fire-storm!! The Group had to back away from that one!! On the one hand, we tried to force the veterans into private health and life insurance; on the other hand, we're decimating the private health insurance industry with the provisions of 0bamaCare!! I've taken an extra day to start writing the 'What I'm not telling you:' segment of this weekly blather opportunity; I wanted to see how the 'Glenn Beck Rally' would go at the Lincoln Memorial. The Handler Group had 'observers' at the rally and they tell me we may have a case against the rally organizers. Their permit was for up to 300,000 participants; the 'observers' report that there had to be in excess of 500,000 at the rally!! With middleclass American this involved--this concerned--in the direction we're taking, the Handler Group may have to re-think the rate of destruction of the American Dream; re-think the rate of redistribution of wealth!!]
And for veterans trying to find work in a very tough economy, we’ve devoted new resources to job training and placement. I’ve directed the federal government to hire more veterans, including disabled veterans, and I encourage every business in America to follow suit. This new generation of veterans has proven itself to be a new generation of leaders. They have unmatched training and skills; they’re ready to work; and our country is stronger when we tap their extraordinary talents. New care. New opportunity. A new commitment to our veterans. If you’d like to send our troops and veterans a message of thanks and support, just visit whitehouse.gov. There, you’ll find an easy way to upload your own text or video. Let them know that they have the respect and support of a grateful nation. That when their tour ends; when they see our flag; when they touch our soil; they’ll always be home in an America that is forever here for them – just as they’ve been there for us. That is the promise our nation makes to those who serve. And as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, it’s a promise we’ll keep. Thank you.
[What I'm not telling you: What an opportunity for fascism in general and the Handler Group in particular!! The federal government to hire more veterans, particularly those handicapped. Another--loosely disguised--opportunity to expand the federal government!! Don'cha gotta love it?!?!]
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