President Barack Obama greets sailors at .

President Barack Obama greets sailors at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla. (Gerald Herbert / AP Photo)

By Frank James

Appearing at the the Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida on Monday, President Barack Obama drew understandable cheers and applause from service members when he said he would take his time to deliberate before putting them in harm's way.

And while I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this -- and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary. (Applause.) And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt. Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, and the defined goals as well as the equipment and support that you need to get the job done. We are not going to have a situation in which you are not fully supported back here at home. That is a promise that I will always make to you. (Applause.)

The statement was meant as pushback against the president's critics, most recently former Vice President Dick Cheney, who have accused the president of taking too much time to decide on next steps in Afghanistan. The former vice president accused the president of "dithering" on the decision.

If their commander in chief had any doubts about the approach he's taking, the positive vocal response of the sailors and Marines to his vow to try and get the strategy right before deploying them could have only given him some reassurance.

categories: Obama Administration

7:23 - October 26, 2009

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