senate. "the upper house with >> sunday on "q&a." now, the u.s. military academy commencement ceremony, where president obama delivers a graduation address. this is about5 minutes. >> thank you very much. it is great to be back at the military academy. we commissioned the newest officers from the united states army. thank you, general, for your introduction on a day that holds a special meaning for you and

the dean. both of you first came to west point in the class of 1971nd we on to inspire soldiers under your command. you have led this academy to well-deserved recognition.+ best college in america. [applause] we're both looking forward to what you will do in the army. general, judy, we thank you for 39 years of remarkable service to the army and to america. [applause]

general rap, t academy staff and fulty, most of whom are veterans, thank you for your service. -- service, and to inspiring these cadets to be the leaders of character they are today. [applause] let me also acknowledge the presence of general shinseki, the members of congress who are with us today, including two former soldiers this academy knows well, senator jack reed [applause]ssman patrick murphy.- to all of theamilies here, especially the moms and dads, today is a tribute to you as well. your decision to come to west point was made by your sons and

daughters, but it is you who instilled in them a spirit of service that has led them to this place in a time of war. on behalf of the american people, thank you for your example. thank you for your patriotism. [applause] to the united stes cadets, and most of all, the class of 2010, it is a singular honor to serve as your commander in chief. as your superintended indicated, under our system, my power as president is wisely limited, but there are some areas where my power is absolute. as your commander in chief, i hereby of solve all cadets who

conduct offenses. [cheers and applause] i will lead the definition of "min -- i will leave the definition of "minor" to those who know better. today is your day, a day to celebrate all that you have achieved. we look forward the important service that lies ahead. you have push yourself through the agony of deep barracks, the weeks of training and mud, and i am told, more inspections and rills than perhaps any class before you. alon the way, i am sure you faced a few moments when you ask yourself, what am i doing here?

i have those moments, sometimes. [laughter] you have 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, traditions, and languages in the places to serve. you have reachedut across borders with more international experience than any class in academy history. you've not only forged new friendships, you have welcomed in cadets from nearly a dozen countries. you have challenged yourselves intellectually in theciences and humanities, and history and technology. you have 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 nber one overall cadet and your valedictorian, liz and alex. this is the first time in the academy history where your top awards have been burned bb female candidates. earned byeen b female candidates. [applause] this underscores the fact that we have taken our troops from baghda to basra. our women play an indispensable role in our national defense. they have proven themselves to be room models for our daughters and our sons, as students, as

soldiersand as leaders to the u.s. armed forces. th faces in the stadium show a simple truth. america's army represent the full breadth oamerica's experience. you come from every corner of our country, from privilege and from poverty, from cities and small towns. you were here all of the great religions that enriched the life of our people. you include the best ever feared race and ethnicity that with fundament -- fundameal to our nation. there is one thing that sets you apart. here in these quiet hills, you have come together to prepare for the most difficult tt of our time. you signed up knowing your service would send you into harm's way. you did so lon after the birth of drums of war were sounding.

in you we see the commitment of our country. the timeless virtues have served our nation well. see your sense of duty, including those who cover earned their right-shoulder patch, like the soldiers who suffered a grenade wound in iraq. your first captain of the corps of cadets, tyler gordon. we see your sense of honor in your respect for traditions, knowing that you joined a long line that stretches through the centuries, and in your reverence for each other. when the course stand in silence every time a former ku that makes the ultimate sacrifice for our nation -- the corps stands

in silence every time a former member makes the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. we see your love of country, the devotion to america captured in the model you chose as a class -- in the model you chose as a class,,"loyal until the end." duty, honor, love of country, everything you have learned here, everything you have prepared for, has led you to today. when you take that oath, when that person pins tho gold bars on your shoulder, when you become commissioned officers in .he u.s. army

this is the ninth consecutive commencement that hataken place with our nation at war. this time of war began in afghantan, 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. it continues only because that ploting persists to this day. for many years, our focus was on iraq. our troops faced a set of challenges there tt were as daunting as they were complex. a lesser army might have seen its spear broken, but our military is more resilient. our troops adapted persisted, parttered with iraqi counterparts, and through their creativity and courage, we are poised to end or combat mission in iraq this summer.

