--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Commander in Chief, I will maintain…" description: "\"As Commander in Chief, I will maintain the strongest military in the world, keep faith with our troops and go after those who would do us harm. But aft..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/barack-obama-17_bridges_as-commander-in-chief-i-will-maintain-th_887412.jpg" --- # As Commander in Chief, I will maintain the strongest… ![“As Commander in Chief, I will maintain the strongest military in the world, keep faith with our troops and go after those who would do us harm. But after a decade of war, I think we all recognize we've got to do some nation building here at home, rebuilding our roads, our bridges and especially…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/barack-obama-17_bridges_as-commander-in-chief-i-will-maintain-th_887412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/barack-obama-17_bridges_as-commander-in-chief-i-will-maintain-th_887412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/barack-obama-17_bridges_as-commander-in-chief-i-will-maintain-th_887412.jpg) > “As Commander in Chief, I will maintain the strongest military in the world, keep faith with our troops and go after those who would do us harm. But after a decade of war, I think we all recognize we've got to do some nation building here at home, rebuilding our roads, our bridges and especially caring for our Veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedom.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strong defense and veteran care are essential, but rebuilding domestic infrastructure is also crucial. **In simple terms:** Defense and home repair both matter. Key Takeaway Invest in both security and infrastructure. Themes national security infrastructure veteran welfare Mood inspirational patriotic Type political motivational When to use this quote - military funding - road repairs - veteran health services - economic development Key Concepts public policy budget allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can we prioritize rebuilding? - What role should veterans play in policy? A Different Perspective Budget constraints limit simultaneous spending. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Commander in chief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commander-in-chief/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Nation building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-building/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Our troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-troops/) [Rebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebuilding/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [To ensure prosperity here at home and peace abroad, we all share the belief we have to maintain the strongest military on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/to-ensure-prosperity-here-at-home-and-peace-abroad-we-all-share-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-long-as-i-m-commander-in-chief-we-will-sustain-the-strongest/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think the American people recognize is after a decade of war it's time to do some nation building here at home. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-recognize-is-after-a-decade-of-war-it-s/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One thing Ive learned as commander in chief: Youve got to be clear, both to our allies & our enemies, about where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-thing-ive-learned-as-commander-in-chief-youve-got-to-be-clear/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the great things about being commander in chief is getting to know our men and women in uniform in a very intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-commander-in-chief-is-getting-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am the commander in chief of the United States armed forces, and Iraq is gonna have to ultimately provide for its own security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-the-commander-in-chief-of-the-united-states-armed-forces-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My first job as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe, and that's what we've done over the last 4 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-first-job-as-commander-in-chief-is-to-keep-the-american-people/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My first job as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-first-job-as-commander-in-chief-is-to-keep-the-american-people-safe/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You want to be commander-in-chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-want-to-be-commander-in-chief-you-can-start-by-standing-up-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the challenges over the last decade is America has done experiments in nation building in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-challenges-over-the-last-decade-is-america-has-done/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [After a decade of war, its time to do some nation building here at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/after-a-decade-of-war-its-time-to-do-some-nation-building-here-at-home/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Part of American leadership is making sure that we're doing nation building here at home. That will help us maintain the kind of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/part-of-american-leadership-is-making-sure-that-we-re-doing-nation/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington . . . I'm asking you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-asking-you-to-believe-not-just-in-my-ability-to-bring-about-real/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We have the largest economy and the strongest military in the world. Our core values of freedom and opportunity are ascendant around the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/we-have-the-largest-economy-and-the-strongest-military-in-the-world/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [We have to have the strongest military by far...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-have-the-strongest-military-by-far/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Bridges quotes > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you walk, try to think nothing! You can then obtain the silence of a streetlight or a bridge; stop thinking; after that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-walk-try-to-think-nothing-you-can-then-obtain-the-silence-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges do it for me in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/al-pacino-and-jeff-bridges-do-it-for-me-in-a-big-way/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Instead of building castles against your enemies, build bridges for them to come to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/instead-of-building-castles-against-your-enemies-build-bridges-for/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/each-person-is-an-island-unto-himself-in-a-very-real-sense-and-he-can/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-law-allows-rich-as-well-as-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) [Browse all 1,521 Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As Commander in Chief, I will maintain the strongest military in the world, keep faith with our troops and go after those who would do us harm. 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