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Lee Celano / Getty Images
Vice President Joe Biden hands a West Point graduate her a diploma on Saturday.
WEST POINT, NY -- At the graduation ceremony of some of the most elite new members of the U.S. military, Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday praised the Obama administration's efforts to end wars abroad, saying the military drawdowns allow for a "rebalance" of foreign policy.
Addressing newly minted second lieutenants at West Point's Michie Stadium, Biden spoke at length about the Obama administration's foreign policy achievements: ending the Iraq War, killing Osama bin Laden, and banning torture because "it was the right thing to do."
"President Obama and I came into office determined to end the war in Iraq responsibly, and today our troops are home," he said.
Highlighting emerging issues like China's economic might and the threat of cyber attacks, the vice president said that the winding down of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts allows the United States more flexibility to address new factors that influence the global landscape.
Vice President Joe Biden speaks to West Point graduates on Saturday.
"Winding down these long wars has enabled us to replace and rebalance our foreign policy, [to] take on the full range of challenges that will shape the 21st century," he said.
Among those challenges is the ever-evolving relationship between the United States and China, he said, noting that the two countries don't "always see eye to eye."
Speaking to a group of veterans, Vice President Joseph Biden recalled the emotions that overcame him when he received a call in 1972 informing him that his wife and daughter had perished in a traffic accident.
"There's no doubt that America can compete, and America will win whenever and wherever the playing field is level," Biden said.
Although Biden did not mention the ongoing election fight, he echoed some lines from his past campaign speeches, including a heaping of praise on those who executed the mission to kill Osama bin Laden last year.
"These warriors sent a message to the world that if you harm America, we will follow you to the end of the earth," Biden said.
And he referenced the day of the attack masterminded by bin Laden, calling the class of graduates members of a "9/11 generation" that will be remembered as America's greatest.
"Your generation, the 9/11 generation, is more than worthy of the proud legacy that you will inherit today," he told graduates.
Leave a Comment:
needy, he has no friends... keep pandering bidder.....
Poor liberals never get to see things like this on their managed news. Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_AAMa_X2dM&feature=related
This one is loaded.
http://obamalies.net/
Too much Fux News waterhead
Congrats to all the new 2 LTs that graduated this morning! Remember, your platoon sargent will be your best teacher - listen well.
We're now involved in seven African countries. All the involvement has began since Obama took office except 2, and those 2 have escalated. It's all happening right under our noses, but, most people don't pay attention and are clueless. Yet, Biden implies we're receding from foreign conflicts and turning to domestic issues and affairs putting America first. It's all lies. Our military and political involvment around the globe is escalating.
PERRY: And your point is??? I had always thought that the Right postively loves quaint little shooting wars? Or is that only when Republicans initiate them, then it's OK with you, isn't it?
What?? Ozzie - all I said was the President should have addressed the West Point graduates instead of playing golf. You need to get a handle of the facts. If democrats want to keep the White House, realize its OK to call out the BS. Instead of spouting out "blah blah blah Fox News..." - please argue intelligently with facts. Now I'm a beer-swilling yahoo? At least W refused to play golf after he deployed troops into Iraq, and he did not drink - it's President Obama who prefers the beer summits. The downfall of W is that his own party called him out.
DC: And where did I specify you as being a yahoo???
Dubya had damn well better have stopped playing golf. It was his initiative that led to feeding tens of thousands of troops into that meat grinder in Iraq, and for what? Give me a wake up call when you find all those WMD's would ya?
N@#%R Rich Obama the scumbag president and apologist in chief,is a Marxist.Biden is a fool.
Rich Boy Romney would do the military just like his corporate policy. He would fired many military members and cut the VA to redistribute the wealth to fat corporate contracts. Day One and the Military is Done
We see the true policy changes of the proactive Obama Administration, the Air Force Academy graduated its first public homosexuals. We see this talk about foreign affairs, but the policy is rather personal for the current White House.
Remember when Bush promised conservatives an amendment against gay marriage? They cried for years when he fooled them to vote for him and then did nothing. What does Romney say? I will have an amendment against gay marriage. Hey, lets not forget Cheney who daughter made six figures speaking for gay activists. Ooohhh yeah once Bush's term was over he spit in the face of conservatives and supported gay marriage. LOL. As Bush says "Fool me once....fool me again"
The rich do not want to pay taxes. They want the poor to pay taxes. Guess where that leaves the middle class? They will pay all the taxes except what the poor have to contribute. Does this not sound like they want us to be a third world country?
ONCE: This is all part of dyslexic "Robin Hood" syndrome whereby our country sticks it to the poor in order that folks like Mittens can have more car elevators in his new 13,000 square foot house. Makes sense to me.
What about those 50% who work, pay no taxes and get a check from the government?
COMMON: "There you go again". The poor pay NO INCOME TAXES pal. They pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes and all sorts of userage taxes.
