Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

bigtree

(85,919 posts)
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 10:47 AM Jun 2014

"This is not some abstraction; some political football...As CiC I'm responsible for these kids"

Last edited Thu Jun 5, 2014, 04:06 PM - Edit history (2)

President Obama quoted at joint news conference this morning in Brussels:


PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm never surprised by controversies that are whipped up in Washington, all right? That's -- that's par for the course. But I'll repeat what I said two days ago. We have a basic principle. We do not leave anybody wearing the American uniform behind. We had a prisoner of war whose health had deteriorated and we were deeply concerned about. And we saw an opportunity and we seized it. And I make no apologies for that.

We had discussed with Congress the possibility that something like this might occur. But because of the nature of the folks that we were dealing with and the fragile nature of these negotiations, we felt it was important to go ahead and do what we did. And we're now explaining to Congress the details of how we moved forward.

But this basic principle that we don't leave anybody behind and this basic recognition that often means prisoner exchanges with enemies is not unique to my administration. It dates back to the beginning of our republic, and with respect to how we announced it, I think it was important for people to understand that this is not some abstraction. This is not a political football. You have a couple of parents whose kid volunteered to fight in a distant land who they hadn't seen in five years and weren't sure whether they'd ever see again.

And as commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces, I am responsible for those kids, and I get letters from parents who say, if you are, in fact, sending my child into war, make sure that that child is being taken care of. And I write too many letters to folks who, unfortunately, don't see their children again after fighting a war. I make absolutely no apologies for making sure that we get back a young man to his parents and that the American people understand that this is somebody's child and that we don't condition whether or not we make the effort to try to get them back.


read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obama-defends-bergdahl-prisoner-swap/2014/06/05/2cdc88cc-ecbb-11e3-b98c-72cef4a00499_story.html

watch:


10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"This is not some abstraction; some political football...As CiC I'm responsible for these kids" (Original Post) bigtree Jun 2014 OP
All perfect except calling a 28 year old a kid has been gaining popularity lately by a lot of folks yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #1
Especially a soldier. BlueCheese Jun 2014 #4
I use the term a lot with my 30-something boys bigtree Jun 2014 #5
He may be using the term to bring home the fact that they ARE someone's kid Blaukraut Jun 2014 #7
How old was he when he went over there? FSogol Jun 2014 #9
23 yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #10
Good on Obama: stick a fucking thumb in their eye alcibiades_mystery Jun 2014 #2
update: WaPo transcript bigtree Jun 2014 #3
kick bigtree Jun 2014 #6
update: video in op bigtree Jun 2014 #8
 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
1. All perfect except calling a 28 year old a kid has been gaining popularity lately by a lot of folks
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

But great job again Mr. President!

bigtree

(85,919 posts)
5. I use the term a lot with my 30-something boys
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 11:45 AM
Jun 2014

. . . they haven't objected at all since . . . they were kids.

I'm sure the parents of those troops he's referring to appreciate the words and the sentiment.

Blaukraut

(5,689 posts)
7. He may be using the term to bring home the fact that they ARE someone's kid
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 01:32 PM
Jun 2014

Not just young adults in a vacuum.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»"This is not some ab...