John McCain

thank you __PUNCT__ major gener marti umbarg __PUNCT__ for that kind introduct __PUNCT__

colonel al faber __PUNCT__ major gener poythress __PUNCT__ brigadi_gener arflack __PUNCT__ taylor __PUNCT__ and ross __PUNCT__ i thank you gentlemen as well __PUNCT__

and let me add a warm hello to my good_friend major gener stan spear of south_carolina __PUNCT__ and to brigadi_gener steve koper __PUNCT__ and lieuten gener john conawai __PUNCT__

it an honor to join with all of you again for thi __NUM__ gener confer __PUNCT__

and i bring greet from the governor of the great state of alaska __PUNCT__ sarah_palin __PUNCT__

everi dai in thi countri and across the world __PUNCT__ the men and women of the nation_guard ar give brave and faith servic __PUNCT__

everyon who wear the uniform of the unit_state ha accept the call of servic to a caus greater than self __PUNCT__

thi hard call is what defin the citizen soldier of the nation_guard __PUNCT__ and america is in your debt __PUNCT__

as we meet __PUNCT__ guard member ar serv in iraq and afghanistan __PUNCT__ while still other have just return from a train mission in the nation of georgia __PUNCT__

other guardsmen ar still work to bring order and safeti to the victim of hurrican ik along the texa coast __PUNCT__ just as thei did after katrina __PUNCT__

our nation_face mani challeng __PUNCT__

we have all watch the crisi on wall_street thi past week __PUNCT__ and i would like to address that for just a moment __PUNCT__

last fridai __PUNCT__ i propos a plan for comprehens reform of the broken institut that allow thi crisi to becom a grave threat to our economi __PUNCT__

at the center of the plan is the principl that we must keep peopl in their home and safe guard the life_save of all american by protect our financi_system and capit_market __PUNCT__

senat_obama ha declin to put forth a plan of hi own __PUNCT__

at a time of crisi __PUNCT__ when leadership is need __PUNCT__ senat obama ha not provid it __PUNCT__

we saw thi same lack of leadership on iraq __PUNCT__

becaus of the sacrific and persever of all the troop __PUNCT__ activ __PUNCT__ duti __PUNCT__ guard __PUNCT__ and reserv __PUNCT__ victori in iraq is final in sight __PUNCT__

my oppon __PUNCT__ senat obama __PUNCT__ like to sai that the surg in iraq wa more success that anyon could have predict at the time __PUNCT__

he said that the surg succeed __PUNCT__ beyond our wildest_dream __PUNCT__

that hi wai of sai that it took him by surpris __PUNCT__

and to thi dai senat_obama still cannot bring himself to admit hi own failur in judgment __PUNCT__

for a gui who talk so much about hope __PUNCT__ he didn't hold out much hope for victori in iraq __PUNCT__

instead __PUNCT__ he commit the greater error of insist that even in hindsight __PUNCT__ he would oppos the surg __PUNCT__

even in retrospect __PUNCT__ he would choos the path of retreat and failur for america over the path of success and victori __PUNCT__

behind all of these claim and posit by senat obama li the ambit to be presid __PUNCT__

what miss is the judgment to be command in chief __PUNCT__

in short __PUNCT__ both candid in thi elect pledg to end thi war and bring our troop_home __PUNCT__

the great differ is that i intend to win it first __PUNCT__

the achiev of our troop in iraq is even greater becaus thei had to press on even as some politician back_home were tell america and the world that our caus wa too hard __PUNCT__ and all wa lost __PUNCT__ and retreat wa our onli option __PUNCT__

those politician panick when thing got tough __PUNCT__ which seem to be a pattern with my oppon __PUNCT__

whether it a revers in war __PUNCT__ or an econom emerg __PUNCT__ he react as a politician and not as a leader __PUNCT__ seek an advantag for himself instead of a solut for hi countri __PUNCT__

among the mani lesson of iraq were the word of gener david_petraeu __PUNCT__

upon arriv in iraq __PUNCT__ he told hi troop to rememb that __PUNCT__ hard is not hopeless __PUNCT__

and that is a lesson that appli to other great_challeng that america now face __PUNCT__ hard is not hopeless __PUNCT__

