Biden says end to wars gives foreign policy new flexibility

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday that the United States can now focus on new global challenges after a long decade of war in an election-year commencement address to jubilant graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

"Winding down these long wars has enabled us to replace and rebalance our foreign policy," Biden told the Army cadets and their families at the storied academy's football stadium.

Biden's speech echoed some of the themes of military success struck by President Barack Obama in his commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Wednesday. Biden, like Obama, said U.S. combat troops have returned home from Iraq, the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down and American commandos killed al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

"Those warriors sent a message to the world that if you harm America, we will follow you to the end of the earth," Biden said.


Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/biden-says-end-to-wars-gives-foreign-policy-new-flexibility/1232248

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Vice President Joe Biden presents a diploma to valedictorian Alexander George Pagoulatos during a graduation and commissioning ceremony at West Point on Saturday.

[grasswire]

1. but Joe.....

...you've left exposed the corollary:

If you send America's same warriors into war based on lies and fraud, no one in power will even, ever, try to hold you accountable.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. Yeah, it gives them the flexibility to start new wars!

Apparently they've decided there's nothing more worth blowing up in AfPak or Iraq, so Yemen, Somalia, and Syria better watch out! Or perhaps the powers that be will decide that there's people in Mali, Nigeria, or some other part of Africa that need to be blown up.. There's always suitable targets somewhere in the world for US imperialism, no matter what party appears to be in power.

[CountAllVotes]

3. Hey Joe!

The more wars the merrier eh?

[may3rd]

4. ..a... where you going with that gun in your hand

Biden tells West Point cadets: prepare for new threats

....unveiled a new military strategy earlier this year that would "pivot" U.S. attention to Asia ...
...Biden was careful not to suggest there could be conflict looming in Asia, but said the growth of international commerce with the region made it necessary for the United States to give it more attention.

"The most critical relationship to get right is that between the United States and China

....The Obama administration also wants stronger ties with other emerging powers like India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey and South Africa, said Biden, who has played an important role advising the president on foreign policy as well as making his re-election case on the 2012 campaign trail.

He did not say what he expects to transpire in Iran and North Korea, where tensions about nuclear programs are running high, nor in Syria where street violence continues

....Biden said - - be ready to adapt their counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other training to new horizons, "from cyber space to outer space."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/26/us-usa-biden-military-idUSBRE84P0E020120526

[KoKo]

5. "This is your destiny....You are the leaders of your generation, the 9/11 generation..."

Last paragraph of the article:


"This is your destiny, to lead your country. You are the leaders of your generation, the 9/11 generation, which I predict will go down in history as the finest generation this nation has ever produced," he said.

Cheney couldn't have said it better. What is going on here?