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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration (Ret) speech at Democratic Convention

Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration (Ret)
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 07:15 PM
I’m honored to share the stage with those who have served our country with distinction, officers who share my pride and appreciation for our men and women in uniform and their families, veterans who share my commitment to making Barack Obama our commander-in-chief.

I know this stadium is filled with many veterans who have sacrificed for our country. I’d like to ask everyone who has worn the uniform of the United States to please stand and be recognized. Join me in a round of applause in appreciation for their service.

Thank you.

Before I go any further, I have a confession to make: until recently, I was a Republican. But you’ll be happy to know that I’m looking forward to voting for Barack Obama in November.Let me tell you about the journey that led me to Mile High. I moved to Congo when I was a year old. My parents were missionary teachers. The first words I learned were in Swahili.

My family had to be evacuated and we ended up as refugees. So I learned at an early age to value freedom and the ideals of America.I am proud to have served in the United States Air Force for over three decades. I’ve served in combat with many who are here tonight. We know what America needs in our next commander-in-chief.In 2005, I was director of strategy, plans, and policy at United States European Command. That’s when I met a leader unlike any I had met before. That’s when I met Barack Obama.

Senator Obama wanted to know what the military was doing in Europe, Eurasia, and Africa and he wanted to know why we were doing it. He asked tough questions, and he didn’t settle for easy answers. It was this same way of thinking that led him to get it right, when he opposed the war in Iraq, when he warned of its consequences. That’s the judgment of a leader.In 2006, I went with Senator Obama to Africa, and experienced firsthand the leadership that America needs. In the shadow of Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, I saw a leader with the understanding to build new bridges over old divides. That leader is Barack Obama.

In Nairobi, I saw a leader with the courage to confront corruption directly with the president of Kenya. In Chad, I saw a leader who listened to the stories of refugees from Darfur – a leader committed to end that genocide.

In Djibouti, I saw a leader who relaxed with our troops on the basketball court, who won their respect and admiration in discussions around the dinner table, and who appreciates their service.That leader is Barack Obama. Leadership does matter. And we can’t afford four more years of more of the same.When I consider who should be commander-in-chief, I ask four questions.

First, who has the judgment to make the right decisions about when to use force? In his words of caution before the invasion of Iraq, and in his consistent calls for more force against al-Qaida and the Taliban, Barack Obama has shown the judgment to lead.

Second, who grasps the complex threats of the 21st century? Barack Obama understands these challenges. He has a strategy to use all elements of our power to keep America safe.

Third, who has the integrity, vision, values, and patriotism to inspire Americans to serve? I have seen firsthand this man’s capacity to inspire. It is second to none. I know he will inspire a new generation of Americans to serve our country.

And fourth, who has the dedication to take care of our wounded warriors, veterans, and military families? Barack Obama is a friend of our military. He improved care for wounded warriors. He fought to make disability payments fair. He took on the battle against homelessness among our veterans. As president, he will fully fund the VA and make it more effective.This grandson of a soldier who marched in Patton’s army understands America’s sacred trust with those who serve. He will keep it as our commander-in-chief. Yes, leadership does matter.

Our men and women in uniform perform superbly around the globe. We need a commander-in-chief who respects them as our most precious resource.I cannot forget that night in 1996 when terrorists attacked our barracks at Khobar Towers. Nurses and doctors worked frantically to save lives. I remember seeing a para-rescue crewman putting stitches in a patient while a friend held a compress on the corpsman’s forehead to stop his bleeding. Our men and women at Khobar towers made me proud to be in the military, proud to be an American. Nineteen men died that night. Eighteen of them worked for me.

It was a poignant reminder that “life itself is a gift,” and no, freedom is not free.I have served under six commanders-in-chief.

My journey led me here because I know that leadership does matter. That is why I am enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama to be our next president. He is the leader our military needs. He is the leader our country needs.
Thank you, and may God bless America.
http://www.demconvention.com/j-scott-gration/

4 comments:

  1. As a veteran of the USAF (1960-64) and a retired US Army Chaplain (1984-2000), a lifelong Democrat, but one who voted once for Ronald Reagan, I applaud General Gration. We must all understand that "LEADERSHIP does matter!"

    It amazes me that anyone remains loyal to the Republican Party and respects the Bush Administration. I and all my family will cast votes for Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they are wise leaders, clear thinkers, workers for improvement of our government and the ways it helps Americans.

    I have supported the candidacy of General Wesley Clark, who was my commanding general in the First Cavalry Division (1993-94). I forgive him that he didn't run this time and that he supported Hilary Clinton, when Barack Obama is truly more capable of serving as President, freer of lobbyist influences, owing fewer institutions his loyalty. I still believe that General Clark will make a refreshing and most capable Secretary of Defense or of State, wherever President Obama needs his wisdom and diplomatic skills. As President Obama steers our nation in right directions again, he can count on Wes Clark to guide either Defense or State wisely.

