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ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Barack Obama told graduates at the U.S. Naval Academy that of all of his duties as president, there is no higher honor than serving as their commander-in-chief, and in that role, he promised to maintain American military superiority.

“I will only send you into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support you need to get the job done,” Obama said before an audience estimated at 30,000. “We will maintain America’s military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen.”

Obama’s speech to the 1,036 graduates offered a mix of gratitude for the job they’ve taken on during a time of war, along with the introduction of a new president to a military with a history of being skeptical toward Democrats.

The president also sought to lay out some of the challenges that lie ahead for the graduates, what he called a “full spectrum of threats” – from nation states and terrorists to the “spread of deadly technologies and of hateful ideologies” and 18th-century-style pirates to modern cyber-threats.

Obama also took some pages from the speech he delivered Thursday at the National Archives to explain his approach as commander in chief.

“As our nation deb... >>>