unlik senat_obama __PUNCT__ i believ the surg would succe becaus i knew the capabl and cultur of the unit_state militari __PUNCT__

i wa bless to have been born into a famili that made it live at sea in defens of our secur and ideal __PUNCT__

my grandfath wa a naval aviat __PUNCT__ my father a submarin __PUNCT__

earn their respect wa on of the great ambit of my life __PUNCT__

and so it wa nearli pre __PUNCT__ ordain that i would find a place in my famili profess __PUNCT__ and that occup would on dai take me to war __PUNCT__

such wa not the case for mani of you __PUNCT__

your ambit might not have led you to war __PUNCT__ the honor you sought were not kept hidden on battlefield __PUNCT__

you answer the call when it came __PUNCT__ took up arm and serv for your countri sake __PUNCT__

you were citizen __PUNCT__ soldier __PUNCT__

and yet todai __PUNCT__ the nation_guard role resembl __PUNCT__ in mani respect __PUNCT__ the role it perform in world_war_ii __PUNCT__ when guard_unit fought in everi theater and everi major campaign __PUNCT__

unit such as compani a of the __NUM__ infantri regiment __PUNCT__ the fame __PUNCT__ bedford boi __PUNCT__ of the virginia nation_guard __PUNCT__ that spearhead the alli assault on omaha beach __PUNCT__ __DATE__ __PUNCT__

befor 9/11 __PUNCT__ a lot of us didn't alwai fulli appreci the power and potenti of the guard __PUNCT__ and what it might on dai be call upon to do __PUNCT__

but my friend __PUNCT__ we understand it now __PUNCT__

time have chang __PUNCT__ we all understand that now __PUNCT__

todai __PUNCT__ thousand of nation guard soldier and airmen onc again fight alongsid their activ compon comrad on everi battlefield in the war against milit islam __PUNCT__

from the mountain of afghanistan to the back allei of iraq __PUNCT__ guard and reserv personnel ar engag in everi aspect of thi conflict __PUNCT__

the men and women of the nation guard repres the veri best of what it mean to be an american and what our countri is truli all about __PUNCT__ free_peopl of everi race __PUNCT__ creed __PUNCT__ color __PUNCT__ and ethnic background __PUNCT__ who regard it as their sacr duti not simpli to indulg in the right and privileg of citizenship __PUNCT__ but to answer it oblig __PUNCT__

no matter the danger to our secur or safeti __PUNCT__ at home or abroad __PUNCT__ the nation_guard ha answer the call __PUNCT__

you have alwai been readi __PUNCT__

you have alwai been there __PUNCT__

for everyon in the militari todai __PUNCT__ whether you ar guard __PUNCT__ activ __PUNCT__ or reserv __PUNCT__ these ar difficult_time __PUNCT__

we ar a nation at war __PUNCT__ and we have ask of our men and women of the arm_forc an almost unpreced level of commit and sacrific __PUNCT__

extend deploy and back __PUNCT__ to __PUNCT__ back combat tour have becom the standard rather than the except __PUNCT__

the new secur environ in which we live will continu to pose great_challeng __PUNCT__ and requir that we us all element of nation power to defeat radic __PUNCT__

the nation_guard will plai a vital role in thi multi __PUNCT__ dimension effort __PUNCT__ precis becaus it citizen __PUNCT__ soldier and airmen bring such a wide_rang of skill and capac to the forc __PUNCT__

we place great demand on the nation_guard __PUNCT__

at time __PUNCT__ the guard respons exce even the demand we put on our activ __PUNCT__ duti forc __PUNCT__

and our govern ha certain oblig that it ha not alwai kept __PUNCT__

as we go forward __PUNCT__ america must make a new and last commit to our nation guard __PUNCT__

thi commit must begin with our polit_leadership recogn the sheer magnitud of what we ask guard_unit to accomplish __PUNCT__ abroad and here at home __PUNCT__ with a forc compris primarili of part __PUNCT__ time soldier and airmen __PUNCT__

thi mean a nation leadership that respect and treat our governor and adjut gener as partner in nation and homeland_secur policymak __PUNCT__ rather than as impedi and intrud __PUNCT__

