Here is a quick overview how several major media outlets are covering President Obama's major speech on his military strategy and philosophy.
Mark Landerly of The New York Times write ‘America Must Always Lead,’ Obama Tells West Point Graduates
WEST POINT, N.Y. — President Obama on Wednesday tried to regain his statesman’s mantle, telling graduating cadets here that the nation they were being commissioned to serve would still lead the world and would not stumble into military misadventures overseas.
“America must always lead on the world stage,” he said. “But U.S. military action cannot be the only – or even primary – component of our leadership in every instance. Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail.”
Under pressure from critics who say the United States has been rudderless amid a cascade of crises, the president said that those who “suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away – are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics.”
Tom Cohen, Jim Acosta and Kevin Liptak, CNNObama outlines foreign policy vision of 'might and right, saying, "I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being," liad out his vision for American defense strategy.
He told graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that after the nation's "long season of war and divisions about how to move forward," they now would represent America with the duty "not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just."
Under fire from the political right for what critics call diminishing U.S. global influence, Obama offered a robust defense of his foreign policy as the pragmatic and most effective expression of America's leadership role in the world.
"I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being," he said, referring to a tenet of conservative ideology.
"But what makes us exceptional is not flouting international norms and the rule of law; it's our willingness to affirm them through our actions," Obama said in arguing that true leadership involves not only having the world's most powerful military, but in doing the right thing.
Carol E. Lee Obama Outlines Vision for Foreign Policy:At West Point Commencement, President Lays Out New Criteria for Military Deployment, saying he "would ramp up support for Syrian rebels who offer an alternative to terrorism."
WEST POINT, N.Y.—President Barack Obama on Wednesday committed to a deeper involvement in the civil war in Syria and said U.S. resources should be used for diplomatic efforts and targeted counterterrorism missions rather than broad military engagements—the configuration of American power he wants to place on the world stage before leaving office.
"A strategy that involves invading every country that harbors terrorist networks is naïve and unsustainable," Mr. Obama said. "I believe we must shift our counter-terrorism strategy—drawing on the successes and shortcomings of our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan—to more effectively partner with countries where terrorist networks seek a foothold."
As part of that, Mr. Obama announced a new $5 billion fund to help countries combat terrorism, which he said continues to be the most direct threat to the U.S. at home and overseas. The money would require congressional approval.
This is just an initial survery. I will add other to updates.
Conceptually, it is an excellent speech. President Obama delivery was not up to his usually energetic and inspiring standard. Perhaps, he was trying to address the subject with somberness and gravitas.
In terms of policy, the White House says it is pleased and the President said what he needed to say, laying out an integrated philosophy and pointing out many successes.
Without going into the reports of what appears to be the realities of what we appear to be doing an many places with drone strikes, the words and espoused philosophy of this speech I think are solid and certainly fair better than the neocon interventionist approach.
Wolf Blitzer of CNN is interviewing Senator John McCain who is already criticizing President Obama for announcing yesterday a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. McCain is "offended" and grumpy as hell, objecting to the way the President characterized critics.
Secretary of State John Kerry responded to that criticism this morning saying if we did not set hard deadlines the Afghans would never step up and take the responsibility and we would be there forever.
McCain also says it breaks his heart to see the Syrian people suffering and wants stronger intervention.