Barack Obama Forty-Fourth President
(2009 to 2017)
Remarks at the
United States Military Academy Commencement
Michie Stadium, West Point, New York
May 22, 2010
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank
you very much. Good morning.
It is wonderful to be back at the United States
Military Academy -- the oldest continuously occupied military post
in America -- as we commission the newest officers in the United
States Army.
Thank you, General Hagenbeck, for your introduction, on a day that
holds special meaning for you and the Dean, General Finnegan. Both
of you first came to West Point in the Class of 1971 and went on to
inspire soldiers under your command. You've led this Academy to a
well-deserved recognition: best college in America. (Applause.) And
today, you're both looking forward to a well-deserved retirement
from the Army. General Hagenbeck and Judy, General Finnegan and
Joan, we thank you for 39 years of remarkable service to the Army
and to America. (Applause.)
To the Commandant, General Rapp, the Academy staff and faculty, most
of whom are veterans, thank you for your service and for inspiring
these cadets to become the “leaders of character” they are today.
(Applause.) Let me also acknowledge the presence of General
Shinseki, Secretary McHugh, the members of Congress who are with us
here today, including two former soldiers this Academy knows well,
Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Patrick Murphy. (Applause.)
To all the families here -- especially all the moms and dads -- this
day is a tribute to you as well. The decision to come to West Point
was made by your sons and daughters, but it was you who instilled in
them a spirit of service that has led them to this hallowed place in
a time of war. So on behalf of the American people, thank you for
your example and thank you for your patriotism. (Applause.)
To the United States Corps of Cadets, and most of all, the Class of
2010 -- it is a singular honor to serve as your Commander-in-Chief.
As your Superintendent indicated, under our constitutional system my
power as President is wisely limited. But there are some areas where
my power is absolute. And so, as your Commander-in-Chief, I hereby
absolve all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct
offenses. (Applause.) I will leave the definition of “minor” --
(laughter) -- to those who know better. (Laughter.)
Class of 2010, today is your day -- a day to celebrate all that
you've achieved, in the finest tradition of the soldier-scholar, and
to look forward to the important service that lies ahead.
You have pushed yourself through the agony of Beast Barracks, the
weeks of training in rain and mud, and, I'm told, more inspections
and drills than perhaps any class before you. Along the way, I'm
sure you faced a few moments when you asked yourself: “What am I
doing here?” I have those moments sometimes. (Laughter.)
You've trained for the complexities of today's missions, knowing
that success will be measured not merely by performance on the
battlefield, but also by your understanding of the cultures and
traditions and languages in the place where you serve.
You've reached out across borders, with more international
experience than any class in Academy history. You've not only
attended foreign academies to forge new friendships, you've welcomed
into your ranks cadets from nearly a dozen countries.
You've challenged yourself intellectually in the sciences and the
humanities, in history and technology. You've achieved a standard of
academic excellence that is without question, tying the record for
the most post-graduate scholarships of any class in West Point
history. (Applause.)
This includes your number one overall cadet and your valedictorian
-- Liz Betterbed and Alex Rosenberg. And by the way, this is the
first time in Academy history where your two top awards have been
earned by female candidates. (Applause.)
This underscores a fact that I've seen in the faces of our troops
from Baghdad to Bagram -- in the 21st century, our women in uniform
play an indispensable role in our national defense. And time and
again, they have proven themselves to be role models for our
daughters and our sons -- as students and as soldiers and as leaders
in the United States armed forces.
And the faces in this stadium show a simple truth: America's Army
represents the full breadth of America's experience. You come from
every corner of our country -- from privilege and from poverty, from
cities and small towns. You worship all of the great religions that
enrich the life of our people. You include the vast diversity of
race and ethnicity that is fundamental to our nation's strength.
There is, however, one thing that sets you apart. Here in these
quiet hills, you've come together to prepare for the most difficult
test of our time. You signed up knowing your service would send you
into harm's way, and you did so long after the first drums of war
were sounded. In you we see the commitment of our country, and
timeless virtues that have served our nation well.
We see your sense of duty -- including those who have earned their
right shoulder patch -- their right shoulder combat patches, like
the soldier who suffered a grenade wound in Iraq, yet still helped
his fellow soldiers to evacuate -- your First Captain of the Corps
of Cadets, Tyler Gordy. (Applause.)