part of that essenti effort wa to grant the chief of the nation_guard bureau the fourth star that the posit merit __PUNCT__ and i pleas to congratul gener __PUNCT__ select craig mckinlei on be the first guardsman to wear that fourth star __PUNCT__

thi mean get rid of polici __PUNCT__ practic __PUNCT__ and custom that fail to promot a seamless total forc base on cooper __PUNCT__ joint __PUNCT__ and the mutual respect that all compon __PUNCT__ includ the guard and reserv __PUNCT__ have earn with their blood and braveri __PUNCT__

we cannot afford __PUNCT__ and i will not toler __PUNCT__ an environ in which parochi stand in the wai of build an integr total forc __PUNCT__

thi mean give the nation guard all the manpow it need __PUNCT__ includ a suffici complement of full __PUNCT__ time posit __PUNCT__ so that everi unit is readi to mobil for ani conting __PUNCT__

thi mean provid all the train the guard requir __PUNCT__ so that no on is ask to take on a mission unprepar __PUNCT__

and it mean ensur that our guard is well suppli __PUNCT__ so that no unit will ever go into harm wai without the best equip that america can provid __PUNCT__

a seriou commit to support the guard also mean that servic to countri should come at the cost of a civilian career __PUNCT__

when employ exce the requir of the law in support the guard commit of their worker __PUNCT__ we should encourag and honor that __PUNCT__

and when employ fall_short of those legal_requir __PUNCT__ the sanction should be seriou __PUNCT__ and thei must be enforc __PUNCT__

final __PUNCT__ our commit to the guard and reserv mean establish a new compact with our guard and reserv personnel to ensur that thei and their famili ar given appropri care __PUNCT__ dure and after their time of servic __PUNCT__

ptsd and traumat brain injuri affect guard member just as thei do activ __PUNCT__ duti personnel __PUNCT__

in the senat __PUNCT__ i co __PUNCT__ author the wound warrior act __PUNCT__ which wa the first major legisl initi to address these injuri __PUNCT__

and i pledg to you that __PUNCT__ if i am presid __PUNCT__ i will build on thi legisl to improv screen and treatment for these sever injuri suffer by mani in iraq and afghanistan __PUNCT__

and i will ensur that we take into account the special challeng of identifi and care for our tradit guard member __PUNCT__ and their famili __PUNCT__ who need assist __PUNCT__

we made a great step_forward when the presid_sign the gi_bill for the __NUM___centuri thi summer __PUNCT__

i am proud to have support that legisl in it final form __PUNCT__ onc it includ the number on request of career servic_member __PUNCT__ that thei be given the freedom to transfer their benefit to a spous or child __PUNCT__

i expect that mani elig guard member and their famili will want to take advantag of that benefit __PUNCT__

as with anyon who ha serv in uniform __PUNCT__ veteran of the guard deserv the best of medic_care and other benefit __PUNCT__

as presid __PUNCT__ i will do all that is in my power to ensur that those who serv todai __PUNCT__ and those who have serv in the past __PUNCT__ have access to the highest qualiti health __PUNCT__ mental_health and rehabilit care in the world __PUNCT__

and i will not accept a situat in which veteran ar deni_access to care on account of travel distanc __PUNCT__ backlog of appoint __PUNCT__ and year of pend disabl evalu and claim __PUNCT__

we should no longer toler requir veteran to make an appoint to stand in on line for a ticket to stand in anoth __PUNCT__

we must also modern our disabl system to make sure that elig servic_member receiv_benefit quickli __PUNCT__ base on clear __PUNCT__ predict __PUNCT__ and fair standard __PUNCT__

and we must address the problem of capac and access within our va health_care_system __PUNCT__

while thi will involv a wide_rang of initi __PUNCT__ i believ there is a simpl and direct reform we should make right awai __PUNCT__

my administr will creat a veteran __PUNCT__ care access card to be us by veteran with ill or injuri incur dure their militari_servic __PUNCT__ and by those with lower incom __PUNCT__

thi card will provid those without time access to va facil the option of us high __PUNCT__ qualiti health __PUNCT__ care provid near their home __PUNCT__