What the phuk is it with you clowns on the Right and your obsessesson with the poor somehow gaming the system? You never worry about it when suppliers to the Pentagon phuk the American tax payer blind. That's you're cool with. But god forbid some single mom working a crap job for minimum wage at Wal Mart gets some government assistence to feed her kids. For that, you want to start a war.
Do you have any idea how many billions we pissed away in Iraq? Where was your sense of fiscal consdervancy then? No, it's much more fun beating up on the poor and those without a voice in Washington. Do you know how many highly paid lobbyists there are in D.C. who are buying off our Congress people every day of the week? Get real
Ozzie you moron,
Property taxes, if they own any property, are paid to local municipalities. Sales taxes are to the states or even the cities, etc., etc. Our Federal government owes $16 trillion and that is growing. Right now there is 50% of the population paying none of that. And yet jacka$$es like you want those who are paying to now pay more so those getting a free ride to get even more for free.
If some single mom is working a crap job, it's not my fault. And why did she have a child if she can't financially support it?
VIKING: Who are you call moron, you phuking imbecile???
Just more twisted, distorted myopic thinking from my dear friends on the Right.
First of all dumbass, isn't it your party that seeks to ban legal abortion and some of the nuttier creeps in your party like Rick Santorum to do away with birth control? Isn't it your party that trys to ban sex education being taught to teenagers and yet now you worry about this woman having kids she can't support. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps she had been married but is now divorced??? And regardless of what she did or did not do, you're going to let children suffer and go hungry for something their parents did? God but you people are insane.
How about getting upset over the countless billions we pissed away in Iraq? But no, Viking is upset that someone living on the bottom run of our society might be in need of some assitance. Oh, perish the thought. I'd suggest you look into the Billions in cash which have simply vanished. That's right, VANISHED in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Always worried that some "Welfare Queen" is pulling the wool over your eyes, right buddy? Do you have any idea how much money the Pentagon pisses away in a single day? Like the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that has gone more than DOUBLE over it's budget and appears to be the single most expensive weapons system we've ever created. Go get pissed off with the military contractors who are screwing the American taxpayer every day.
GET AN EDUCATION so you won't have to go through life being an ignoramus.
Ummm......maybe when she was married to the father of the child who left her she could? But in your little alternative universe, that doesn't happen, does it? Nobody should ever blame a responsibility-shirking father, should they?
Ozzie girl,
You are a worthless human being. And I was being kind when I called you a moron because clearly you're not even up to moron level.
People like you are what's wrong with this country. Everything is someone else's fault. You blame your shortcomings on abstract concepts like "Wall Street" and "the corporations" and "the Pentagon," They're all allegedly screwing you over. I for one would prefer my tax money go to keep me and my family safe, rather than pay for someone else not to work.
Maybe your hypothetical single mother is divorced but maybe she also uses drugs, didn't pursue and education because she didn't "like" school. And maybe she had that baby when she was 16.
Try taking some personal responsibility for a change. You being a loser isn't someone else's fault - it is your own. Or is now the part where you tell me that you're actually a billionaire rock-star astronaut nuclear scientist who owns his own business and gives all his money to charity.
Our country would be much better off without you.
Mr or Ms ctViking:
The Bush Tax cuts caused that 50% number you love to use. Why are you blaming Obama? And the repubs forced an extention of those cuts.
Maybe this single mother is divorced or maybe she's a drug user - but you don't know, and you would deprive the divorced mother because you assume all single mothers are drug addicts.
Our country would be better off without YOU!
poor ole foot-in-mouth joe the plagiarist..
demonized and challenged by the gop during his time in he senate..
so much hate and animosity..wanting revenge..
even at the expense of ruining our country with the liar-in-chief..
Ron: Exactly what the phuk are you ranting about anyway?
Do you have any idea how much of a fool you sound like?
ozzie..you are not giving your side a good showing by your posts..
check your media matters talking points guide, homey..
they're not getting their$$ worth from you..
ronaswyhod:
And yet he's making much more sense than you do. Back to your hood, homey. Go haunt some website where your ignorance doesn't stand out like a sore thumb.
You know, it's about time my dear friends on the Right had a little history lesson. To hear you bozo's talk, it is the Right and only the Right that has ever defended this nation and that it is they who have preserved the military.
Quite the contrary. In the 1930's when Germany and Japan were rearming themselves to the teeth, it was the Right who didn't want to spend a dime on the military. They were called "Isolationists", remember? In 1940 when Britain was rocked back on it's heels and fighting for it's very existence it was Republicans who did not want to send them aid. They made it so tough for FDR that he had to concoct his famous "Lend Lease" act to shut up the GOP. And had he not done so, it is very questionable that WWII would have turned out the way it did.
