THE
PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm welcome. Secretary England, Admiral
Clark, General Nyland, Vice Admiral Rempt, Captain Leidig, Dr. Miller,
members of the Board of Visitors, Lieutenant Governor Steele and
Congressman Hoyer, distinguished faculty, distinguished guests, proud
parents, family, friends, and, most of all, graduating midshipmen of the
Class of 2005, I'm honored to be here. (Applause.)
And I am proud to stand before the future leaders of the Navy and
Marine Corps, and to celebrate the occasion, I thought I would bring
along a small graduation gift. Too late to give you a "Staubach Day," --
so I'll do the next best thing: In keeping with long-standing tradition,
I hereby absolve all midshipmen who are on restriction for minor conduct
offenses. (Laughter and applause.) I leave it to Admiral Rempt to define
exactly what "minor" means. (Laughter.)
You worked hard to get to this moment: You survived Plebe Summer, and
having your parking tickets scraped. (Laughter.) You climbed Herndon
Monument, and threw pennies at Tecumseh, god of the 2.0. I knew him
pretty well when I was in school. (Laughter.) Now, at last, you've made
it to graduation day, and in a few moments you will receive your
military commissions and your diplomas. Your parents are proud of you,
your teachers are proud of you, and so is your Commander-in-Chief.
Congratulations on a great achievement. (Applause.)
A lot has changed since you arrived at Annapolis four years ago. Navy
football went 0 and 10 in your plebe year. This year, you went 10 and 2,
and you won your second Commander-in-Chief's trophy in a row.
(Applause.) I'd like the record to show that your turnaround started the
year after I delivered your commencement address. (Laughter.) So to
ensure the continued dominance of Navy football, I thought I'd just
swing by for a return visit.
When I spoke to the Class of 2001, none of us imagined that a few
months later we would suffer a devastating surprise attack on our
homeland, or that our nation would be plunged into a global war unlike
any we had known before. Today, we face brutal and determined enemies --
men who celebrate murder, incite suicide, and thirst for absolute power.
These enemies will not be stopped by negotiations, or concessions, or
appeals to reason. In this war, there is only one option -- and that is
victory. (Applause.)
Today, I'm going to talk about our strategy for victory in this war,
what we've accomplished to make our nation more secure, your crucial
role in this struggle, and why we need you to fight the war on terror
and transform our military at the same time. In the 21st century,
America will be prepared to answer any challenge, and defeat any
adversary.
Our nation is pursuing a clear strategy for the war on terror: We're
using every available tool to disrupt terrorists and their
organizations. We are taking the fight to the enemy abroad so we do not
have to face them here at home. (Applause.) We're denying the terrorists
sanctuary, and making clear that America will not tolerate outlaw
regimes that provide safe haven and support to terrorists. We're using
all elements of national power to deny terrorists the chemical,
biological and nuclear weapons they seek. We will not allow mass
murderers to gain access to the tools of mass destruction. And we're
stopping terrorists from achieving their ideological victories they
seek, by working to spread the hope of freedom and reform across the
broader Middle East. We understand that free nations do not support
terrorists or invade their neighbors. We understand to make the world
more peaceful and our country more secure, we will advance the cause of
liberty. (Applause.)
Thanks to the men and women of the United States military, our
strategy is working -- we are winning the war on terror. Since September
11, 2001, we've removed brutal regimes in Kabul and Baghdad that
supported and harbored terrorists. We helped launch Afghanistan and Iraq
on the path to lasting freedom by liberating over 50 million people.
(Applause.) Both these nations have now chosen their leaders in free
elections, and their courage is inspiring democratic reformers across
the broader Middle East to rise up and claim their liberty.
To stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we broke up the
world's most dangerous nuclear trading network. We convinced Libya's
leader to give up his country's chemical and nuclear weapons programs,
as well as his long-range ballistic missiles. Two years ago, we launched
the Proliferation Security Initiative, an effort supported by 60 nations
to stop shipments of weapons of mass destruction on land, at sea, and in
the air. We have gone after al Qaeda and other terrorists with
relentless determination, disrupting their communications, planning,
training, and financing. We have put the enemy on the run, and now they
spend their days avoiding capture, because they know America's Armed
Services are on their trail. (Applause.)
