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Reporting from Jacksonville, Fla. -
As pressure builds on the administration to pick up the pace of its Afghanistan war strategy review, President Obama countered critics with a trip to a Navy base today to declare he would not "rush the solemn decision" of sending the American military into harm's way.
On one of the bloodiest days in the war to date, Obama praised the 14 Americans who died in helicopter crashes in Afghanistan today and promised to present a "clear mission" and "defined goals" for those whom he may call on to continue the fight against Al Qaeda and its allies.
"I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama told a crowd of about 3,500 assembled from each of the armed services, gathered in a hangar to see the president this afternoon. "And if it is necessary, we will back you up."
Around the country, Republicans are ratcheting up criticism of the president, whose ground-up review of the war strategy has taken up much of the fall without a defined end-point in sight. Some critics warn that the president risks projecting weakness, while others raise the possibility that domestic politics may be coming into play.
Obama has said he is getting close to making decisions about strategy and possible troop increases, and suggested that he has strategic reasons for keeping them to himself until after a new Afghan government is chosen.
A runoff to test the results of the nation's recent fraudulent election is expected Nov. 7 -- a point when the White House hopes that international security forces will have a credible, trustworthy partner with which to do business in the region.
But rather than answering his critics in Washington, Obama concluded a morning meeting with war advisers in Washington and headed for the Jacksonville Naval Air Station to deliver the message to people in uniform.
"While I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this -- and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way," Obama said. "Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That's the promise I make to you."
In tone and substance, the speech rang dramatically differently from the one that George W. Bush delivered at the nearby Mayport Naval Air Station in February 2003, in the days running up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
That day, Bush promised that the U.S. would use "every ounce of our power" to defeat Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and called on the United Nations to throw its weight behind the American fight. As it turned out, U.S. forces advanced without the international community in full support.
Obama's process of foreign policy has been a study in contrast, notably in the amount of time that he is taking to build that support from allies before moving forward.
Republican critics fault him for what some of them call "dithering."
"History proves that it is weakness, not strength, that tempts our enemies," Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said earlier today. "And he is projecting potential weakness, and enemies may see that and their respect may be reduced as a result of that, or worse."
Rep. Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, said the president needs to send more troops, as military commanders have asked, and to announce his decision now.
"A successful counterinsurgency strategy requires a military force large enough to apply decisive force against our enemies while maintaining sufficient troops and police to protect the Afghan people from the Taliban," she said. "We must let our friends and enemies know that we intend to follow through in Afghanistan."
"Unfortunately, the lack of decisiveness about how to best proceed is emboldening our enemies and endangering our troops and our friends," Lummis said.
Meanwhile, Utah's Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch is raising the political question of whether Obama is intentionally putting off his announcement until after two important governors' races, in Virginia and New Jersey, on Nov. 3.
Obama's fellow Democrats are locked in tight contests with Republicans in those races, seen as early reviews of the president's performance 11 months into his term.
To be sure, Obama has politics in mind as he travels south.
Tonight the president travels to Miami, a plentiful mine for political contributions, on a fundraising expedition for Democrats running for Senate and congressional seats next year. The outcome of their midterm races also is a reflection on him.
But speaking in Jacksonville, Obama let his audience drive home his message about deliberation.
Ticking off a list of promises to take care of veterans and service members and their families, Obama called them "obligations that your country is honor-bound to uphold. Because you've have always taken care of America, and America must always take care of you, always."
"You know this," he said, as the crowd cheered him on. " It's the spirit you live by every day. It's the pride -- and yes, the anxiety -- when you wave goodbye to your loved ones on the tarmac. It's the joy -- and relief -- when they come home safe."
The president's audience was made up of service members and their families from the Jacksonville base and others in the area, as well as civilians working on base and members of the community. Several said they were Obama supporters in the campaign, while several in uniform declined to talk to a reporter.
Thomas Bingol, a Navy lieutenant and chaplain, said he welcomed the president's remarks about his war review.
"I thought they were spot-on, especially about not sending people into harms' way unnecessarily," Bingol said. "That is time well-spent."
Velvet Whitaker, whose husband is retired from the Navy, said she wants to see the president send more troops to Afghanistan but to be deliberate about how he deploys them.
