1 of 4 | A workboat makes its way through crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico June 13, 2010, near the site of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. BP continued its attempts to stem the flow of oil from its rig, which exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico last month. UPI/A.J. Sisco.. |
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PENSACOLA, Fla., June 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama thanked military personnel for their service, whether in cleanup operations along the Gulf Coast or overseas in a theater of war.
No matter the mission -- laying boom, building barriers, helping people file claims or flying equipment into areas affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill or shipping out to serve elsewhere --"You stood tall and you said, 'I will serve,'" Obama said at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla.
"Obviously the news has been dominated lately by the oil spill, but our nation is at war and all of you have stepped forward," Obama said on the last leg of his three-state, two-day trip to areas affected by the spill. "You volunteered. You took an oath."
He repeated statements he made throughout his tour, including pledging to do everything possible to help the region recover from the environmental disaster.
"Yes, this is an unprecedented environmental disaster -- it's the worst in our nation's history. But we're going to continue to meet it with an unprecedented federal response and recovery effort," Obama said. "This is an assault on our shores, and we're going to fight back with everything we've got."
He repeated several previous announcements of what the administration will do to deal with the disaster, including measures to ensure gulf seafood is safe to eat, steps taken to protect cleanup workers and a new command structure to make sure states and local communities have the resources they need.
He drew applause when he repeated his oft-made pledge of "making sure BP pays for the damages that it has caused."
The oil spill isn't just an environmental disaster, it is an economic disaster in an area that relies on industries such as tourism and fishing, he said.
Obama also offered the thanks of the nation for their military service, telling the audience "your nation will stand with you every step of the way."
"I will not hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests." Obama said. "But I will also never risk your lives unless it's absolutely necessary," and will ensure troops have a clear strategy, the necessary equipment and the support needed.
As the U.S. military presence draws down in Iraq and ramps up in Afghanistan, Obama said, "We will disrupt and dismantle and ultimately defeat al-Qaida and its terrorist affiliates. And we will support the aspirations of people around the world as they seek progress and opportunity and prosperity, because that's what we do -- as Americans."
He repeated steps taken to improve services to military personnel and their families, including changes to the G.I. Bill and veterans benefits.
"None of these challenges we're facing are going to be easy," Obama said. "None of them are going to be quick, but make no mistake, the United States of America has gone through tough times before and we always come out stronger. And we will do so again."
