I'm NOT WEAK: Obama answers critics in West Point speech and insists the US must lead the world by example – 'If we don't, no one else will'

'I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being,' the president insisted

Yet he used the words 'partner' and 'partnership' 16 times in his speech at West Point, outlining a contradictory foreign policy



Obama replaced the phrase 'collective action' – in his prepared remarks – with the words 'multilateral action' several times

Working through NATO and the UN will dominate American foreign policy, Obama said: 'This is American leadership, American strength'



Presid ent Barack Obama said Wedne sday that he would 'work with Congress to ramp up support for those in the Syrian opposition who offer the best alternative to terrorists and a brutal dictator.'

But the central theme of his foreign policy-heavy address was that American strength would continue to come by working through international coalitions.

Obama called for diplomacy and 'multilateral action' in the face of global threats. His prepared remarks, distributed by the White House, replaced that phrase with the words 'collective action.'



Receiving tepid applause and a short standing ovation from less than one-quarter of the audience upon his introduction, Obama argued for a contradictory foreign policy that relies on NATO and the United Nations while insisting that 'America must always lead on the world stage.'

'If we don’t, no one else will,' he insisted.

But 'we require partners,' he said, using the words 'partner' or 'partnership' 16 times in his speech.

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I'm NOT WEAK: The president argued for a contradictory foreign policy that insists on American exceptionalism while he delegates authority to international coalitions NO SALUTE: Top graduates saluted Obama as they received their diplomas, but the president offered handshakes in return Tension: protesters gathered outside the gates of the United States Military Academy, arguing against continued military involvement overseas -- as Obama pledged to work through the UN and NATO The president told the jubilant corps of graduating cadets that the U.S. remains the world's most indispensable nation, even after a 'long season of war,' but also argued for military restraint and a greater reliance on foreign nations Not just fighting men: About 17 per cent of West Point's student body is female cadets

His speech, delivered during the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, indicated a softening of the White House's reluctance to put American military resources in the hands of Syrians fighting against Bashar al-Assad.

'We will step up our efforts to support Syria’s neighbors,' he said, making sure that 'those countries, and not just the United States, are contributing their fair share of support to the Syrian people.'

But he also said he would rely on other countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq to 'confront terrorists working across Syrian borders.'



White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to West Point that 'we look at the Syria conflict as part of a broader counterterrorism challenge.'

'That is why we're going to continue increasing our support to the moderate opposition, who offer the best alternative to both the murderous Assad dictatorship and the extremists who have exploited the crisis.'

It's not clear what form that support will take, or if the U.S. will offer any of it on its own.

He did say that America 'will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our core interests demand it – when our people are threatened; when our livelihood is at stake; or when the security of our allies is in danger.'

But 'when issues of global concern that do not pose a direct threat to the United States are at stake – when crises arise that stir our conscience or push the world in a more dangerous direction – then the threshold for military action must be higher,' he said.



'In such circumstances, we should not go it alone.'

President Obama handed out diplomas to the graduating class, which consisted of about 1,100 soon-to-be-commissioned officers in the U.S. military

Dress uniforms on future fighters: Obama told happy graduating cadets that they might never be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan

'Multilateral action: Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin (top, arm raised) and China's deputy U.N. Ambassador Wang Min (bottom, arm raised) voted in the UN Security Council against referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court for investigation of war crimes Obama's remarks came at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. He proposed a $5 billion fund to help other countries fight terrorism Not a G.I.: The civilian commander-in-chief put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem on Wednesday, while active-duty military saluted the U.S. flag

Indeed, Obama's central foreign policy argument on Wednesday was that while he 'believe[s] in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being,' American leadership in his administration will continue to consist of working through international coalitions.

'This is American leadership, American strength,' he said.



House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce slammed Obama for bringing about 'a general loss of U.S. credibility, making successful foreign policy nearly impossible'

'Of course, skeptics often downplay the effectiveness of multilateral action,' he allowed. 'For them, working through international institutions, or respecting international law, is a sign of weakness. I think they’re wrong.'

He told West Point cadets that 'in the course of your service, you will work as a team with diplomats and development experts. You will get to know allies and train partners.'

'You will embody what it means for America to lead.'

'By most measures,' the president said, 'America has rarely been stronger relative to the rest of the world. Those who argue otherwise – who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away – are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics.'

Republicans in Congress have consistently argued that Obama has weakened the United States. Polls in Europe and elsewhere indicate that citizens of foreign nations have lowered the opinions of the United States since he took office.

Rep. Ed Royce, a California Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement after Obama's speech that the president has made foreign policy 'assurances' since taking office in 2009, '[b]ut too often, strong words have been followed by weak actions, or no actions.'

'The result has been a general loss of U.S. credibility, making successful foreign policy nearly impossible.'

'The Obama Administration has consistently underestimated the threats we face,' he said, citing Iran, North Korea and al-Qaeda.

Applause: During his speech, a broad defense of his foreign policy, Obama took a moment to recognize the former West Point cadets who are serving in uniform in the Middle East

Matthew Mayeaux, the 2014 class "goat" who had the lowest GPA, holds up a bundle of money from his classmates -- $1 ion cash from each -- after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Obama continued the tradition of presidents and vice presidents addressing West Point graduating classes with a contradictory foreign policy speech that argued both for American strength and for 'multilateral action' overseas

Supporting Syria's neighbors: Syrian citizens who live in Lebanon gathered on Wednesday as Obama was speaking -- shouting slogans, and carrying portraits of Syrian President Bashar Assad as they walked to the Syrian embassy to vote in presidential elections Terror in Syria: A barrel-bomb attack his the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on May 26; the city is split into opposition and regime-held territories

He drew cheers from graduating cadets – far more robust applause than his speech itself – by announcing a symbolic pardon for those who were 'on restriction due to minor conduct offenses' as students.



As they graduate, cadets are released from those punishments automatically.

The president's biggest applause line was not for a policy position, but in praise of a former West Point cadet who was wounded in Afghanistan.

Gavin White 'lost one of his legs in an attack,' Obama said. 'I met him last year at Walter Reed. He was wounded, but just as determined as the day that he arrived here. He developed a simple goal.