    And, if President Obama places Wes Clark in the Defense Department, Bill Richardson is fully capable of serving as our Secretary of State. All of our Democratic Senators are needed in the US Senate for the next few years, so I would urge President Obama to select his cabinent nominees from neither the House nor the Senate but from career statesmen and women. And each of them must be vetted to avoid those too loyal to the lobbyists and corporate executives, as too many were in the Bush Administration, which is noted for the corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement of crisis after crisis.

    General Gration testified in this speech to Barack Obama's competence, insight, courage, and judgment. His statements about Senator Obama underscore our need to elect him as our President if we want to restore America's reputation and to create a more just USA! God bless them and the USA!

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  2. Great comment and thank you for sharing that. It amazes me as well. Several years ago while trying to get the Republican loyalists involved in taking care of our veterans and treating the troops for their wounds, they were more interested in fighting against anyone paying attention than they were helping the troops and veterans. It boggles my mind how these people can assume just because they support the "mission" they are in fact supporting the troops. Supporting the truth and holding leaders accountable would be supporting them. Instead, they simply supported Bush and refused to hold him accountable for anything. I know good people on both sides of the Iraq debate. It's almost as if they want to only focus on what divides them than what they have in common. No one really debated the need to address Afghanistan but somehow the necessity was regarded as being anti-war and against the troops. Go figure how the media played right into it and fed it.

    To this day, I don't know what happened to common sense in this country.

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  3. I thank General Gration for his service and this speech. I am grateful for all those who have served with him and who now support our candidate for President, Barack Obama. I have been a long time Republican, voting only for President Jimmy Carter, but I am becoming a Democrat.

    I listened to all the speakers at the Democratic Convention, but General Gration's was the best to dispell the McCain campaign allegations that Obama is not experienced enough or wise enough to serve as our Commander-in-Chief.

    My first husband returned from Vietnam as a US Army officer with a Bronze Star, and later snapped from PTSD. I opposed that war while I supported those who served in it with my husband. With that as my history I strongly opposed the invasion of Iraq and the cost it would make our troops pay so that corporate America could make profits for greedy stockholders with the pretense of bringing democracy to Iraq. I participated in my first protest in Washington in opposition to this war. I am married to a retired US Army Major, who encouraged my participation.

    We both support Obama and are disappointed that the Florida Democratic Party ran Kosmas against our choice for the 24th Congressional District seat: CLINT CURTIS, who would easily have defeated Rep. Tom Feeney, the Republican incumbent. We need the strongest majority possible in both wings of the Capitol that the Democratic Party has ever mustered so that we CAN accomplish the goals of the Obama Presidency!

    I did not want to vote for Hilary Clinton, but I believe with all my heart that the Obamas and the Bidens will bring back the moral character which our country desperately needs and win the respect of nations around the world.

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  4. It is appalling that some Republicans refuse to understand history exposed this administrations ambivalence to those who serve. The fact of the long, brutal battle for Afghanistan did not make it a moral imperative to increase funding and staffing for the VA escaped their brains. The Russians had far more troops in Afghanistan trying to tame it and they lost after years. This should have caused alarm bells to sound to prepare the VA for the wounded, but instead, they cut funding. As for Iraq, given the fact they had plenty of time to do this with no real urgency, again they did not prepare the VA to take care of the wounded. The speeches made following the Gulf War by all involved defending their decision to not take Iraq back then, were all forgotten about. Even Cheney, who was Secretary of Defense at the time said that had they gone into Iraq it would have been a quagmire. They all knew what would happen but they just didn't care about the troops who they would send to do it. There were less doctors and nurses working for the VA with two occupations going on than there employed after the Gulf War, but all this is ignored in their own mind. Our troops and veterans suffer the consequences of their lack of ability to research any of this and pay attention. I applaud you.

    My husband is also a Vietnam Vet with PTSD and a Bronze Star. I didn't support Vietnam but then again, I didn't really pay attention to it either. I was only 10 when my husband was there. My father was a Korean War vet so my heart was tugged for the veterans on both sides. They were, after all, just men and women who were doing what they had to do. Some went willingly, like my husband and some were drafted. The point is that when they came home, nothing was there to take care of them.

    It's the same thing now. They serve, willing to lay down their lives for what this country asks of them, willing to die for their brothers and sisters in arms, yet this nation allows them to suffer and finds no disgust with the fact they are forced to fight the same government to have their wounds tended to.

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