, 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 am 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. It is too late to give you a stall back day so i will do the next best thing. In keeping with longstanding tradition, i hereby absolve all midshipmen who are on restriction for minor conduct offensive offenses. [laughter] [applause] i will leave it to the admiral to define exactly what minor means. [laughter] you worked hard to get to this moment. You survived the summer and having your parking tickets scraped. 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 have made it to Graduation Day come 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 commanderinchief. Congratulations on a great achievement. [applause] a lot has changed since you arrived in annapolis four years ago. Maybe football went 010 in your plebe year. You won your second commanderinchief trophy in a row. [applause] id like the record to show that your turnaround started the year after i delivered your commencement address. So to ensure the continued domination of navy football, i thought i would 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 have known before. Today, we face brutal enemies men who 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 his victory. That uis victory. [applause] today i am going to talk about our strategy for victory in this war, what we have a congress to make our nation more secure, your crucial role in the struggle and why we need you to fight for 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 are 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 are denying the terrorists sanctuary and making clear that america will not tolerate outlaw regimes that provide a safe haven and support to terrorists. We are 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 distraction. We are 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 that 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 have removed brutal regimes in kabul and baghdad that supported and harbor terrorists. We helped lost we helped launch afghanistan and iraq on the past 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 of their liberty. To stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we broke up the worlds most Dangerous Nuclear trading network. We convinced libyas leaders to give up their countrys Nuclear Weapons programs and longrange 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 that Americas 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 offense of. In the last few weeks, we dealt to the enemy a series of powerful blows. In afghanistan, we brought to justice scores of terrorists and insurgents. In pakistan, one of osama bin ladens senior terrorist leaders was brought to justice. In iraq, we captured to senior operatives of the terrorists the cow we. Our forces have killed or captured terrorists in baghdad 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. They are hoping to intimidate a rocks new leaders and to 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 address here four years ago are now serving bravely in this struggle. The officers who sit the officers who sat where you now sit could not have known that their strength of character would be tested so soon. They have met every test in the past four years and overcome every challenge. They are setting a lasting example of courage for the classes that follow. Sitting in the crowd four years ago was midshipmen edwardd slabis. He led a platoon through 21 days of tough fighting in the heart of baghdad. He helped slow down saddam hussein. He says he will have time for himself later. Now i just feel privileged suspend my life doing something much larger than myself. He went on to say that the mission will be a success and 20 or 30 years from now, historians will look back on the mission to iraq as a americas golden moment. He is serving his country with courage and he is adding to the history of this academy. Sitting in the crowd that day was midshipmen josh glover. He would sooner risk his life in the city of falluja, fighting through a halfmile of Enemy Territory to rescue a platoon of marines pinned down by insurgents. Josh says they had casualties. They were shooting 300 and 60 degrees. Joshua webb men recovered a Fallen Marine and save the platoon joshuas men recovered a Fallen Marine and saved the platoon. Sitting in the crowd that day was a midshipmen whose name i cannot mention because he went on to join the Naval Special services. He helped protect a very distinguished visitor to afghanistan. The first lady of the United States. [applause] if he is out there listening, i have a message for that courageous man, thanks for defending america. Thanks for taking such good care of my bride. [applause] also sitting in the cloud that day also sitting in the crowd that day was midshipmen bobby were shod Jones Bobby Rishad jones. Bobby was the anchorman of the class of 2001. He was the guy who gave me that bearhug. Four years later, my ribs still hurt. Dont get any ideas. [laughter] heres 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. I am proud to be a 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] members of the class of 2001 have grown into experience, battle Hardened Navy and marine officers. They are serving our nation with valor and distinction. Soon, you will join them. Four years at this academy have prepared you morally mentally, and physically for the challenges ahead. 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 too Difficult Missions at once. We need you to defeat the terrorists who want to destroy what we stand for and how we live. At the same time we need you to transform our military for the 21st century. So we can defeat the new adversaries who may threaten our people in the decades ahead. The lesson of september 11 is clear. New dangers can arrive on our shores without warning. In this 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 technology 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. We must be prepared to oppose those dangers everywhere in the world. Since taking office, my administration has invested 16 billion to build transformational military capabilities. We requested an additional 78 billion for these efforts over the next four years. We have invested 240 billion in research and element 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. So long as im your president you will have the very best equipment and resources you need to get the job done. [applause] we have already seen the power of technology to transform our forces. In the and 1991 in the 1991 persian gulf war, aircraft taking off from the carrier deck could engage about 200 targets per day. An operation in Operation Iraqi freedom, that number jumped to 600 targets per day. 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. The coming years are going to be some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermo barrick 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 separating can go today. We will deploy advanced destroyers capable of shooting down Ballistic Missiles and transform strike submarines that can silently carry special Operations 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 are also harnessing advances in information technology, such as undersea Surveillance Systems to provide our forces with near total battle space awareness. 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 psychological advances will put unprecedented agility speed, precision, and power in your hands. 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. 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. 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. Last summer, i announced the biggest transformation of our Global Force Posture since the end of 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 and raise the pressure on enemies and ensure that you remain the most powerful and effective fighting force on earth. To meet new threats, we must transform our domestic ors posture as well. 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 then we need. They waste billions of taxpayers dollars, money that can bes money that can be better spent on protecting you. Two weeks ago, the Defense Department presented the plans to the commission. This is only the beginning of the process. Commission members will now visit all of the sites that the military has recommended for closure. Communities will have the opportunity to make their case directly to the commission. I know firsthand how hard base closings can be on local communities. As the governor of texas during the last round of base closures, when facilities were shut down in places like lubbock and laredo and austin, we did Everything Possible to help the communities make a transition as smooth as possible by providing Economic Development aid, job training and assistance with redevelopment plans. This process will be impartial and fair. 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. You can better protect the American People against the dangers of this new century. Transformation requires more than hightech 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 airstrikes on enemy positions. They combined the staple of 19 century warfare with the most advanced 21stcentury 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. 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. Leave me, i know, i have lived in washington for the past four years. The opponents of change are many. Its champions are few. The champions of change are the ones who make history. Be champions and you will make america safer for your children and your grandchildren. You will add to the character of our nation. As you begin your military careers and proceed with confidence, 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