And we will stay on their trail. The best way to protect our citizens
is to stay on the offensive. In the last few weeks, we've dealt the
enemy a series of powerful blows. In Afghanistan, we brought to justice
scores of terrorists and insurgents. In Pakistan, one of Osama Bin
Laden's senior terrorist leaders, a man named al-Libbi, was brought to
justice. In Iraq, we captured two senior operatives of the terrorist
Zarqawi. And in recent days, our forces have killed or captured hundreds
of terrorists and insurgents in Baghdad and Western Iraq and near the
Syrian border. Across the world, our military is standing directly
between the American people and the worst dangers in the world, and
Americans are grateful to have such brave defenders. (Applause.)
Difficult and dangerous work remains. Suicide bombers in Iraq are
targeting innocent men, women and children, hoping to intimidate Iraq's
new leaders, and shake the will of the Iraqi people. They will fail.
Iraqis are determined, and our strategy is clear: We will train Iraqi
forces so they can take the fight to the enemy and defend their own
country, and then our troops will come home with the honor they have
earned. (Applause.)
The midshipmen I addressed here four years ago are now serving
bravely in this struggle. The new officers who sat in the chairs where
you now sit could not have known that their strength and character would
be tested so soon. In the last four years, they've met every test, and
overcome every challenge. And they are setting a lasting example of
courage for the classes that follow.
Sitting in that crowd four years ago was Midshipman Edward Slavis.
When I gave the order to liberate Iraq, he charged across the Kuwaiti
border, leading a rifle platoon through 21 days of tough fighting into
the heart of Baghdad. His battalion helped pull down the statue of
Saddam Hussein. Ed says, "I will have time for myself later. Now I just
feel privileged to spend my life doing something much larger than
myself." He went on to say, "The mission will be a success, and 20 or 30
years from now historians will look back on the mission to Iraq as
America's golden moment." Ed Slavis is serving his country with courage,
and he's adding to the history of this Academy.
Sitting in the crowd that day was Midshipman Josh Glover. He would
soon risk his life in the city of Fallujah, fighting through a half-mile
of enemy territory to rescue a platoon of Marines pinned down by
insurgents. Josh says: "They had casualties and a Marine who had been
killed. We were shooting 360 degrees." Josh and his men recovered that
fallen Marine, and saved the platoon, and helped us win a critical
battle in the war on terror.
Sitting in the crowd that day was a Midshipman whose name I cannot
mention, because he went on to join the secret world of Navy special
operations. He would soon deploy to Afghanistan with his Navy SEAL team,
where he conducted lightning raids that captured dozens of Taliban and
al Qaeda fighters. He even helped protect a very distinguished visitor
to Afghanistan: the First Lady of the United States. (Applause.) And if
he's out there listening, I've got a message for that courageous Navy
Frogman: thanks for defending America, and thanks for taking such good
care of my bride. (Applause.)
Also sitting in the crowd that day was Midshipman Bobby Rashad Jones.
He would go on to serve as a deck division officer onboard the USS
Germantown, ensuring the safe landing of Marines and Seabees in hostile
territory, during anti-terrorist operations in the Philippines. Bobby
was the "anchorman" of the Class of 2001. He was the one who gave me
that bear hug. (Laughter.) Four years later, my ribs still hurt --
(laughter) -- so don't get any ideas. Here's what Bobby says: "Once I
got to my ship after 9/11, it did not matter where I graduated. The
expectations of Annapolis graduates never change -- and I am proud to be
part of the elite and unique tradition of the United States Naval
Academy." I want to thank Bobby for his service, and thank Bobby for
witnessing your graduation today. (Applause.)
The members of the Class of 2001 have grown into experienced,
battle-hardened Navy and Marine officers. They are serving our nation
with valor and distinction, and soon you'll join them. Four years at
this Academy have prepared you morally, mentally, and physically for the
challenges ahead. And now the American people are depending on you to
uphold the high ideals you learned here as midshipmen. I know that in
the war on terror, the members of the Class of 2005 will "walk with
honor," and you will make America proud. (Applause.)
In this time of unprecedented dangers, we need you to take on two
difficult missions at once: We need you to defeat the terrorists who
want to destroy what we stand for and how we live. And at the same time,
we need you to transform our military for the 21st century, so we can
deter and defeat the new adversaries who may threaten our people in the
decades ahead.
The lesson of September 11th is clear: new dangers can arrive on our
shores without warning. In this era of surprise, we cannot know for
certain who might attack us, or where, or when. But we can anticipate
how we might be attacked, and we can transform our capabilities to
defend our citizens and deliver justice to our enemies.
To meet the threats of the 21st century, we are developing new
technologies that will make our forces faster, lighter, more agile, and
more lethal. In our time, terrible dangers can arise on a short moment
anywhere in the world, and we must be prepared to oppose these dangers
everywhere in the world.
Since taking office, my administration has invested $16 billion to
build transformational military capabilities. We've requested an
additional $78 billion for these efforts over the next four years. We've
invested $240 billion in research and development, so we can build even
more advanced capabilities in the decades ahead. We requested $275
billion for these efforts over the next four years. These investments
will help us keep the peace by redefining war on our terms. And so long
as I am your President, you will have the very best equipment and the
resources you need to get the job done. (Applause.)
We've already seen the power of technology to transform our forces.
In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, aircraft taking off from a carrier deck
could engage about 200 targets per day. In Operation Iraqi Freedom, that
number jumped to over 600 targets a day, three times the capability. And
in each year, those capabilities are becoming more and more precise. In
Iraq, we used a new hellfire missile for the first time, which can take
out enemy fighters hiding on one floor of a building, without destroying
the floors above and below. This missile is capable of reaching around
corners to strike enemy forces that hide in caves, and bunkers and
hardened multi-room complexes. In the coming years, there are going to
be some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermobaric hellfire comes
knocking. (Applause.)
Revolutionary advances in technology are transforming war in our
favor. And in the decades ahead, the changes will be even more dramatic.
We will deploy unmanned underwater vehicles that can go where no
submarine can go today. We will deploy advanced destroyers capable of
shooting down ballistic missiles, and transformed strike submarines that
can silently carry special operation forces and cruise missiles within
striking distance of our adversaries. We are developing joint sea bases
that will allow our forces to strike from floating platforms close to
the action, instead of being dependent on land bases far from the fight.
We're also harnessing advances in information technology, such as
undersea surveillance systems, to provide our forces with near total
battle space awareness. And technology is allowing us to improve the
ability of the Navy and Army and Air Force and Marines to work together
as a truly "joint" force -- with innovations like joint tactical radio
that will allow all services to share information in the heat of battle.
These technological advances will put unprecedented agility, speed,
precision, and power in your hands, and you will use them to protect the
American people in the dangerous decades ahead.
Technology changes the balance of war in another important way: We
can now strike our enemies with greater effectiveness, at greater range,
with fewer civilian casualties. In this new era of warfare, we can
target a regime, not a nation, and that means terrorists and tyrants can
no longer feel safe hiding behind innocent life. In the 21st century, we
can target the guilty and protect the innocent, and that makes it easier
to keep the peace. (Applause.)
To meet the threats of the 21st century, we must reposition our
forces at home and abroad. Today, much of our military is still deployed
in ways that reflect the threats of the 20th century. So last summer, I
announced the biggest transformation of our global force posture since
the end of the World War II. Over the coming decade, we will reposition
our forces so they can surge quickly to deal with unexpected threats. We
will deploy increased combat power across the world. And we will bring
home between 60,000 to 70,000 uniformed personnel currently stationed
overseas. (Applause.) These changes will reduce the stress on your
families, raise the pressure on our enemies, and ensure that you remain
the most powerful and effective fighting force on earth.
