Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Full Transcript: President Barack Obama's Address to the Nation on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery

Oval Office Address on Iraq

Washington, D.C.

August 31, 2010

As Prepared for Delivery—

7:43 pm est


Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.


I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we are trying to build for our nation – a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity may seem beyond our reach.


But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.


These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst those shifting tides. At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.


The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people; trained Iraqi Security Forces; and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians –and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people – Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.


So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.


This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its government and people. That is what we have done. We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.


This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations.


This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout. A caretaker administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on the results of that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq’s leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: the Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is not.


Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces; supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave by the end of next year. As our military draws down, our dedicated civilians –diplomats, aid workers, and advisors –are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and the world. And that is a message that Vice President Biden is delivering to the Iraqi people through his visit there today.


This new approach reflects our long-term partnership with Iraq–one based upon mutual interests, and mutual respect. Of course, violence will not end with our combat mission. Extremists will continue to set off bombs, attack Iraqi civilians and try to spark sectarian strife. But ultimately, these terrorists will fail to achieve their goals. Iraqis are a proud people. They have rejected sectarian war, and they have no interest in endless destruction. They understand that, in the end, only Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets. Only Iraqis can build a democracy within their borders. What America can do, and will do, is provide support for the Iraqi people as both a friend and a partner.

Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest– it is in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people –a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.


As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future.


The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security than our fight against al Qaeda.


Americans across the political spectrum supported the use of force against those who attacked us on 9/11. Now, as we approach our 10th year of combat in Afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking tough questions about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of what’s at stake. As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders –and hundreds of Al Qaeda's extremist allies–have been killed or captured around the world.


Within Afghanistan, I have ordered the deployment of additional troops who–under the command of General David Petraeus –are fighting to break the Taliban’s momentum. As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and secure their own future. But, as was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves. That’s why we are training Afghan Security Forces and supporting a political resolution to Afghanistan’s problems. And, next July, we will begin a transition to Afghan responsibility. The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake: this transition will begin – because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s.


Indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. We must use all elements of our power –including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of America’s example –to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must project a vision of the future that is based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes –a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also the limitless possibility of our time.


Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas. A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction –we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.

That effort must begin within our own borders. Throughout our history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas, understanding its link to our own liberty and security. But we have also understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. And the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.


Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have not done what is necessary to shore up the foundation of our own prosperity. We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk.


And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for –the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.


Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.


Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That is why we have already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We are treating the signature wounds of today’s wars post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we are funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II- including my grandfather- become the backbone of our middle class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.


Two weeks ago, America’s final combat brigade in Iraq –the Army’s Fourth Stryker Brigade –journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles made the trip from Baghdad, the last of them passing into Kuwait in the early morning hours. Over seven years before, American troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways, but this time no shots were fired. It was just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home.

Of course, the soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when the war began. Many have served multiple tours of duty, far from their families who bore a heroic burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband’s embrace or a mother’s kiss. Most painfully, since the war began fifty-five members of the Fourth Stryker Brigade made the ultimate sacrifice –part of over 4,400 Americans who have given their lives in Iraq. As one staff sergeant said, “I know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot.”


Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries. Along with nearly 1.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for people they never knew. They stared into the darkest of human creations –war –and helped the Iraqi people seek the light of peace.


In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. Every American who serves joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar – Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are better than our own. Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be travelling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.


Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America, and all who serve her. (President Barack Obama)

###

Another Historic Moment !

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Monday, August 30, 2010

B4B Thought of the Week
(and it's just Monday)


SCARY FACT: As everyone is focused on whether or not Glenn Beck had some magical 'conversion'...fact is...if Dem voters don't turn out in mass this "No"-vember...John 'Orange Man' Boehner will become Speaker of the House (!)...replacing Pelosi...and will be the third seat away from being The President !!! (scary thought) Yes...the presidential line of succession goes President...then V. President...then SPEAKER ! All the more reason we MUST get Fired Up !!! Ready to GOTV !!! The Time is NOW...to ENERGIZE !
And for some of you...don't just whine...Get Busy !!!
(Greg Jones)


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Saturday, August 28, 2010


B4B Thought of the Week

It's FOCUS TIME ! Do not be side-tracked by the
miscellaneous distractions....i.e. rallies, fake polls, hate-speak, ignorance, etc.. We MUST FOCUS on the Fight to GOTV...Vote
against the Party of No this " NO "-vember...in mass numbers...to literally Save Our Country !

