hehe Kryder, look at you guys thinking pacifism is a dirty word. Good thing your leadership feels otherwise. The SOTU speech last night was pretty inspiring given all the saber-rattlng we're seeing in the primaries.
Some of the pieces I particularly liked:
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“The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom,” Obama said.
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The administration’s national security policies were outlined by the president as forward looking, using force wisely, and “making sure we match our power with diplomacy,” Obama said.
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On his national security agenda, the president asked “will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet?”
The president said his first duty as commander-in-chief of the U.S. military is to protect the country and that “in doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how.”
“I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership,” Obama will say. “We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now – and around the globe, it is making a difference.”
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“When the first response to a challenge is to send in our military – then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world,’ he said. “That’s what our enemies want us to do.”
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“Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America,” he said.
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American sanctions against Russia for its military takeover of Ukraine’s key industrial region of the Crimea showed that America “stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated, with its economy in tatters.”
“That’s how America leads – not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve,” he said.
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Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies – including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict