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Re: F6 post# 28463

Friday, 05/27/2005 12:11:02 PM

Friday, May 27, 2005 12:11:02 PM

Post# of 481691
(COMTEX) B: Remarks by President Bush at United States Naval Academy Commencement
( PRNewswire )

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2005 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The following is a
transcript of remarks by President Bush at United States Naval Academy
Commencement:

Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland

10:12 A.M. EDT

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.)


END 10:42 A.M. EDT

SOURCE White House Press Office

CONTACT: White House Press Office, +1-202-456-2580

URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Copyright (C) 2005 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

-0-

*** end of story ***


Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07

"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790

F6

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