THAT'S what is of REAL importance.
Yes...It Is FOCUS TIME !!!

There's MUCH Work Ahead !

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Friday, August 27, 2010


WATCH:
Looks like the correct name for Beck's rally is getting around...Jon Stewart takes a close look at Glenn Beck's
" I HAVE A SCHEME " Rally.
Proves that People Power WORKS !

WATCH:
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
I Have a Scheme
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party


Yes We WILL
(repeatedly)


Click B4B Main Page for video

Monday, August 23, 2010


NOTICE: If for some reason you find yourself referring to his event this weekend the new, correct name to use is
" Glenn Beck's
I HAVE A SCHEME Rally "

B4B Home Page

B4B Hot Links

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Looks like Tennessee is too close to Ground Zero also. What a pathetic group. Would like to thank all of my Brothers and Sisters...Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, etc.....who are NOT RACISTS. Although the ignorant get the media coverage...so glad WE are the majority....standing in Unity...for A Better America.

p.s. Our Unity...is their greatest fear.

MURFREESBORO, TENN. -- For more than 30 years, the Muslim community in this Nashville suburb has worshipped quietly in a variety of makeshift spaces -- a one-bedroom apartment, an office behind a Lube Express -- attracting little notice even after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
(click hotlink for more)

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PATHETIC ! NY Republican Tea Party candidate's plan to cut state deficit: Instead of giving them a check...put welfare recipients IN JAIL ! (no...seriously) Just another sad example of the mindset of this pitiful group...TRULY dangerous for America. ACTION TIME ! Time to ratchet-up the voter registration campaign...ask everyone you know if they're registered. If not...help them. We MUST get the country Fired Up to vote in great numbers against the anti-American 'Party of No'...filled with hatred and ignorance this "NO-vember".

It's " Save America " Time !


NEW YORK — Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino said he would transform some New York prisons into dormitories for welfare recipients, where they could work in state-sponsored jobs, get employment training and take lessons in "personal hygiene." Paladino, a wealthy Buffalo real esta...
(click hotlink for more)

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Glad to see my lost and confused Brothers and Sisters are starting to WAKE UP ! But this title is kind of interesting since she was NEVER 'fit to lead'.

rawstory.com
Sarah Palin's passionate and repeated defense of talk show host Dr. Laura shows the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate is "no longer fit to lead," prominent black conservatives say. (click hotlink for more)

Saturday, August 21, 2010

The Untold Story Behind the
So-Called " Ground Zero Mosque "

Revealing article: So this was all a well fabricated controversy launched by an anti-Muslim, hate group....which actually started the hate campaign-false 'Mosque at Ground Zero' misnomer and all...2 YEARS AGO (!)....but for some reason our 'great' media decided to make it a huge controversy NOW.

Just another example of

PATHETIC media manipulation.


Article by: Ahmed Rehab
Chicago Tribune-The Seeker

Americans have a right to assemble and worship freely in this country, period. It's not only a founding principle of this nation, but a main justification for its founding. It is why many white Christians flooded to this country in the first place.

Those opposed to American Muslims practicing their right to build a religious and cultural center on their private property near Ground Zero and in concordance with all laws and regulations reluctantly concede that they have no legal grounds to challenge it. So they argue instead that the Muslims should voluntarily forgo their right out of sensitivity for the sacredness of that site.

This is a particularly disingenuous line.

If it is about sensitivity for the sacred, then why aren't those same people opposing the deli, bar, coffee shop, and offices, or strip club for that matter, that are open for business in that same sacred vicinity?

What is particularly indecent or insensitive about American Muslims building a house of peace, community, and worship that doesn't apply to the New York Dolls gentlemen club?

Let's be blunt: it is only indecent and insensitive if you buy into the canard that American Muslims are somehow collectively guilty for 9/11. That is the coded message at the heart of opposition to the center. It is a message we reject on its face.

American Muslims bear no collective guilt. We have nothing to apologize for and everything to be proud of, including our loyalty and hard-earned livelihoods. We are not guest citizens, we are not second-rate citizens; we reject marginalization and require no validation. We are equal citizens living and worshipping in our country.