We see your sense of honor -- in your respect for tradition, knowing
that you join a Long Grey Line that stretches through the centuries;
and in your reverence for each other, as when the Corps stands in
silence every time a former cadet makes the ultimate sacrifice for
our nation. Indeed, today we honor the 78 graduates of this Academy
who have given their lives for our freedom and our security in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
And we see your love of country -- a devotion to America captured in
the motto you chose as a class, a motto which will guide your lives
of service: “Loyal ‘Til the End.”
Duty. Honor. Love of country. Everything you have learned here, all
that you've achieved here, has prepared you for today -- when you
raise your right hand; when you take that oath; when your loved one
or mentor pins those gold bars on your shoulders; when you become,
at long last, commissioned officers in the United States Army.
This is the ninth consecutive commencement that has taken place at
West Point with our nation at war. This time of war began in
Afghanistan -- a place that may seem as far away from this peaceful
bend in the Hudson River as anywhere on Earth. The war began only
because our own cities and civilians were attacked by violent
extremists who plotted from a distant place, and it continues only
because that plotting persists to this day.
For many years, our focus was on Iraq. And year after year, our
troops faced a set of challenges there that were as daunting as they
were complex. A lesser Army might have seen its spirit broken. But
the American military is more resilient than that. Our troops
adapted, they persisted, they partnered with coalition and Iraqi
counterparts, and through their competence and creativity and
courage, we are poised to end our combat mission in Iraq this
summer. (Applause.)
Even as we transition to an Iraqi lead and bring our troops home,
our commitment to the Iraqi people endures. We will continue to
advise and assist Iraqi security forces, who are already responsible
for security in most of the country. And a strong American civilian
presence will help Iraqis forge political and economic progress.
This will not be a simple task, but this is what success looks like:
an Iraq that provides no haven to terrorists; a democratic Iraq that
is sovereign and stable and self-reliant.
And as we end the war in Iraq, though, we are pressing forward in
Afghanistan. Six months ago, I came to West Point to announce a new
strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. And I stand here humbled by
the knowledge that many of you will soon be serving in harm's way. I
assure you, you will go with the full support of a proud and
grateful nation.
We face a tough fight in Afghanistan. Any insurgency that is
confronted with a direct challenge will turn to new tactics. And
from Marja to Kandahar, that is what the Taliban has done through
assassination and indiscriminate killing and intimidation. Moreover,
any country that has known decades of war will be tested in finding
political solutions to its problems, and providing governance that
can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people.
So this war has changed over the last nine years, but it's no less
important than it was in those days after 9/11. We toppled the
Taliban regime -- now we must break the momentum of a Taliban
insurgency and train Afghan security forces. We have supported the
election of a sovereign government -- now we must strengthen its
capacities. We've brought hope to the Afghan people -- now we must
see that their country does not fall prey to our common enemies.
Cadets, there will be difficult days ahead. We will adapt, we will
persist, and I have no doubt that together with our Afghan and
international partners, we will succeed in Afghanistan. (Applause.)
Now even as we fight the wars in front of us, we also have to see
the horizon beyond these wars -- because unlike a terrorist whose
goal is to destroy, our future will be defined by what we build. We
have to see that horizon, and to get there we must pursue a strategy
of national renewal and global leadership. We have to build the
sources of America's strength and influence, and shape a world
that's more peaceful and more prosperous.
Time and again, Americans have risen to meet and to shape moments of
change. This is one of those moments -- an era of economic
transformation and individual empowerment; of ancient hatreds and
new dangers; of emerging powers and new global challenges. And we're
going to need all of you to help meet these challenges. You've
answered the call. You, and all who wear America's uniform, remain
the cornerstone of our national defense, the anchor of global
security. And through a period when too many of our institutions
have acted irresponsibly, the American military has set a standard
of service and sacrifice that is as great as any in this nation's
history. (Applause.)
Now the rest of us -- the rest of us must do our part. And to do so,
we must first recognize that our strength and influence abroad
begins with steps we take at home. We must educate our children to
compete in an age where knowledge is capital, and the marketplace is
global. We must develop clean energy that can power new industry and
unbound us from foreign oil and preserve our planet. We have to
pursue science and research that unlocks wonders as unforeseen to us
today as the microchip and the surface of the moon were a century
ago.