[applause] even as we transition to iraqi leadership and bring troops home, our commitment to the iraqi ppople and yours. we will assist iraqi security forces, who are already available -- respsible for secured in most of the country. 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 with -- that is stable and self-reliant. as we end the war in iraq, we are pressing forward in afghanistan. six months ago, i came here to

announce a new strategfor afghanistan and pakistan. i stand here humbled by the knowledge that many of you will soon be serving in harm's y. i assure you you will go with the full support of a proud and grateful nation. we face a tough fight in afghanistan. and the insurgency that is confronted with a direct challenge will turn to new paths. the taliban has assassinated and participated in indiscriminate killing. any country that has known decades of war will be teste in finding political solutions to its problems and providing government's that n serve the needs of i people. this war has changed over the last nine years. it is as important as it was

after 9/11. we must break the momentum of an surgency and train afghan security forces. we have support of the election of a sovereign government. we must strengthen its capacity. it has brought hope to the afghan people. we must see the country does not fall prey to our common enemies. there will be difficult days ahead. we will adapt, we will persist, and i have no doubt that together, with our afghan and international partnerswe will succeed in afghanistan. [applause] even as we fight the wars in front of us, we also have to see the horizon beyond these wars.

unlike a terrorist, whose goal is to destroy, our future will be defined by what we build. we have to see that arise in. to get there, we must pursue a strategy of national renewal and global leadership. we haveo build the sources of amica's strength and influence, and shape the world that is more peaceful and prosperous. time and again, americans have risen to meet and to shape moments of change. this is one of those moments. it is an era of econoc transformationnd individual empowerment. it is of ancient hatreds and new dangers, emerging powers and new global challenges. we are going to need all of you to help meet these challenges.

you have answered the call. you and all aware americans to -- america's uniform are the cornerstone of our national defense, an anchor of global security. through a time when too many of our institutions have acted irresponsibly, the 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. to do so, we must first recognize that ourtrength and influee abroad bins 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 a new industries an 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 ctury ago. american innovation must be the foundation of american power. at no time in human history as a nation of diminished economic vitality maintained its political challenges. that means the civilians among us, e parents, the community leaders, elected officia, business leaders, we have a role to play. we cannot simply 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 sourceof our strength, the second thing we must do is interpret the capabilities that can advance our interests and common interests of human beings around the world. america's armed forces are adapting to changing tim, but your efforts have to be complemented. we will need the renewed engagement of our diplomats from grand capitals to dangerous outposts. we need experts who can suppo afghan agriculture and help africans build pastures to feed themselves. we need intelligence agencies that work seamlessly with counterparts to one rebel plot that run from pakistan to our cities. we need law-enforcement that can strengthen judicial systems abroad and protect us here at home. we need first responders who can

act swiftly in the event of earthquakes and storms, disee. the burdens of this century cannot fall on our soldiers alone. it also cannot fall on america's shoulders alone. our adversaries would like to see america sap i strength by overextending more power. in the past, we have 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 ultimately prevail during the cold war. yes, we are clear about the shoralls of our international system, but america has not succeeded by stepping out of cooperation. we have succeeded by spearing those currents in the direction of liberty and justice.

it is a nation thriving by meeting responsibilities. we have to shape an international order that can meet the challenges of our generation. we will be steadfast in strengthening goes all the 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, we also have to build new partnerships and shapes strongernternational 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 theii sick, preventing conflict and healing wnds.

if we are successful in these tasks, that will lessen conflicts around the world. it will be supportive of o efforts by alan military to secure our country -- by our military to secure our country. more than anything else, though, our success will be claimed by who we are as a country. it is more important than ever, given the nature of the challenges we face. our campaign to disrupt and the ft al qaeda is part of the international effort that is necessary and just. this is a different kind of war. there will be no simple moment of surrender that marks the end of the journey. no armistice, no banner headline. we have had more success in

eliminating al qaeda leaders in recent months than recent years. there will continue to recruit, plot, and exploit. we see that in bonds that go off in kabul. we sit in attempt to blow up an airliner over detroit, or a vehicle in times square. even as these failed attack showed that pressure on neorks like al qaeda are forcing them to rely on a terrace with less time andpace to train, we see the potential duration of this struggle in al qaeda's distortion of this line -- of islam, their disrespect for human life. the threat will not go away soon. let's be clear. al qaeda and its affiliates ar small men on the wrong side of history.

they leave no nation. they leave no religion. -- they lead no nation. they lead no religion. we cannot succumb to division because others try to drive us art. we are thenited states of america. [applause] we are the united states of america, and we have repaired our union, and outlasted communism, and we have gone through turmoil. we have gone through civil war. we have come out stronger. we will do so once more. [applause]

i know this to be true because i see the strength and resilience of the american people. new yorkers just go about their lives. i don't blame them. [applause] extremists want a war between america and as long, but muslims are part of our tional life, including those who serve in our united states army. adversaries want to divide us, but we are united by our support for you, soldiers to send a clear message that this country is both a land of the free and the home of the brave. [applause]

in an age of instant access to information, a lot of cynicism and news, it is easy to lose perspective, in flood of pictures, in a swirof political debate. power and influence can seemed to ebb and flow. wars and grand plans can be deemed one more loss -- won or lost day-to-day, hour to hour. we have experienced the immediacy of the image of the suffering child, or the boasts of a dictator, it is easy to give in to the belief that human progress has stalled, that events are beyond our control, that change is not possible. but, this nati was founded upon a different notion. we believe that all men are created equal, that they are

endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that trh 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 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 dbt that this belief will be any less true, and a less powerful, t years, twoecades, or even two centuries from now? if fundamental part of our strategy for our security has to

be america's support for those rights that form the creed of our founders. we will promote these values above all by living and, through our fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution, even when it is hard, en when we're being attacked, even when we are in the midst of war. 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 their voice. what ideas are suppressed, we provide space for open debate. were democratic institutions to a cold, we had a wind at their back. -- institutions gro we are the wind at their back.

we are a source of opportunity. that is who we are. that is what we do. we do so with no illusions. we understand change does not come quick. we understand that neither american 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. in preparing f today, i turned to the words of oliver wendell holmes. reflecting on his of a work

spirit, he said, "to fight out a war, you must believe in something and want something with all your might, so much you do to carry anything else to a end is worth reaching." he 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 com out." amera does not fight for the sake of fighting. we abhor war. as one who is never experienced the field of battle, and i say that with humility, knowing the soldier above all others praise for peace, we fht because we must. we fight to keep our families and communities safe. we fight for the security of our allies and partners. america believes that we will be

safer when our friends are safer. we will be stronger when the world is more just. cadets, a long and hard road awaits you. you go abroad because your services fundamental to our security back home. you go abroad as representatives of the values that this country was founded upon. wh you inetably face setbacks, when the fighting is fierce, or a village elder is fearful, if the end seems uncertain, think back to west point, here, in this peaceful part of the world. you have drilled and you have studied. you have come of age in the footsteps of great men and women, americans who faced times of trial, and even in victory

could not have foreseen the amica they helped to build, the world they helped to shape. gege washington was able to free a band of patriots from an empire, but he could not have foreen his country growing to include 50 states connecting to quotients. grant was able to save the union, but he could not have foreseen how much his country would extend full rights and opportunities to citizens of every color. eisenhower was able to see germany surrendered, and a former enemyrow into an ay, but he couldot 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 major and greg ambrosia, who have protected their units, carried out their mission, earned the

commendation of thissarmy and this nation, from e birth of our existence, americ has had fah in the future, a belief that where we're going is better than where we have been. even when the path ahead is on certain. to fulfill that promise, generations have built upon the foundation of our forefathers, finding opportunity, fighting injuste, forging more perfect union. our achiements would not possible without the long gray line that has sacrificed for duty, for honor, for country. [applause] years from now, when you return

here, when the shadows he grown longer, i have no doubt that you will have added you 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. we are ready to lead once more. thank you. may god bless you, and may god bless the united states of america. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010]

>> thank you for cing to west point. on behalf of the class of 2010, thank you for your leadership and your remarks. loyal to the end. [applause] >> commandants, take charge of the graduate and class -- graduating class. >> graduating class. cover. class o 2010, dismissed.

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