We are part and parcel of the diversity of America including the diversity of the 3,000 people who died on 9/11. We are part of the diversity of the hundreds who were injured and those who were first respondents to Ground Zero. We are part of the diversity of the millions who grieved and still grieve. When "they" attacked "us," we were attacked. We are part of the "us" not the "they."

The whole brouhaha about the "Mosque at Ground Zero" is frankly bogus. It has little to do with sacred ground, or sensitive hearts. It does however have everything to do with the exploitation of the sacred and the sensitive for the furtherance of the sacrilegious and the insensitive: the phenomenon of Muslim-bashing that is ravaging our nation today./p>

The Cordoba House, now Park51, is an old story. In fact, it was reported on in the New York Times and other mainstream media as far back as two years ago. Why the frenzy now?

That's not all: Muslims have been worshipping at Mosque Manhattan a few blocks away from Ground Zero, long before Ground Zero was Ground Zero; in fact, since 1970, before the twin towers were the twin towers.

So again, why the sudden frenzy?

Failure to ask "why" is a collective indictment of the media establishment (with a few notable exceptions). Just as the media shirked its responsibilities in questioning the Bush administration on the justifications for the war in Iraq, now too it fails to properly investigate, scrutinize, and report the origins of this controversy. Here is what it failed to tell you:

The"Ground Zero Mosque" fiasco is a fabricated controversy that traces its origins to a couple of long-time anti-Muslim goons from the annals of the hate blogosphere by the names of Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller as a flagship campaign of their newly founded organization, Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA). SIOA is part of an emerging phenomenon of astroturf anti-Muslim organizations that seek to project any public expression of Muslim life in this country as tantamount to a stealth "Islamization of America." (Except it's not so stealth since everyone and their mother is talking about it).

It was SIOA that first coined the misnomer "Mosque at Ground Zero," purposely twisting the reality that the proposed Muslim cultural center near Ground Zero is neither a Mosque nor at Ground Zero. It was the SIOA that sought to redefine Imam Rauf as a radical Imam even though he was heralded by the Bush administration, the FBI and others as a moderate voice of reason. It was the SIOA and its partners that ruthlessly sought to stoke the fears and suspicions of otherwise good, unsuspecting Americans. (Read rest of article)

Truth + Knowledge =

POWER !

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WATCH: President's Weekly Address
Time To FIGHT Against
Corporate Takeover
of Our Democracy !


Because of the new SCOTUS recent decision...right now, corporations can buy millions of dollars in attack ads without even disclosing who they are...keeping the public in the dark. We can NOT allow the corporate takeover of OUR Democracy.


WATCH: President's Address (3:14)


For those who thought the election and victory was the end of the fight...fact is...due to the Party of NO-block everything good- Republicans, the-does this spell doom-anti Obama media, the-he's not doing what we want fast enough so we should crush him-'Professional Left', the-corporate/right wing controlled-Supreme Court, the-masters of legalized bribery-corporations, the-we'll take some of that money too and block him for you-Dems, the outright-we have a BLACK PRESIDENT !-haters, and more...it was only the beginning.
There's Much Work Ahead.
JOIN in the FIGHT !

CLICK B4B Main Page for video

Friday, August 20, 2010

Calling President 'Muslim'
Back Door Way of Calling Him
'N-Word' !


WATCH:
Toure' on Dylan Ratigan Show does
EXCELLENT job of breaking down the whole
ignorant, right-wingbagger " Obama's a MUSLIM " rants.


WATCH:



CLICK B4B Main Page for Video
President Vacationing In Martha's Vineyard

Sign that welcomed The President's visit.

WATCH: Just a day out with the girls.
( Bet Bush never got this kind of Luv)


Click B4B Main Page for video
B4B HOT LINK !


PATHETIC HYPOCRISY ! Notice no reports on the FACT that, as Faux (fake) News continuously gins up anti-Muslim rhetoric....the 2nd largest shareholder of Murdoch's Faux News/NewsCorp is Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal ! Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch has also reportedly partnered with Saudi Prince
Alwaleed bin Talal to launch a new 24-hour news network for the Arab
world called 'Arabic FOX News'. No....seriously !