And I suggest you look into what the Obama administration has done for veterans compared with what Bush and Cheney did or did not do. Here are a pair of blatant daft dodgers, expecially Cheney, strutting around like they are 5 star generals and you people are cheering them on as being the real deal. Obama has been far more successful killing terrorists and doing it with far less resources and you claim they are Marxists and traitors. What the hell is it with you people. Do you know how insane your words sound to a rational person?
I shudder to think what the Right would have to say, had it been Obama who invaded Iraq on trumped up accusations of finding weapons and coming up empty handed. The Right would have been rioting in the streets had it been Obama or Clinto for that matter.
ozzie..
what has that got to do with foot-in-mouth joe giving a speech at west point?
check your talking points guide bro..
bet you need a teleprompter like obozo..
Ozzie,
You are correct about the Republican party during World War II. FDR stood up to the Nazis and I praise him for that. But the ridiculous social programs that he initiated have put this country on a path toward bankruptcy that I don't think we'll recover from.
Then, after 1968 the democratic party was taken over by the anti-war crowd. And if you're going to be critical of draft dodgers, how about Bill Clinton?
Obama is a complete failure. Smart Americans saw it coming since he had absolutely no qualifications. But idiots like you vote for him because you think he is "cool." Hopefully this November there are enough Americans smart enough not to choose their President that way.
VIKING: Big difference. Bill Clinton is a draft dodger and what's more HE'S ADMITTED IT PUBLICLY!!! I kid you not. But Clinton OPPOSED the war in Viet Nam whereas Dead Eye Dick Cheney and George, "I never showed up for training" Bush SUPPORTED the war and yet wanted other people to do the bleeding and dying for them. Now do you see the difference???
Clinton did not strut around like a Prussian Field Marshal, a regular tough guy like Bush and Cheney. And by and large he managed to keep us out of war. What the Bush administration did to this nation is downright treasonous. They have cost us god knows how many TRILLIONS and for what? They couldn't even get Bin Laden in 8 years and Obama got it done in 2.
obunglers exit policy for afghanistan..
RUN! RUN! RUN!
joe "gasbag" biden is almost more dopey than obama.........
Obama and Biden's 5 minutes of fame with Bin Laden, then throwing the doctor under the bus who provided them their 5 minutes of fame. Great Job Obama and Biden (sarcasm)
Sure buddy. You're just pissed that after 8 years of Bush's tough talk and bluster, he and that other draft dodger Cheney just couldn't get the job done. Wow, that's got to really hurt your Reich Wing losers which I guess explains why you feel compelled to denigrate Obama's achievement. Too bad after all of Bush's bull@!$%#, he turned out to be a pansy, who just couldn't get the job done.
There's nothing that Obama has or could accomplish that you would ever give him credit for. It just hurts too much, doesn't it? LOL
From the man who lost a family but never stopped campaigning.
Yea, cause no other politician ever campaigns, is that it? Here's a clue for you pal, EVERY president and vice president starts campaigning for their second administration the day they are sworn in. It's call politics, don' you know.
Wow - still focused on WMDs. While you are lecturing history, you may want to recall that WMDs was decided as the lead argument before the UN because everyone agreed on that point (link deleted). There were numerous other reasons for the war. If you recall, Sadam was paying the families of Palastinian suicide bombers $50,000 in cash. There were suicide bombers on the news every day (bus bombs, market bombs) - we put a stop to that overnight. Most experts would agree (I realize your opinion may vary) that we did not put enough troops in Iraq, which prolonged everything. It was Obama who opposed the surge, then took credit when it worked. What do you think had more influence over the Arab Spring - a democratic Iraq, or Obama's Cairo speech? Don't just oppose the war because you wear a jersey with a "D" on it. If it was as bad you think, don't you believe Obama would have pulled everyone out? Use your head. What ever happened to "oppose the war, support the troops"? I guess you only support the troops who were in NATO last week (that would be Chicago in Biden speak) ripping off their medals and throwing them at the cops. Again, I would have rather seen the President give the commencement speech today than play golf. I don't know why that desire has prompted such hatred.
OK, you've convinced me. Iraq was not the colossal blunder and fiasco that most experts agree it was. It was well worth the cost of 4500 Dead soldiers, over 25,000 grieviously wounded and maimed troops not to mention well of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS, most likely, closer to 2 Trillion when all the dust settles. Not to mention the fact that we pushed our military to the breaking point, asking Guards and Reservists to do what they were never intended to do, namely do 3 or 4 tours of duty which have destroyed countless marriages, cause many to go bankrupt and dramatically increased the suicide rate.
Yep, you're right. It was a both strategically and tactically brilliant, well worth the cost in blood and treasure. So much so, that the Right is now rattling their sabres and making noise about attacking Iran. My suggestion? Let's see Willards 5 healthy young boys with their 100 Million Dollar trust fund, march on down to their friendly, local Marine Corps recruiting station so we can put them in the initial invasion wave. Bet Willard would just love that. Perhaps he wouldn't run his mouth so much like Bush did if he thought his kids were in the thick of it and might come home in a plastic bag.
