I have a very specific mission this week: explain exactly why I, as a 32-year Air Force fighter pilot with more than 1,000 hours of combat and combat-support flight time under my belt, including 274 combat flight missions over Iraq, support Senator Barack Obama to be our next Command in Chief.
It’s not a difficult question to answer.
Simply put, Barack Obama has the judgment, wisdom, courage, experience, and leadership capability that we desperately need in the next commander of our nation’s precious resources – our men and women in uniform.
I met Barack Obama last August, when I accompanied him on a 5-nation, 15-day tour of Africa.
On that trip I gained a deep understanding of the leadership qualities that Senator Obama would bring to the presidency.
One story from that trip in particular sticks out. It happened during our stop in Kenya. It was Senator Obama’s third trip back to his father’s homeland and it was an incredibly moving experience.
In Kenya we met with President Mwai Kibaki. Kenya has a history of difficulties with government corruption. It would have been easy for Senator Obama to stay on the edges of the conversation and not push any controversial issues. After all, he was a relatively new U.S. Senator.
But Senator Obama didn’t do that. His broad life experience has given him courage and judgment beyond what we might expect.
Senator Obama looked President Kibaki in the eye, and with a respectful but forceful tone, urged him to work on the issues that are keeping Kenya from progressing as a nation.
It was an incredible thing to watch. It was also very instructive and told me a lot about his character and courage.
That was just one moment on that trip that gave me so much insight into who Senator Obama is as a leader.
The other big factor for me is Senator Obama’s longtime opposition to the war in Iraq. Senator Obama had the courage in 2002 to oppose the war. It was not politically expedient at the time, and it was not easy. But Senator Obama had the courage to oppose the war, and the judgment and wisdom to understand the consequences of a protracted occupation of Iraq.
And while Senator Obama opposed the strategy of this war from the beginning, he understands the value of our service men and women. He understands that they are a precious resource and that we make a sacred promise to them when they sign up – if you serve your country, your country will take care of you and your family when your service is up.
But Senator Obama also knows that sometimes it is necessary to use our military to protect us. He knows that’s the most important decision a president makes and he takes it seriously. And I have full faith in his ability to make the right decision when that time comes.
It is for these reasons that I am absolutely confident that Senator Obama’s judgment will make him a great Commander in Chief.
As a longtime military officer, I don’t take this decision lightly. Who we have commanding our military is of utmost importance.
And my assessment is that Barack Obama is the best person to take on that responsibility.
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