For more...Click this HotLink:
http://bigthink.com/ideas/22891

Knowledge is Power
President Obama Resumes Peace Talks

WATCH: SOS Clinton Announcement

re: NEW Middle East Peace Initiative

As the Repubs/media have been ginning up anti-Muslim community center, anti-1st Amendment rhetoric...and as the 'Professional Left' rant about all that's not being done fast enough for their liking (although he's been a bit busy trying to Save America !)...The President has secretly been VERY busy taking care of REAL business...like getting our combat troops out of Iraq while simultaneously putting a plan in place to mediate...in The White House (!)...a plan toward Peace in the Middle East. The thought regularly crosses my mind....What would things be like if McPalin had won ? Big Thanks again Warriors...and

There's STILL Much Work Ahead !

WATCH: SOS Clinton Announces Peace Talk initiative



Yes We Can...Yes We Did...
Yes We WILL !!!


Click B4B Main Page for video

B4B Thought of the Day:

BEYOND PATHETIC how the media aid in the demonization of fellow human beings.
Just weeks ago...it was The Mexicans...now...it's THE MUSLIMS ! Absolutely PATHETIC !

Wednesday, August 18, 2010


LAST OF U.S. COMBAT TROOPS
LEAVE IRAQ !

Watch: Historic Final Battalion Leaving



U.S. Army Stryker armored vehicles cross the border from Iraq into Kuwait on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The U.S. Army's 4th Stryker Brigade is the last combat unit to leave Iraq as part of the drawdown of U.S. forces. President Barack Obama had set a goal of reducing the number of American troops in Iraq to 50,000 troops by Sept. 1. (Maya Alleruzzo / AP) B4B Note: But he's early !

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

Although seeing our combat troops coming home is probably the greatest day so far in Iraq ever since the Bush Regime's unjust and some say illegal invasion of the country, you can expect to hear a wide variety of reactions to yet another kept promise and historic accomplishment of President Obama. Many, like me, are filled with absolute joy seeing the last of combat troops leaving and recognize this as the major milestone that it is. I couldn't help but notice how smoothly and efficiently our troops were able to vacate the country, contrary to the Bush Regime and the Regime's pundit supporters who, for years, claimed that an exit of troops and equipment would be a near insurmountable feat. Wrong ! We'll also hear rants from the Republican war hawks who will claim that we should have stayed for a number of agenda driven reasons, not limited to but including the fake " Iran will now come and get US " rants. Then, we'll hear from those on the Left who will rant and rave about how disappointed they are that 50,000 troops are still remaining, despite the fact that those troops have been ordered to not be involved in any warlike activities at all. If the Sunnis and Shiites start going at each other, our troops are ordered not to get involved. Of course we'll hear the standard " does this spell doom for Obama/Dems " for miscellaneous reasons from both sides. We'll hear the fake, manipulating polls...we'll hear the " we've abandoned the vulnerable Iraqis ", although Iraq has the common epithet, the "Cradle of Civilization", as it was home to the earliest known civilization on Earth, been in existence for thousands of years, and managed to survive without America's presence for many, many centuries.

The media...blogs and every group with an agenda, every pundit...and every hater... will try to spin this major accomplishment in a negative light to suit their purpose. Bottom line though ...today is a Great Day for America...for our heroic troops...and yes...for Our President. And while everyone was stuck on the stupid issue of the mosque, the whole time our President was busy taking care of REAL issues.
Bringing Our Troops Home !


Thank You To Our Soldiers !


Click B4B Main Page for Video
LAST OF AMERICAN COMBAT
TROOPS LEAVE IRAQ !


THEY'RE COMING HOME !
Message From The President



Good afternoon,

Shortly after taking office, I put forward a plan to end the war in Iraq responsibly. Today, I'm pleased to report that -- thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians in Iraq -- our combat mission will end this month, and we will complete a substantial drawdown of our troops.

Over the last 18 months, over 90,000 U.S. troops have left Iraq. By the end of this month, 50,000 troops will be serving in Iraq. As Iraqi Security Forces take responsibility for securing their country, our troops will move to an advise-and-assist role. And, consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all of our troops will be out of Iraq by the end of next year. Meanwhile, we will continue to build a strong partnership with the Iraqi people with an increased civilian commitment and diplomatic effort.

A few weeks ago, men and women from one of the most deployed brigades in the U.S. Army, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, returned home from Iraq. The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden were at Fort Drum to welcome the veterans home and spoke about their personal experiences as a military family:Our commitment to our troops doesn't end once they come home -- it's only the beginning. Part of ending a war responsibly is meeting our responsibility to the men and women who have fought it. Our troops and their families have made tremendous sacrifices to keep our nation safe and secure, and as a nation we have a moral obligation to serve our veterans as well as they have served us.