"It's a waste to make the fast decision if it's not the right one," Whitaker said. "It's not something to rush into."
cparsons@latimes.com
On one of the bloodiest days in the war to date, Obama praised the 14 Americans who died in helicopter crashes in Afghanistan today and promised to present a "clear mission" and "defined goals" for those whom he may call on to continue the fight against Al Qaeda and its allies.
"I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama told a crowd of about 3,500 assembled from each of the armed services, gathered in a hangar to see the president this afternoon. "And if it is necessary, we will back you up."
Around the country, Republicans are ratcheting up criticism of the president, whose ground-up review of the war strategy has taken up much of the fall without a defined end-point in sight. Some critics warn that the president risks projecting weakness, while others raise the possibility that domestic politics may be coming into play.
Obama has said he is getting close to making decisions about strategy and possible troop increases, and suggested that he has strategic reasons for keeping them to himself until after a new Afghan government is chosen.
A runoff to test the results of the nation's recent fraudulent election is expected Nov. 7 -- a point when the White House hopes that international security forces will have a credible, trustworthy partner with which to do business in the region.
But rather than answering his critics in Washington, Obama concluded a morning meeting with war advisers in Washington and headed for the Jacksonville Naval Air Station to deliver the message to people in uniform.
"While I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this -- and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way," Obama said. "Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That's the promise I make to you."
In tone and substance, the speech rang dramatically differently from the one that George W. Bush delivered at the nearby Mayport Naval Air Station in February 2003, in the days running up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
That day, Bush promised that the U.S. would use "every ounce of our power" to defeat Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and called on the United Nations to throw its weight behind the American fight. As it turned out, U.S. forces advanced without the international community in full support.
Obama's process of foreign policy has been a study in contrast, notably in the amount of time that he is taking to build that support from allies before moving forward.
Republican critics fault him for what some of them call "dithering."
"History proves that it is weakness, not strength, that tempts our enemies," Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said earlier today. "And he is projecting potential weakness, and enemies may see that and their respect may be reduced as a result of that, or worse."
Rep. Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, said the president needs to send more troops, as military commanders have asked, and to announce his decision now.
"A successful counterinsurgency strategy requires a military force large enough to apply decisive force against our enemies while maintaining sufficient troops and police to protect the Afghan people from the Taliban," she said. "We must let our friends and enemies know that we intend to follow through in Afghanistan."
"Unfortunately, the lack of decisiveness about how to best proceed is emboldening our enemies and endangering our troops and our friends," Lummis said.
Meanwhile, Utah's Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch is raising the political question of whether Obama is intentionally putting off his announcement until after two important governors' races, in Virginia and New Jersey, on Nov. 3.
Obama's fellow Democrats are locked in tight contests with Republicans in those races, seen as early reviews of the president's performance 11 months into his term.
To be sure, Obama has politics in mind as he travels south.
Tonight the president travels to Miami, a plentiful mine for political contributions, on a fundraising expedition for Democrats running for Senate and congressional seats next year. The outcome of their midterm races also is a reflection on him.
But speaking in Jacksonville, Obama let his audience drive home his message about deliberation.
Ticking off a list of promises to take care of veterans and service members and their families, Obama called them "obligations that your country is honor-bound to uphold. Because you've have always taken care of America, and America must always take care of you, always."
"You know this," he said, as the crowd cheered him on. " It's the spirit you live by every day. It's the pride -- and yes, the anxiety -- when you wave goodbye to your loved ones on the tarmac. It's the joy -- and relief -- when they come home safe."
The president's audience was made up of service members and their families from the Jacksonville base and others in the area, as well as civilians working on base and members of the community. Several said they were Obama supporters in the campaign, while several in uniform declined to talk to a reporter.
Thomas Bingol, a Navy lieutenant and chaplain, said he welcomed the president's remarks about his war review.
"I thought they were spot-on, especially about not sending people into harms' way unnecessarily," Bingol said. "That is time well-spent."
Velvet Whitaker, whose husband is retired from the Navy, said she wants to see the president send more troops to Afghanistan but to be deliberate about how he deploys them.
"It's a waste to make the fast decision if it's not the right one," Whitaker said. "It's not something to rush into."
cparsons@latimes.com
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