Obama's successes are many and varied

Several letters here recently were critical of President

Obama , but few have pointed out his successes — not the least of which is the Affordable Health Care Act.

Latest figures show 7.5 million previously uninsured Americans have gained coverage – the largest expansion in half a century . My son, who is 50 , has his own health insurance for the first time. And no one who has a pre-existing condition can be turned down.

In foreign affairs, for the first time in more than a decade American servicemen and women are not dying in Iraq or Afghanistan. (As a veteran, I applaud this.) Careful diplomacy has led to agreements in Iran that may delay or suspend development of atomic weapons and in Syria making its chemical weapons available for inspection. And regardless of what casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson thinks, we are supporting and defending Israel.

I believe that President Obama’s thoughtful decision making has been essential in critical situations, including his decision to take out Osama bin Laden and in national security issues, as well as in the latest negotiations with our European allies to impose sanctions on Russia for their ‘takeover’ of the Crimea.

The majority of Americans who re-elected the President should be proud of their votes.

JAMES W. RAMSEY

Kootenai