That's why we're building a 21st century Department of Veterans Affairs. We've made one of the largest percentage increase in the VA’s budget in 30 years, and we're dramatically increasing funding for veterans' health across the board. In particular, we're delivering unprecedented resources to treat signature wounds of today's wars—Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Our sacred trust to take care of our veterans goes beyond simply healing the wounds incurred in battle. We must ensure that when our veterans leave the Armed Forces, they have the opportunities they need to further their education and support their families. Through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, some 300,000 veterans and families members have pursued a college degree. Others are taking advantage of job training and placement programs.

My Administration will continue to do our part to support the brave men and women in uniform that have sacrificed so much. But supporting our troops and their families is not just the job of the Federal Government; it's the responsibility of all Americans.

As we mark this milestone in the Iraq war and our troops continue to move out of Iraq, I hope you'll join me in thanking them, and all of our troops and military families, for their service.

Sincerely,
President Barack Obama

We SALUTE Our Heroic Soldiers.
Thank You !

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Monday, August 16, 2010


Pathetic Media...At It Again !
Falsely Claims President
Flip-Flopped on Mosque
WATCH: Video Dispels Lie

Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack


I knew on Friday, when President Obama announced that the Constitution protects the right for any religious facility to be built, including a mosque (although it's actually a community center...not a mosque) a few blocks away from Ground Zero, that the wing-nuts and birthers would be in high gear on Monday with ramped-up anti-Obama rhetoric in hopes of stirring their base since they have absolutely no stimulating agenda of any kind. But I am a bit surprised at the level of which the media has purposely mislead America with fake, dishonest reports that The President flip-flopped on his sentiment in a brief interview on CNN Saturday. Not only did he NOT flip nor flop...but he reiterated and actually strengthened his original position saying:

(President) " In this country, we treat everybody equally, regardless of race-regardless of religion. I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I WAS commenting very specifically on the Right that people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about and I think it's VERY important that as difficult as some of these issues are...that we stay focused on who WE are as a people...and what our values are all about " (end quote)

Now, for some reason, the media has been playing the first part of this clip repeatedly... the " I will not comment on the wisdom" part. But they stop it right there. OBVIOUSLY, if they would allow the rest of the segment to play, America would see that he in no way flip nor flopped...but stood his ground on the Constitution of Our Country. And just as spliced video was the culprit in the Shirley Sherrod fiasco, today's right-wing uproar is based on doctored video.....AGAIN ! This time, it's the MEDIA doing the doctoring ! And they call it the 'liberal media'. Yea Right ! Below is the entire segment as The President appeared....uncut....un-doctored...flip-flop free. Shame how we're manipulated by our media...like a third-world country.

WATCH PRESIDENT'S COMPLETE (flip-flop free)
MOSQUE STATEMENT:




Fight The Lies...
WITH TRUTH !


Click B4B Main for video
B4B Photo of the Week


(Greg Jones/B4B) During his weekend Gulf vacation, President Obama and youngest daughter Sasha take a cool dip in Saint Andrews Bay off of Alligator Point, in Panama City, Florida. Some had wondered if The President would swim in the waters following the oil spill and from the looks on their faces....the water's just fine.

To dispel all rumors/misinformation/lies that the Bay is some separate body of water
somehow non-connected to the Gulf waters, here is an aerial view of
St. Andrews Bay and the harbor entrance from the Gulf of Mexico.
In other words...the Bay waters ARE from the Gulf. View is to the east-northeast.


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Sunday, August 15, 2010


" Land of the Free...Home of the BRAVE "

....yea right !

I have NEVER seen such a bunch of COWARDS in my life (mostly on the Right).
Afraid of the Mexicans, afraid of the Muslims, afraid of The
Government, afraid of the Dems, afraid of The President, afraid of
Blacks, afraid of Iraq, afraid of Iran, afraid of N. Korea, afraid of
the Taliban, afraid of Al Queda, afraid of the gays, afraid of Hamas, afraid of the Left, afraid of 'anchor' babies, afraid of Hezbollah, afraid of unions, afraid of community organizers...and now...afraid of a building. PATHETIC !!!

(Greg Jones, National Director, Blacks4Barack
A multi-racial, net/grassroots org....Dedicated to TRUTH !)

