Obama: I Made a Pledge to Only Send You into Harm’s Way Only When Necessary

OBAMA When I took ░░░░░░░░ I noted that presidents ░░░░░░░░ those of you in ░░░░░░░░ swear a similar oath ░░░░░░░░ protect and defend this ░░░░░░░░ and the Constitution that ░░░░░░░░ cherish By stepping forward ░░░░░░░░ volunteering by raising your ░░░░░░░░ hand and taking that ░░░░░░░░ each of you made ░░░░░░░░ solemn pledge You committed ░░░░░░░░ to a life of ░░░░░░░░ and of sacrifice And ░░░░░░░░ in turn made a ░░░░░░░░ to you which to ░░░░░░░░ best of my abilities ░░░░░░░░ tried to uphold every ░░░░░░░░ day since That I ░░░░░░░░ only send new harm ░░░░░░░░ way when it was ░░░░░░░░ necessary with a strategy ░░░░░░░░ well defined goals with ░░░░░░░░ equipment and support that ░░░░░░░░ needed to get the ░░░░░░░░ done because that s ░░░░░░░░ you rightfully expect and ░░░░░░░░ s what you rightfully ░░░░░░░░ I made that pledge ░░░░░░░░ a time when less ░░░░░░░░ 1 percent of Americans ░░░░░░░░ the uniform Fewer Americans ░░░░░░░░ someone who serves And ░░░░░░░░ a result a lot ░░░░░░░░ Americans don t see ░░░░░░░░ sacrifices you make on ░░░░░░░░ behalf But as commander ░░░░░░░░ chief I do I ░░░░░░░░ seen it when I ░░░░░░░░ into the eyes of ░░░░░░░░ cadets knowing that my ░░░░░░░░ could very well send ░░░░░░░░ into harm s way ░░░░░░░░ ve seen it when ░░░░░░░░ visited the field in ░░░░░░░░ in Baghdad far from ░░░░░░░░ families risking your lives ░░░░░░░░ that we can live ░░░░░░░░ safely and in freedom ░░░░░░░░ you ve inspired me ░░░░░░░░ I ve been humbled ░░░░░░░░ you consistently.”