Beltway Confidential

Obama: No war ‘unless it’s absolutely necessary’

By Charlie Spiering
Published May 28, 2012 4:00am ET
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Obama: No war ‘unless it’s absolutely necessary’
During remarks commemorating Memorial Day, President Obama expressed a great deal of empathy for families who had lost loved ones, and vowed not to go to war again ‘unless it’s absolutely necessary.’ “For the first time in nine years, Americans are not fighting and dying in Iraq,” he said. “We are winding down the war […]

During remarks commemorating Memorial Day, President Obama expressed a great deal of empathy for families who had lost loved ones, and vowed not to go to war again ‘unless it’s absolutely necessary.’

“For the first time in nine years, Americans are not fighting and dying in Iraq,” he said. “We are winding down the war in Afghanistan, and our troops will continue to come home. After a decade under the dark cloud of war, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon.” 

Later, Obama added that sending troops into war “is the most wrenching decision that I have to make.” 

“I can promise you I will never do so unless it’s absolutely necessary, and that when we do, we must give our troops a clear mission and the full support of a grateful nation,” he added.