Saturday, August 14, 2010


WATCH: President's Weekly Address
President Obama Promises to Protect Social Security
from Republican Plans to Privatize It

WASHINGTON – On the 75th anniversary of Social Security being signed into law, President Obama promised that he would protect it from the Republican leaders in Congress who have made privatization a key part of their agenda. Despite the financial crisis, they still believe that gambling Social Security on Wall Street is a good idea. This President will not let that happen. For several generations, Social Security has been a promise to America’s seniors – that they will have the chance to retire with dignity – and he will safeguard that promise.

WATCH ADDRESS:


B4B NOTE: The hot, new, anti-obama 'fear-du-jour' has been that the Fiscal Commission formed by The President is going to recommend all kinds of cuts to Social Security which will be extremely detrimental to recipients. This is absolutely NOT TRUE ! The President is dedicated to making certain that Social Security not only remains strong but also continues to serve everyone as it currently does. The concept of privatizing for corporate profits....won't happen. The idea of reducing benefits...won't happen. Boehner's desire to raise the age of eligibility to 70...won't happen. That is....unless the Republicans regain power...then frankly....we're ALL in big trouble. Another reason we MUST turn out in strong numbers this November. Spread the word. Get Fired Up ! Time to fight like your life (or check) depended on it...because it does !

It's Fight Time !

Click B4B Main for video

Friday, August 13, 2010

President Obama addresses guests at an iftar dinner, the meal that breaks
the dawn-to-dusk fast for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan,
at the White House. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)


JUST IN:
President Supports Plan for
Mosque Near Ground Zero


L.A. Times

President Obama on Friday took a strong stand in favor of building a mosque near the site where Muslim terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, breaking his silence on a political tempest that has left the country divided.

In prepared remarks for a White House dinner celebrating Ramadan, Obama framed the issue as one of religious freedom. Muslims, like anyone else, "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said. "That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."

The uproar over the proposed mosque has rekindled a debate over religious tolerance in a post-Sept. 11 society. Some relatives of Sept. 11 victims have come out against the mosque, as have prominent politicians. Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wrote in a Twitter feed that the mosque would be an "unnecessary provocation" at a time when the collapse of the Twin Towers was "too raw, too real."

A majority doesn't want to see the mosque built, surveys show. A CNN/Opinion Research poll earlier this month showed 68% opposed plans to build the mosque, with 29% in favor. Count as part of the minority New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who recently gave a speech defending the planned Islamic center.

In a statement released Friday night, Bloomberg said: "As I said last week, this proposed mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan is as important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime, and I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion tonight."

As the debate raged, Obama stayed out of it. As recently as last week, his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, described the matter as one "for New York City and the local community to decide."

But the White House's Ramadan celebration presented a unique moment for Obama to make his position known.

"Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of Lower Manhattan," he said in a prepared text released by the White House. "The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders."

That said, he added: "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable."

Supporting the mosque is a dicey proposition for Obama. Polls have shown a certain percentage of Americans mistakenly view him as a Muslim. He is Christian. Defending the mosque invites suspicion that he is overly sympathetic to the Muslim faith. At the same time, Obama has taken pains to reach out to the Muslim world. He gave a major speech in Cairo last year calling for "a new beginning" between the U.S. and Muslims.

At a time when unemployment is high and America is engulfed in two wars, the furor is one that Obama might have preferred to sidestep. But it isn't going away, and with the rest of the world looking on, Obama decided that his silence was no longer sustainable.

Get Ready !
The ' birther-nuts ' will be going
CRAZY over this one !

Wednesday, August 11, 2010


Stunning Third-World-Like
Scenes From Atlanta
Sad ! Thousands Crowd Housing Authority
just to get on Section 8 WAITING LIST !
(video)


Greg Jones
B4B National Director


As the Republicans do everything they can to literally crush the American middle-class by voting against all legislation designed to help economically, people across the country are suffering more each day. This video shows how thousands stood in Georgia's exhausting heat yesterday just for the opportunity to get an application for much needed public housing. As you'll see, it's like a scene in a third-world country. This should also serve as a notice that if the GOP does, in fact regain power and initiate their plans to cut much needed funding to states in hopes of forcing state and union bankruptcies...we can expect disgusting scenes like this to simply multiply.

Here's the video from The Ed Schultz Show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



We MUST Unite....Fight...
Against The GOP
to Literally Save America !

Click B4B Main Page for video