To meet new threats, we must transform our domestic force posture as
well, and that will require closing and realigning military bases. The
military services have each done a review of their requirements, and
they have concluded that we have more bases than we need. Supporting
these facilities wastes billions of taxpayer dollars, money that can be
better spent on giving you the tools to fight terrorists and confront
21st-century threats. Two weeks ago, the Defense Department presented
the military's recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure
Commission. This is only the beginning of the process. Commission
members will now visit all the sites that the military has recommended
for closure, and communities will have the opportunity to make their
case directly to the Commission.
I know first-hand how hard base closings can be on local communities.
I was Governor of Texas during the last round of base closures, when
facilities were shut down in places like Lubbock and Laredo and Austin.
We'll do everything possible to help affected communities make the
transition as smoothly as possible, by providing economic development
aid, job training, and assistance with redevelopment plans for affected
bases. This process will be impartial and fair, and it will produce a
net savings of $48 billion over the next 20 years. It will result in a
military that is more efficient and better prepared, so you can better
protect the American people against the dangers of this new century.
Transformation requires more than high-tech weapons -- it requires
creativity, ingenuity, and a willingness to try new things. All the
advanced technology in the world will not transform our military if we
do not transform our thinking.
Sometimes, transformation means using old capabilities in new ways.
In Afghanistan our troops rode into battle on horseback -- but they did
it while using GPS and advanced satellite communications to call in air
strikes on enemy positions. They combined a staple of 19th century
warfare with the most advanced 21st century technology, and they helped
remove a dangerous threat to America.
As you begin your military careers, we need you to bring that same
spirit of creativity and innovation to your work. Seek out the
innovative leaders in our military, work with them and learn from them,
and they will help you to become leaders yourselves. Show courage, and
not just on the battlefield. Pursue the possibilities others tell you do
not exist.
This advice comes with a warning: If you challenge established ways
of thinking, you will face opposition. Believe me, I know, I've lived in
Washington for four years. The opponents of change are many, and its
champions are few, but the champions of change are the ones who make
history. Be champions, and you will make America safer for your children
and your grandchildren, and you'll add to the character of our nation.
And as you begin your military careers, proceed with confidence,
because our citizens are determined, our country is strong, and the
future belongs to freedom. Across the world, liberty is on the march. In
the last 18 months, we have witnessed a Rose Revolution in Georgia, an
Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, a Purple Revolution in Iraq, a Tulip
Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, and a Cedar Revolution in Lebanon -- and these
are only the beginning. (Applause.) Across Central Asia and the broader
Middle East, we are seeing the rise of a new generation whose hearts
burn for liberty, and they are going to have it. America is standing
with these democratic reformers because we know that the only force
powerful enough to stop the rise of tyranny and terror, and replace
hatred with hope, is the force of human freedom. And by extending
freedom to millions who have not known it, we will advance the cause of
peace and make America more secure. (Applause.)
Some of our men and women in uniform have given their lives in this
cause, and others have returned home with terrible injuries. America
honors their sacrifice, and we will uphold the cause they served. You
are the ones who will take up their mantle, and carry on their fight,
and ensure the triumph of liberty in the century ahead.
You are now part of the greatest force for freedom in the history of
the world -- the Armed Forces of the United States. In the years ahead,
you will see dramatic changes taking place all around you. Yet amid all
the tumult and change, there is one thing that won't change -- and that
is character of our men and women who wear the uniform. This is your
generation's moment. Your mission is necessary and it is noble. The
weapons you use will be more powerful and precise than those available
to Annapolis graduates who came before you, and you will face enemies
they never imagined. But what will make your success possible is the
same thing that made their success possible: the courage and honor and
personal integrity that you learned at this Academy.
We're going to give you the tools you'll need to prevail in today's
war on terror, and the capabilities you'll need to protect us against
the dangers that may yet emerge. Now the task is in your hands, and that
means it is in the best of hands. Thank you for your courageous decision
to serve. Bring honor to the uniform, security to our country, and peace
to the world. And congratulations to every member of the class of 2005.
May God bless you. (Applause.)