U.S. President Barack Obama onMonday reflected the "hard lessons" of the Vietnam War, calling it"one of the most painful chapters in our history," as the countrybegins a 13-year commemoration that marks the 50th anniversary ofmajor U.S. engagement in the war. Speaking during a ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial in downtownWashington, Obama said the anniversary can remind the country tonever forget "the lessons of that war", including when sendingsoldiers into harm's way, adding "we will always give them a clearmission; we will always give them a sound strategy." "We will resolve that leaders will be candid about the risks andabout progress -- and have a plan to bring our troops home, withhonor," said the president.
He continued to mark "the costs of war, including the terrible lossof innocent civilians -- not just in Vietnam, but in all wars, "noting "war itself is not glorious. We hate war." "Because of the hard lessons of Vietnam," said Obama, "we now useAmerican power smarter, we honor our military more, we take care ofour veterans better." The ceremony kickstarted a 13-year commemoration of the unpopularVietnam War, during which over 58,000 U.S. soldiers lost theirlives, and as Obama puts it, a war "some have called... a scar onour country." As the United States commemorates the Vietnam War, Obama is alsotaking the day to remind voters he brought an end to the Iraq War,and is winding down the Afghanistan War.
During a speech he gaveearlier in the day, Obama said at the Arlington National Cemeterythat "after a decade under the dark cloud of war, we can see thelight of the new day on the horizon." "For the first time in nine years," he said, "Americans are notfighting and dying in Iraq. We are winding down the war inAfghanistan, and our troops will continue to come home." He also echoed the theme of his Vietnam War speech at ArlingtonCemetery, promising to never send the military into harm's way "unless it's absolutely necessary," and when he does, he would givethe troops "a clear mission and the full support" of a nation. Obama also used the opportunity to promise better care forveterans, a crucial voting bloc in the upcoming election, saying "let's resolve to take care of our veterans as well as they've takencare of us -- not just talk, but actions," vowing to give betterhealthcare, job opportunities and housing help to veterans. Obama is competing with Republican candidate Mitt Romney forveterans' votes, and polls show he lagged behind. I am a professional writer from Rubber Chemicals, which contains a great deal of information about bbr dirt bike , trampolines with enclosure, welcome to visit!
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