for mani veteran __PUNCT__ the closest va facil isn't close enough __PUNCT__

and mani of their local provid ar alreadi familiar with the most common need of veteran __PUNCT__

often __PUNCT__ all that prevent them from receiv local care is a system for share medic_record among va __PUNCT__ dod __PUNCT__ and civilian hospit and doctor __PUNCT__

my reform will improv care __PUNCT__ reduc risk __PUNCT__ and broaden access all at the same_time __PUNCT__

the va must also broaden it care for the women who ar enter the arm_forc in greater_number than ever __PUNCT__ and who ar suffer from the same war wound __PUNCT__ visibl and invis __PUNCT__ suffer by other veteran __PUNCT__

as rapidli as possibl __PUNCT__ we must improv the va system so that it can fulli assess and treat condit that predominantli or exclus affect women __PUNCT__

and here the veteran care access card will prove especi valuabl __PUNCT__ afford women medic option while the va improv capac and expand servic __PUNCT__

no on who ha worn the uniform of hi or her countri can ever take these matter lightli __PUNCT__

we all learn an ethic in the servic of look after on anoth __PUNCT__ of leav no on behind __PUNCT__ and thi commit did not end when we left the servic __PUNCT__

as a matter of duti and of honor __PUNCT__ whatev our commit to veteran cost __PUNCT__ if i am presid those commit will be kept __PUNCT__

the next presid will have mani respons to the american_peopl __PUNCT__ and i take them all serious __PUNCT__

but if i am elect __PUNCT__ i will have on respons that outweigh all the other __PUNCT__

and that is to us whatev talent i possess __PUNCT__ and everi resourc god ha grant me to protect the secur of thi great and good nation from all enemi foreign and domest __PUNCT__

it is everi veteran hope that should their children be call upon to answer a call to arm __PUNCT__ the battl will be necessari and the field well chosen __PUNCT__

but that is not their respons __PUNCT__

it belong to the govern that call them __PUNCT__

as it onc wa for us __PUNCT__ their honor will be in their answer not their summon __PUNCT__

whatev we think about how and why we went to war in iraq __PUNCT__ we ar all humbl by and grate for their exampl __PUNCT__

thei now deserv the distinct of the best american __PUNCT__ and we ow them a debt we can never fulli repai __PUNCT__

we can onli offer the small tribut of our humil and our commit to do all that we can do __PUNCT__ in less try and costli circumst __PUNCT__ to help keep thi nation worthi of their sacrific __PUNCT__

mani of them __PUNCT__ especi our guardsmen __PUNCT__ have serv multipl tour in iraq and afghanistan __PUNCT__

mani had their tour extend __PUNCT__

mani return to combat sooner than thei had been led to expect __PUNCT__

it wa a sad and hard_thing to ask so much more of american who have alreadi given more than their fair_share to the defens of our countri __PUNCT__

few of them and their famili will have receiv the new about addit and longer deploy without aim a few appropri complaint in the gener direct of peopl like me __PUNCT__ who help make the decis to send them there __PUNCT__

and then thei shoulder a rifl or climb in a cockpit and risk everyth __PUNCT__ everyth __PUNCT__ to accomplish their mission __PUNCT__ to protect anoth peopl freedom and our own countri from harm __PUNCT__

it is a privileg beyond measur to live in a countri serv by them __PUNCT__

i have had the good_fortun to know person a great mani brave and selfless patriot who sacrif and shed blood to defend_america __PUNCT__

but i have known none braver or better than those who do so todai __PUNCT__

to the nation guardsmen who todai will walk combat patrol in iraq and afghanistan __PUNCT__ to those who will fly mission in support of our deploi forc __PUNCT__ to those engag back_home in humanitarian effort to reliev suffer __PUNCT__ and to all of you who know what it mean to stand the long night watch __PUNCT__ thank you __PUNCT__

you understand both the valu __PUNCT__ and the price __PUNCT__ of freedom __PUNCT__

you ar the best among us __PUNCT__ and i pledg to you my undi fidel to the caus of protect_america __PUNCT__ and to a nation_guard that will alwai be readi __PUNCT__ and alwai be there __PUNCT__

thank you __PUNCT__