WEST POINT SPEECH: WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE ON TV

12/01/09

West Point, NY

(Zen Media)

My first impression of West Point is that it resembled a British moat. High mountains and a large body of water, the Hudson River. The West Point Military Academy, where President Barack Obama delivered his long awaiting speech on the war strategy, is a campus of nationally landmarked buildings. The USMA was built in 1802, the garrison was occupied in 1776 and played a key role in the Revolutionary War. Cadets here have all applied directly to the academy and received a nomination from a congressman in order to be selected.

It was in one these historic neogothic granite buildings, the Eisenhower Hall, that the first African-American President of the United States gave his speech. I was moved that the ceremony started off with a prayer by Colonel Mike Durham, West Point Chaplain, for our nation, the young cadets going off to war and for peace. They prayed for the families of the cadets also. Kay Messenger sang the National Anthem and Colonel Ty Seidule, a professor at the USMA gave a brief history and warm welcome to all the attendees. He reminded the cadets to be professional and courteous to the President and said that the President could give a presidential pardon to minor offenses of military men . Then the Superintendent of the academy came up and delivered one sentence only, "The President is not the only one who can give a pardon for minor offenses, I can too. You are all pardoned of your offenses." Lieutenant Hagenbeck then walked off the stage after that statement. The cadets cheered and whooped of course. Then there was silence as we waited for the President to come on stage.

They played the VOG music and we all stood at attention as President Barack approached the podium. His speech was long and the President seemed less passionate than he has at other speeches. Some key points in his speech:

"As Commander in Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan."

"We have been at war now for eight years at enormous cost in lives and resources...... having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people out to work here at home."

"If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow."

'So, no, I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by Al-Qaeda, it is from there that we were attacked and from there that new attacks are being plotted as I speak."

Our President believes that if we retreat now that Al-Qaeda will pose more of a threat. He maintains that Al-Qaeda is seeking nuclear weapons and that Pakistan is able to supply them. POTUS said that it is important to work with allies, like the British to dismantle, disrupt and defeat Al-Qaeda. To meet this goal, POTUS is calling for a military strategy that will break the momentum of the Taliban. By deploying 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in early 2010, we will be able to target the insurgency and secure key population areas.

By partnering with other international allies within the United Nations and the Afghanistan government, America will help to strengthen their government so that they can become more responsible in protecting their people and their country. By focusing on agriculture and accountability, America will help Afghanistan to rebuild their war torn nation.

Our President's speech at West Point Military Academy is one of the most important ones that he has ever made. Please go to My Facebook/Lady Simone to view the notes for the entire speech verbatim.

Roxanne Lord

Zen Media