US 'Will Maintain Strongest Military On Planet'

Barack Obama Says US 'Will Maintain Strongest Military On Planet', As Clinton Confirmed Top Diplomat

President-Elect Barack Obama has declared that the United States should maintain the "strongest military on the planet", while aiming to restore his country's global moral leadership.

By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 1:26PM GMT 02 Dec 2008
Courtesy Of The Telegraph



Mr Obama promised greater use of diplomacy and greater emphasis on building alliances around the world as he formally introduced his national security team, which included Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

But the former Illinois senator, whose rise was built on his opposition to the Iraq war, delivered a message of surprising toughness that at times could have come from George W Bush.

Mr Obama said: "To ensure prosperity here at home and peace abroad, we all share the belief we have to maintain the strongest military on the planet."

With the responsibilities of office just seven weeks away, he added that his administration was "absolutely committed to eliminating the threat of terrorism".

"We cannot tolerate a world where innocents are being killed by extremists," Mr Obama said in the wake of Bombay attacks, adding that he was "heartbroken" by the deaths of six Americans in the massacre.

"We have to bring the full force of our power, not only military but diplomatic and political, to deal with the threats," he said, also vowing that the US would stand with India.

Flanked by his new appointments, Mr Obama said he was a "believer in strong personalities and strong opinions", in order to avoid the White House lapsing into "group think". But, recalling the model of former President Harry Truman, he said that "the buck will stop with me".

Mr Obama offered fulsome praise for Hillary Clinton, whom he confirmed as secretary of state and his most controversial appointment. During the Democratic primary campaign he repeatedly criticised her support in the senate for the Iraq war, and dismissed her foreign experience as first lady as little more than drinking tea on the fringes of power.

Acknowledging that "it is fun for the press to stir up old quotes" from the heat of a campaign, he referred to Mrs Clinton as a "dear friend" and left the stage arm in arm with his former foe.

Janet Napolitano will be the new head of homeland security, and Susan Rice, will be ambassador to the United Nations.

Eric Holder, will become the first black attorney general if confirmed.

Robert Gates is staying on as defence secretary, and Gen James Jones, a former marine who led Nato in Afghanistan and who since November 2007 has acted as a special security envoy in the Middle East, becomes national security adviser.

All of Mr Obama’s nominees are expected to win quick confirmation in the Democratic-controlled Senate.