| Nothing makes me prouder than the brave men and women who serve, and have served, to protect our national security and advance the cause of freedom. They are fighting valiantly in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world, and our freedom and peace at home depend on the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces.
The situation in Iraq is far from perfect, but the change I saw in my recent trip compared to my previous one was substantial. Now, I don’t imagine the situation will be resolved by September, or anytime soon after that. But the steps we’re taking right now will determine what the military reports to Congress this fall. We’re seeing progress, and we just now have the full surge in place. Now isn’t the time to lose our will in our fight against the terrorists in Iraq.
I firmly believe in maintaining a strong national defense and support the Bush Administration’s commitment to winning the war on terrorism, sustaining current military readiness, transforming the way the nation defends itself, and enhancing American intelligence capabilities.
Our military is the strongest in the world, and I support our renewed commitment to giving our troops the resources they need. And for those troops who have concluded their service, I am committed to ensuring that we provide for the health and security of our veterans, especially those with service-related disabilities, those in desperate financial need, and those who require the Department of Veterans Affairs’ specialized services. |