Is his personal challenge to be able to speak without sounding like the idiot he is?
Joe Biden always speaks what's on his mind. He has no filter which I appreciate. It gives everyone an idea of what is going through Obama's mind.
People generally bitch about politicians always being "on script" choosing each and ever word with care, lest they say something wrong. Biden is refreshingly unguarded. Probably too much so but nonetheless a welcome change.
You do know the defination of a "gaff" is, don't you? Michael Kinsley said a gaff is when a politician actually says what he really believes. LOL
Agreed, Ozzie Boy. With most politicians, you have no idea what they're really thinking. That's probably why Obama has to use a teleprompter. We all know what happens when he doesn't.
And we all know what Mitt sounds like without a teleprompter - can't remember if he should flip or flop. You would do well to use a different tactic as Obama will eat Mitts lunch in debates. All Obama has to do is repeat the attacks by other repubs who know what Mitt is really like. Why else do you suppose Mitt's former collegues are donating to Obama's campaign?
I'll take a teleprompter over an etch-a-sketch anyday.
Morons.
ozzie is looking for a new talking points guide..
Is the best ya got, dumbass? Get a new line cause you're wearing this one out.
Apparently you lack not only intellect but creativity as well. So sad.
ouch, that hurts..
ozzie boy, you should Occupy a Toilet Seat..
the bad stuff is now coming out of your mouth..
congratulations ring knockers, a little career advice from the senior enlisted side, don't try to reinvent the wheel and make things harder than they need to be, please do not piggy back or reiterate anything the CO says..we heard it the first time, and now that your real education is about to begin take the time to listen to those who have been around the block you might learn a few things because no matter what service you are in we could care less what that ring says, just be a good leader..other than that congratulations on completing a hard 4 years!
and to all active duty, vets and retirees have a happy Memorial Day
WTF does this priviledged individual know about any military sacrifice and what is he doing speaking to our finest?
Semper Fi
Ever hear of Beau Biden?
Biden joined the military in 2003 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was recently promoted to the rank of Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as part of the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware. Biden's unit was activated to deploy to Iraq on October 3, 2008, and sent to Fort Bliss, Texas for pre-deployment training, the day after his father participated in the 2008 presidential campaign's only vice presidential debate. His father is on the record as saying, "I don't want him going. But I tell you what, I don't want my grandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years, and so how we leave makes a big difference." Biden traveled to Washington, D.C. from Iraq in January 2009 for the presidential inauguration and his father's swearing-in as Vice President,[18] then returned to Iraq. Biden received a visit at Camp Victory from his father on July 4, 2009. Biden returned from Iraq in September 2009, his yearlong deployment complete
How many of Mitt's sons have been in the miltary? Let me save you time - zero.
Come on Joe Biden, you know since 2000 our Brave Soldiers have never fought and died for our FREEDOM. In fact they are a major part of the New World Order to REDUCE OUR FREEDOM. By volunteering to fight in the FAKE war on terror they are more misguided than anything else. Never at anytime in 2001 was America in any real danger of being conquered by a group of Muslim Masterminds. As Hillary Clinton says, America put together Al-CIADA to fight the Russians. The CIA knew where all their covert employes were and could have just rounded them up, put them on trial, it was not necessary to fight two wars. 9/11/01 should have been treated as just another natural disaster and FREE AMERICA could have moved on. So tell Obama to close Gitmo and knock off the Fairy Tale stories of Evil Muslim Masterminds.
So Uncle Joe is out spreading fertilizer and spouting double-speak again.
"the military deawdowns allow for a "rebalance" of foreign policy"
It doesn't take even a high schooler to interpret that one. What he means is, as soon as his fearless leader can accomplish the goal of an inferior poorly equipped defense we will be on an equal or lower playing field with every other country and they will thank us by not attacking or threatening us. The sad part is they actually believe it.
Yes, you are lost.
Did Biden tell them....that if they stay in the military their benefits are being reduced to mere rubble? By the Obama administration?
Did Biden tell them that - after they get out of the military...due to Obama economic policies there will be NO JOBS for them?
Did Biden tell them that Obama has a "really big stick?"
Somehow I don't think the draft dodger Mitt Romney would receive a warm reception.
Romney was doing Missionary work in France. I don't recall that the Acorn Gatherer Obama stepped up for combat duty.....he's too much a pansy-a$$ to do that. He might get his fingernails dirty. And don't forget...Obama is gay....and they didn't want to see his "really big stick."
DownTown,
One huge difference! The draft was eliminated long before our President was old enough to serve and there were no wars at that time other than the “cold” war.
But Romney avoided the draft during the Vietnam War by going to France.