launched dialogue with our partners so we are tackling this type of challenge. once again we are better off if we are doing it together with our strong democratic european partners. secretary's clinton -- secretary clinton's comments on the baltic. she endorsed the historic u.s. support for nato's open door. we have long believed that nato is stronger when it's door is open to countries that can contribute to security there are democratic. we think the very prospect of keeping it oppose the door open leads them to undertake reforms that are in their interest. nato gets stronger.

she vigorously made the case, remade the case that we should work with those countries. we mean what we say. we are committed to working with them and strengthening their candidacies. we help as soon as they are ready the alliance is ready to take them in. it is a historic project. europe will not be complete until the baltic is included in these regions. you mention the election in serbia which was only a couple of days ago. we are still analyzing the implications of that. it does not change our approach to the balkans or serbia. we want to see the serbians pursue the european path. we think that requires coming to terms with coast of help. >> -- koscovo.

thinkinge join me in th our guests for this great discussion we have had. thank you again, phil. we will move seamlessly to the next panel. if you want to take a one or two bennett -- we will start the next panel in two minutes. thank you. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> president obama pays tribute to those who lost their lives serving the united states.

she outlines the republican plan for job creation and economic growth. >> this weekend folks across the country are opening up the pool, firing up the grill and taking a moment to relax. memorial day is more than a three day weekend. in town squares and national cemeteries, and public services and moments of reflection, we will honor those who love their country enough to sacrifice their own lives for it. this memorial day, michelle obama and i will join and veterans and their families at arlington national cemetery. we will pay tribute to patriots of every generation who gave their last full measure of devotion. from lexington and concord to iraq and afghanistan. later we will join vietnam's veterans and their families at

the wall. we will begin to mark the 50th anniversary of the vietnam war. it is another chance to honor those we lost. we will be coming -- we will be calling on you, the american people, to help us joy and honoring veterans in your communities. we reaffirm our commitment to care for those who served alongside them. the veterans who came home. this includes our newest generation of veterans from iraq and afghanistan. we have to serve them and their families as well as they have served us. making sure they get the health care benefits they need. by giving veterans the chance to go to college, find a good job, and enjoy the freedom they risked everything to protect. a our men and women in uniform took an oath to defend the

country at all costs. as members of the finest military the world has ever known, the up hold that with dignity and courage. i have no higher honor than serving as the commander in chief. that comes a solemn responsibility, one that gets driven home every time my son a condolence letter or meet a family member whose life has been turned upside-down. no ceremony can do justice to their memory. no honor will ever fell their absence. on memorial day we come together as americans to let these families and veterans know they are not alone. we give thanks to those who sacrificed everything so we can be free. we commit ourselves to upholding the ideas for which so many patriots have fought and died. thank you. god bless you and have a wonderful weekend. >> i represent the second

congressional district of kansas. home of fort leavenworth. fort riley, nearly 12,000 national guard and reserve members. it is an honor to speak with you on memorial day weekend. a time to pause and think the brave men and women of our armed forces who have died in defense of our country. we pray for our sons and daughters who are risking their lives so we may live in security and freedom. of course we owe it to our service members to do everything we can to ensure they come home to a strong growing economy that creates jobs and opportunities. roughly 22 million of our fellow citizens are struggling to find a good full time paying job. higher prices on everything from gas to groceries has added to the strain on families and

small businesses. americans are clamoring for optimistic leadership and a positive agenda to get people back to work, which is what americans plan for job creators provide. the american jobs plan is built around small businesses, not big government. instead of short-term stimulus, our plan emphasizes long-term growth. my republican colleagues and i spread out across the country to highlight the economic potential of our domestic energy resources. i visited an oil well in kansas, a small town whose proud energy workers make a big contribution to our region and the economy. ours is a state that would be part of the keystone pipeline, a job creating a project the president has repeatedly blocked. right now it is stock in a house

senate conference committee to opposition from the president and his allies in the senate democratic leadership. republicans are holding strong by insisting it should be included in any transportation bill they send it to president obama. while the president pursues tax policies that advantage former a project for an energy, republicans are working to make the united states the largest and urging producing -- largest energy producing nation on earth. we can do this if we remove government barriers to all forms of domestic energy production. our small businesses can thrive if we ran in the red tape that bog them down and keep them from firing -- hiring new workers.

our children can grow up without the crushing burden of government that if washington stops spending money we do not have and starts operating on a real budget.the house plan -- the house has voted to take these seps to prosperity. president obama has a series to do list to tackle. republican stand willing to work with them on these priorities. as we consider the sacrifices our service members and their families have made, we are reminded to never squander the blessing of liberty. that is why helping to create jobs and grow our economy will continue to be republican's focus in the weeks and months ahead. ahead.