Barack Obama Military Quotes

• So long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you've served us - because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home.

  Barack Obama

  Country, Jobs, Military

  Second Democratic Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, delivered 6 September 2012, Charlotte, North Carolina

• Climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security, an immediate risk to our national security, and, make no mistake, it will impact how our military defends our country.

  Barack Obama

  Country, Military, Mistake

  "Barack Obama: climate deniers pose serious threat to US security" by Lauren Gambino, www.theguardian.com. May 20, 2015.

• The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.

  Barack Obama

  Military, President, Doe

  "It's too easy for presidents to go to war" by Julian Zelizer, www.cnn.com. March 28, 2011.

• My Administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens. Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Believe, Important

  Barack Obama's speech on H.R. 1540, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. December 31, 2011.

• Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation - not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Patriotic, Pride

  2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, delivered 27 July 2004, Fleet Center, Boston

• Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the frontlines. And I will bring to the White House an unshakable commitment to Israel's security. That starts with insuring Israel's qualitative military advantage. I will insure that Israel can defend itself from any threat - from Gaza to Tehran.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Commitment, Israel

  Obama's speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), www.npr.org. June 4, 2008.

• We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.

  Barack Obama

  Strong, Powerful, Military

  YouTube Channel "squawkboxnoise"/"Obama Civilian Security", www.youtube.com. July 17, 2008.

• In Iraq and Syria, American leadership - including our military power - is stopping ISIL's advance, instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group.

  Barack Obama

  Leadership, Military, War

  Sixth Presidential State of the Union Address, delivered 20 January 2015

• I have made it a top priority for my administration to deepen cooperation with Israel across the whole spectrum of security issues - intelligence, military, technology.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Technology, Israel

  Remarks by the President at Signing of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. July 27, 2012.

• You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets because the nature of our military has changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.

  Barack Obama

  Horse, Military, Land

  Barack Obama's remarks in the Third Presidential Debate at the Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. October 23, 2012.

• You're the reason why selfless soldiers won't be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Gay, Soldier

  Second Democratic Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, delivered 6 September 2012, Charlotte, North Carolina

• Let's be grateful for what we have. Let's be mindful of those who have less. Let's appreciate those who hold a special place in our lives, and make sure they know it. And let's think about those who can't spend the holiday with their loved ones - especially the members of our military serving overseas.

  Barack Obama

  Thanksgiving, Military, Grateful

  “CNN Newsroom”, www.cnn.com. November 23, 2011.

• America must always lead on the world stage. If we don't, no one else will. The military that you have joined is, and always will be, the backbone of that leadership. But U.S. military action cannot be the only - or even primary - component of our leadership in every instance. Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail.

  Barack Obama

  Graduation, Military, Mean

  Remarks by the President at the United States Military Academy Commencement Ceremony, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. May 28, 2014.

• We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force.

  Barack Obama

  Country, Military, Historical

  Barack Obama (2009). “Barack Obama: Speeches on the Road to the White House”

• We will continue to deepen our engagement using every element of American power - diplomacy, military, economic development, the power of our values and our ideals.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Memorable, Engagement

  Remarks by President Obama at the University of Queensland, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. November 15, 2014.

• We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military - we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Home, Men

  A New Beginning: Speech at Cairo University, delivered 4 June 2009, Cairo, Egypt

• Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terrorism have reduced the pace of military transformation and have revealed our lack of preparation for defensive and stability operations. This Administration has overextended our military.

  Barack Obama

  Military, War, Iraq

  Speech to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, July 12, 2004.

• Of course, there is no question that Libya - and the world - will be better off with Gaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Mistake, Mean

  "Obama Libya Speech Strongly Defends Intervention" by Ben Feller, www.huffingtonpost.com. March 28, 2011.

• So while I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America.

  Barack Obama

  Military, America, Cost

  Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on Libya, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. March 28, 2011.

• We'll build new ties of trade and of commerce, culture and education that unleash the potential of the Iraqi people.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Ties, People

  "Remarks by the President on Ending the War in Iraq". obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. October 21, 2011.

• There is no military solution to the war in Iraq. Our troops can help suppress the violence, but they cannot solve its root causes. And all the troops in the world won't be able to force Shia, Sunni, and Kurd to sit down at a table, resolve their differences, and forge a lasting peace. In fact, adding more troops will only push this political settlement further and further into the future, as it tells the Iraqis that no matter how much of a mess they make, the American military will always be there to clean it up.

  Barack Obama

  Military, War, Roots

• There is a reason why George Washington is always one of the top three presidents, and it's not because of his prowess as a military leader; it's not because of the incredible innovations in policy that he introduced. It's because he knew when it was time to go.

  Barack Obama

  Military, Leader, Innovation

  Source: www.vanityfair.com

• I can think about what [Mahatma] Gandhi said or [Martin Luther] King said about violence begetting violence, and still be true to my job by asking myself the question whenever we're confronted with a situation where some may be arguing for military action: Will this actually result in America being safer, or the most lives being saved?

  Barack Obama

  Kings, Jobs, Military

  Source: www.theatlantic.com

• We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq.

  Barack Obama

  Military, People, President

  Source: www.nytimes.com

• It will take time to eradicate a cancer like Isil. And any time we take military action, there are risks involved - especially to the servicemen and women who carry out these missions. But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.

  Barack Obama

  Cancer, Military, War

  Statement by the President on ISIL, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. September 10, 2014.

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