Simply put, American innovation must be the foundation of American
power -- because at no time in human history has a nation of
diminished economic vitality maintained its military and political
primacy. And so that means that the civilians among us, as parents
and community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, we have
a role to play. We cannot leave it to those in uniform to defend
this country -- we have to make sure that America is building on its
strengths. (Applause.)
As we build these economic sources of our strength, the second thing
we must do is build and integrate the capabilities that can advance
our interests, and the common interests of human beings around the
world. America's armed forces are adapting to changing times, but
your efforts have to be complemented. We will need the renewed
engagement of our diplomats, from grand capitals to dangerous
outposts. We need development experts who can support Afghan
agriculture and help Africans build the capacity to feed themselves.
We need intelligence agencies that work seamlessly with their
counterparts to unravel plots that run from the mountains of
Pakistan to the streets of our cities. We need law enforcement that
can strengthen judicial systems abroad, and protect us here at home.
And we need first responders who can act swiftly in the event of
earthquakes and storms and disease.
The burdens of this century cannot fall on our soldiers alone. It
also cannot fall on American shoulders alone. Our adversaries would
like to see America sap its strength by overextending our power. And
in the past, we've always had the foresight to avoid acting alone.
We were part of the most powerful wartime coalition in human history
through World War II. We stitched together a community of free
nations and institutions to endure and ultimately prevail during a
Cold War.
Yes, we are clear-eyed about the shortfalls of our international
system. But America has not succeeded by stepping out of the
currents of cooperation -- we have succeeded by steering those
currents in the direction of liberty and justice, so nations thrive
by meeting their responsibilities and face consequences when they
don't.
So we have to shape an international order that can meet the
challenges of our generation. We will be steadfast in strengthening
those old alliances that have served us so well, including those who
will serve by your side in Afghanistan and around the globe. As
influence extends to more countries and capitals, we also have to
build new partnerships, and shape stronger international standards
and institutions.
This engagement is not an end in itself. The international order we
seek is one that can resolve the challenges of our times –-
countering violent extremism and insurgency; stopping the spread of
nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials; combating a changing
climate and sustaining global growth; helping countries feed
themselves and care for their sick; preventing conflict and healing
wounds. If we are successful in these tasks, that will lessen
conflicts around the world. It will be supportive of our efforts by
our military to secure our country.
More than anything else, though, our success will be claimed by who
we are as a country. This is more important than ever, given the
nature of the challenges that we face. Our campaign to disrupt,
dismantle, and to defeat al Qaeda is part of an international effort
that is necessary and just.
But this is a different kind of war. There will be no simple moment
of surrender to mark the journey's end -- no armistice, no banner
headline. Though we have had more success in eliminating al Qaeda
leaders in recent months than in recent years, they will continue to
recruit, and plot, and exploit our open society. We see that in
bombs that go off in Kabul and Karachi. We see it in attempts to
blow up an airliner over Detroit or an SUV in Times Square, even as
these failed attacks show that pressure on networks like al Qaeda is
forcing them to rely on terrorists with less time and space to
train. We see the potential duration of this struggle in al Qaeda's
gross distortions of Islam, their disrespect for human life, and
their attempt to prey upon fear and hatred and prejudice.
So the threat will not go away soon, but let's be clear: Al Qaeda
and its affiliates are small men on the wrong side of history. They
lead no nation. They lead no religion. We need not give in to fear
every time a terrorist tries to scare us. We should not discard our
freedoms because extremists try to exploit them. We cannot succumb
to division because others try to drive us apart. We are the United
States of America. (Applause.) We are the United States of America,
and we have repaired our union, and faced down fascism, and
outlasted communism. We've gone through turmoil, we've gone through
Civil War, and we have come out stronger -- and we will do so once
more. (Applause.)
And I know this to be true because I see the strength and resilience
of the American people. Terrorists want to scare us. New Yorkers
just go about their lives unafraid. (Applause.) Extremists want a
war between America and Islam, but Muslims are part of our national
life, including those who serve in our United States Army.
(Applause.) Adversaries want to divide us, but we are united by our
support for you -- soldiers who send a clear message that this
country is both the land of the free and the home of the brave.
(Applause.)
You know, in an age of instant access to information, a lot of
cynicism in the news, it's easy to lose perspective in a flood of
pictures and the swirl of political debate. Power and influence can
seem to ebb and flow. Wars and grand plans can be deemed won or lost
day to day, even hour to hour. As we experience the immediacy of the
image of a suffering child or the boasts of a prideful dictator,
it's easy to give in to the belief sometimes that human progress has
stalled -- that events are beyond our control, that change is not
possible.
