[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 3 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Pages 62-63]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to American Troops at Aviano Air Base, Italy

January 13, 1996

    The President. Thank you very much. Good morning.
    Audience members. Good morning.
    The President. I know it's early, but we can do better than that. 
Good morning. [Laughter]
    Minister Corcione, Ambassador Bartholomew, our distinguished Italian 
hosts and guests, General Joulwan, General Ryan, Colonel Wald, Chief 
Myers, Colonel Moody, Aviano families, and to the men and women of 
Operation Decisive Edge. Let me begin by thanking the Colonel for that 
fine welcome and thanking all of you for making me feel so welcome. I am 
very pleased finally to have a chance to come here to Aviano and to see 
you. And since it's so early, I may be more pleased to see you than you 
are to see me. But I'm glad you came out anyway.
    I thank you for giving me the chance to meet you and to tell you how 
important and how appreciated your work is. What you and our allies are 
doing here and in Bosnia is the difference between a war that resumes 
and a peace that takes hold. You are giving people who have suffered so 
very much a chance to enjoy the blessings of a normal life. You are 
living up to the great traditions of

[[Page 63]]

the Armed Forces of the United States, protecting our Nation's interest 
by keeping a fire out that has threatened the heart of Europe's 
stability. On behalf of all the American people, I come here most of all 
to thank you for the superb job you are doing on this historic mission.
    As you did in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Deliberate Force, 
the 31st Fighter Wing and all of the units here at Aviano, including the 
Guard and the Reserve, are showing in Operation Decisive Edge the 
professionalism, the skill, and the dedication that make America's 
military the greatest on Earth, and make NATO a force for peace 
throughout Europe.
    The American people know that the burden of America's leadership 
weighs heavily on you and on the families that are here. Many of you who 
are here have been a long way from home for a good long while. Others 
have just arrived. Because of the sacrifices you are making here and in 
the Balkans and the strength of the families that stand behind you, your 
country is able to stand up for its values and its interests.
    I particularly want to thank Colonel Wald, who has done a tremendous 
job in commanding Aviano and the 31st Fighter Wing. America is proud of 
the way this base has met the challenge of this operation. He told me 
just before we came in here that he'd been here about 6 months, and the 
very first day he was on the job was one of the days that our bombing 
campaign was underway.
    Today, as a part of my visit here and in recognition of Colonel 
Wald's fine performance and his outstanding career over 25 years in the 
United States Air Force, I am pleased to promote him to brigadier 
general. [Applause]
    Colonel, it sounds like if we were doing this by popular opinion, I 
wouldn't stop there. [Laughter]
    I would like to ask Mrs. Wald and their daughter, Marissa, to come 
up and stand with me. And I'd like to ask Mrs. Wald to help me as we put 
the stars on the general's shoulder.
    General, our Nation and I look forward to many more years of your 
service. We thank you and congratulate you.
    Let me say a special word of thanks to the Italian Defense Minister, 
Mr. Corcione, the Italian Government, and the people of Italy for the 
hospitality that all of them have shown our forces and for their help in 
coordinating this difficult operation. All of you know that all of our 
efforts over the last several years to contain the conflict in Bosnia, 
to deliver humanitarian aid, and in the end, to bring an end to it, 
would not have been possible without the partnership of the Italian 
Government and the Italian people. And the United States is very 
grateful for it, and we thank you.
    I also want to say a word of appreciation to all the other 
countries, especially those of our NATO allies participating in Decisive 
Edge. I know that distinguished units from Britain and Spain are here 
today; they, too, are playing a vital part in keeping our alliance 
strong and making sure this mission will succeed. And we thank them.
    Men and women of Decisive Edge, let me say now, good luck and 
Godspeed. You are heroes for peace. Our Nation is very proud of you. And 
as long as you live I hope you will always look back on this mission as 
something of historic importance and fundamental human decency.
    Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 6:21 a.m. in Hangar One. In his remarks, he 
referred to Minister of Defense Domenico Corcione of Italy; U.S. 
Ambassador to Italy Reginald Bartholomew; Gen. George Joulwan, USA, 
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; Gen. Michael Ryan, USAF, Commander, 
5th Allied Tactical Air Forces; Col. Charles Wald, USAF, Commander, 
Aviano Air Base; M. Sgt. Michael Myers, USAF, Senior Enlisted Adviser, 
31st Fighter Wing; and Col. David L. Moody, USA, Vice Commander, 31st 
Fighter Wing.