[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 21 (Monday, May 30, 2005)]
[Pages 891-896]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Commencement Address at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, 
Maryland

May 27, 2005

    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, the graduating midshipmen of the 
Class of 2005, I'm honored to be here.
    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 longstanding tradition, 
I hereby absolve all midshipmen who are on restriction for minor conduct 
offenses. [Laughter] I will leave it to the Admiral 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.
    A lot has changed since you arrived at Annapolis 4 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. 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 domination 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

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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.
    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. 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.
    Thanks to the men and women of the United States military, our 
strategy is working; we are winning the war on terror. Since September 
the 11th, 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. 
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 Qaida 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 that America's 
armed services are on their trail.
    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 Usama 
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.
    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.
    The midshipmen I addressed here 4 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 4 years, they've met every test and overcome 
every challenge. And they

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are setting a lasting example of courage for the classes that follow.
    Sitting in the crowd 4 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 Qaida fighters. He even helped protect a very distinguished visitor 
to Afghanistan, the First Lady of the United States. 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.
    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 
U.S.S. Germantown, ensuring the safe landing of marines and Seabees, in 
hostile territory during antiterrorist operations in the Philippines. 
Bobby was the ``anchorman'' of the Class of 2001. He was the guy that 
gave me that bear hug. [Laughter] Four years later, my ribs still hurt--
[laughter]--so don't get any ideas. [Laughter] 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.
    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.
    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 the 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 4 years. We've 
invested $240 billion in research and development so we can build

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even more advanced capabilities in the decades ahead. We requested $275 
billion for these efforts over the next 4 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.
    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, 3 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 multiroom complexes. In the coming years, there are going to be 
some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermobaric Hellfire comes 
knocking.
    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 a very important way. We 
can now strike our enemies with greater effectiveness, at greater range, 
with fewer civilian casualties. In this new era, 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.
    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. 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 taxpayers' 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 the Governor of Texas during the last round of base

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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 the past 4 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. 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.
    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.

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    May God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 10:12 a.m. in the Navy Marine Corps 
Memorial Stadium. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of the Navy 
Gordon R. England; Adm. Vern Clark, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. 
William L. Nyland, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Vice 
Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, USN, superintendent, Capt. Charles J. Leidig, Jr., 
USN, commandant of midshipmen, and William C. Miller, academic dean and 
provost, U.S. Naval Academy; Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele of Maryland; 
Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi, leader of Libya; Usama bin Laden, 
leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; Abu Faraj al-Libbi, 
senior Al Qaida associate arrested in Pakistan on April 30; and senior 
Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.