But this nation was founded upon a different notion. We believe,
“that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” (Applause.) And that truth
has bound us together, a nation populated by people from around the
globe, enduring hardship and achieving greatness as one people. And
that belief is as true today as it was 200 years ago. It is a belief
that has been claimed by people of every race and religion in every
region of the world. Can anybody doubt that this belief will be any
less true -- any less powerful -- two years, two decades, or even
two centuries from now?
And so a fundamental part of our strategy for our security has to be
America's support for those universal rights that formed the creed
of our founding. And we will promote these values above all by
living them -- through our fidelity to the rule of law and our
Constitution, even when it's hard; even when we're being attacked;
even when we're in the midst of war.
And we will commit ourselves to forever pursuing a more perfect
union. Together with our friends and allies, America will always
seek a world that extends these rights so that when an individual is
being silenced, we aim to be her voice. Where ideas are suppressed,
we provide space for open debate. Where democratic institutions take
hold, we add a wind at their back. When humanitarian disaster
strikes, we extend a hand. Where human dignity is denied, America
opposes poverty and is a source of opportunity. That is who we are.
That is what we do.
We do so with no illusions. We understand change doesn't come quick.
We understand that neither America nor any nation can dictate every
outcome beyond its borders. We know that a world of mortal men and
women will never be rid of oppression or evil. What we can do, what
we must do, is work and reach and fight for the world that we seek
-- all of us, those in uniform and those who are not.
And in preparing for today, I turned to the world -- to the words of
Oliver Wendell Holmes. And reflecting on his Civil War experience,
he said, and I quote, “To fight out a war you must believe in
something and want something with all your might. So must you do to
carry anything else to an end worth reaching.” Holmes went on, “More
than that, you must be willing to commit yourself to a course,
perhaps a long and hard one, without being able to foresee exactly
where you will come out.”
America does not fight for the sake of fighting. We abhor war. As
one who has never experienced the field of battle -- and I say that
with humility, knowing, as General MacArthur said, “the soldier
above all others prays for peace” -- we fight because we must. We
fight to keep our families and communities safe. We fight for the
security of our allies and partners, because America believes that
we will be safer when our friends are safer; that we will be
stronger when the world is more just.
So cadets, a long and hard road awaits you. You go abroad because
your service is fundamental to our security back home. You go abroad
as representatives of the values that this country was founded upon.
And when you inevitably face setbacks -- when the fighting is fierce
or a village elder is fearful; when the end that you are seeking
seems uncertain -- think back to West Point.
Here, in this peaceful part of the world, you have drilled and you
have studied and come of age in the footsteps of great men and women
-- Americans who faced times of trial, and who even in victory could
not have foreseen the America they helped to build, the world they
helped to shape.
George Washington was able to free a band of patriots from the rule
of an empire, but he could not have foreseen his country growing to
include 50 states connecting two oceans.
Grant was able to save a union and see the slaves freed, but he
could not have foreseen just how much his country would extend full
rights and opportunities to citizens of every color.
Eisenhower was able to see Germany surrender and a former enemy grow
into an ally, but he could not have foreseen the Berlin Wall coming
down without a shot being fired.
Today it is your generation that has borne a heavy burden --
soldiers, graduates of this Academy like John Meyer and Greg
Ambrosia who have braved enemy fire, protected their units, carried
out their missions, earned the commendation of this Army, and of a
grateful nation.
From the birth of our existence, America has had a faith in the
future -- a belief that where we're going is better than where we've
been, even when the path ahead is uncertain. To fulfill that
promise, generations of Americans have built upon the foundation of
our forefathers -- finding opportunity, fighting injustice, forging
a more perfect union. Our achievement would not be possible without
the Long Grey Line that has sacrificed for duty, for honor, for
country. (Applause.)
And years from now when you return here, when for you the shadows
have grown longer, I have no doubt that you will have added your
name to the book of history. I have no doubt that we will have
prevailed in the struggles of our times. I have no doubt that your
legacy will be an America that has emerged stronger, and a world
that is more just, because we are Americans, and our destiny is
never written for us, it is written by us, and we are ready to lead
once more.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of
America. (Applause.)
