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Biden defends the US military’s defense legacy
Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith offers conflicting views on President Biden’s legacy in a ‘Special Report’ as the president bids farewell to members of the US military.
President Biden on Thursday, he thanked members of the military for their “strength” and “integrity” as he gave his farewell speech in Virginia.
“Never in history have we asked our military to do so many different things in so many places, all at the same time,” the president said at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia. “And I want to be clear: you have accomplished all these missions with strength and, perhaps even more importantly, with integrity.”
Biden’s address to the troops came the morning after his farewell address to the nation, in which he said it was a “great honor” to serve as the 46th president.
It also comes four days before President-elect Trump inherits it.
WHILE TRUMP AND BIDEN CLAIM CREDIT FOR ISRAEL-HAMAS Ceasefire, SOME REPUBLICANS CALL IT A BAD DEAL
On Thursday, President Biden thanked members of the military for their “strength” and “integrity” as he delivered his farewell speech at the Department of Defense. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You all represent what America is: character, honesty, integrity, commitment,” Biden told the soldiers. “You are quite simply the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.”
The president said the troops “seized the opportunity” when he called for an end to the war in Afghanistan, “evacuating Americans, allies and our Afghan partners, achieving the largest airlift in military history and ending the war. That same courage has defined America’s service in Afghanistan for more than 20 years.” .”
He said he believed “history will show that it was the right thing to do, but I know, I know, it was hard after decades of losing your brothers and sisters, including [during the] withdrawal. The pain was still real. And it was for me too. I still wear it every day, every day.”
Biden has been criticized for the way he handled the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, when 13 American soldiers were killed.
He added that six months after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, “when Russia started its biggest war in Europe since World War II, I asked you to help defend Ukraine. You did not hesitate. You kept Ukraine in the fight, trained Ukrainian soldiers and pilots , troops, you have strengthened NATO’s eastern flank and, above all, you have shown the world that America stands for freedom, that it stands with our friends.”
DURING THE FAREWELL ADDRESS, BIDEN THANKS THE AMERICANS FOR THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING THE PRESIDENT
Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, during the Commander-in-Chief Farewell Ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He also advertised Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamaswhich was released on Wednesday and first mentioned in his farewell address to the nation.
“The path to that agreement was not easy,” he admitted, saying that he “laid the elements of that agreement eight months ago.”
President-elect Trump also took credit for the ceasefire.
“This EPIC cease-fire agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November, because it signaled to the world that my administration will seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. “I am delighted that the American and Israeli hostages will return home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at Commander-in-Chief Biden’s send-off celebration on Thursday. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In his speech, Biden also thanked military families who “sacrifice so much.”
“Most Americans never see the sacrifices you make every day,” he continued. “Never see all those holidays and birthdays with an empty seat at the table because mom or dad was deployed. Never see all the moves you had to make to new states, to new schools, to new jobs.”
He added near the end of his speech: “You are truly the best fighting force in the history of the world,” adding that the US military has the best training, weapons, ships and aircraft.
But that alone is not what makes us strong, he said. “These are our values. American values. Our commitment to honor, integrity, unity, protection and defense. Not persons, parties or places, but ideas.”
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Before Biden’s speech, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked Biden for his service in their remarks, which were part of the commander-in-chief’s farewell tribute to the president.
