every generation among you served to keep us strong and free. and it falls to us, those that follow, to preserve what you won. four years ago, i stood before you at a time of great challenge for our nation. we were engaged in two wars. al qaeda was entrenched in their safe havens in pakistan. many of our alliances were frayed. our standing in the world had suffered. we were in the worst recession of our lifetimes. around the world, some questioned whether the united states still had the capacity to lead. so, four years ago, i made you a promise. i pledged to take the fight to our enemies, and renew our leadership in the world.

as president, that's what i've done. and as you reflect on recent years, as we look ahead to the challenges we face as a nation and the leadership that's required, you don't just have my words, you have my deeds. you have my track record. you have the promises i've made and the promises that i've kept. i pledged to end the war in iraq honorably, and that's what we've done. after i took office, we removed nearly 150,000 u.s. troops from iraq. and some said that bringing our troops home last year was a mistake. they would have kept tens of thousands of our forces in iraq

-- indefinitely, without a clear mission. well, when you're commander-in- chief, you owe the troops a plan, you owe the country a plan -- and that includes recognizing not just when to begin wars, but also how to end them. so we brought our troops home responsibly. they left with their heads held high, knowing they gave iraqis a chance to forge their own future. and today, there are no americans fighting in iraq, and we are proud of all the americans who served there. i pledged toake it a priority to take out the terrorists who had attacked us on 9/11. and as a candidate, i said that if we had osama bin laden in our sights, we would act to keep america safe -- even if it meant

going into pakistan. some of you remember, at the time, that comment drew quite a bit of criticism. but since i took office, we've worked with our allies and our partners to take out more top al qaeda leaders than any time since 9/11. and thanks to the courage and the skill of our forces, osama bin laden will never threaten america again, and al qaeda is on the road to defeat. i pledged to finish the job in afghanistan. after years of drift, we had to break the momentum of the taliban, and build up the capacity and the capability of afghans. and so, working with our commanders, we came up with a new strategy, and we ordered

additional forces to get the job done. this is still a tough fight. but thanks to the incredible services and sacrifices of our troops, we pushed the taliban back; we're training afghan forces; we've begun the transition to afghan lead. again, there are those who argued against a timeline for ending this war -- or against talking about it publicly. but you know what, that's not a plan for america's security either. after 10 years of war, and given the progress we've made, i felt it was important that the american people -- and our men and women in uniform -- know our plan to end this war responsibly. and so by the end of this summer, more than 30,000 of our troops will have come home. next year, afghans will take the lead for their own security. in 2014, the transition will be complete.

and even as our troops come home, we'll have a strong partnership with the afghan people, and we will stay vigilant so afghanistan is never again a source for attacks against america. we're not just ending these wars; we're doing it in a way that achieves our objectives. moreover, it's allowed us to broaden our vision and begin a new era of american leadership. we're leading from europe to the asia pacific, with alliances that have never been stronger. we're leading the fight against nuclear dangers. we've applied the strongest sanctions ever on iran and north korea -- nations that cannot be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons. we're leading on behalf of freedom -- standing with people

in the middle east and north africa as they demand their rights; protecting the libyan people as they rid the world of muammar qaddafi. today, we're also working for a transition so the syrian people can have a better future, free of the assad regime. and given the regime's stockpiles of chemical weapons, we will continue to make it clear to assad and those around him that the world is watching, and that they will be held accountable by the international community and the united states, should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons. and we will continue to work with our friends and our allies and the syrian opposition on behalf of the day when the syrian people have a government that respects their basic rights to live in peace and freedom and dignity.

because we're leading around the world, people have a new attitude toward america. there's more confidence in our leadership. we see it everywhere we go. we saw it as grateful libyans waved american flags. we see it across the globe -- when people are asked, which country do you admire the most, one nation comes out on top -- the united states of america. so this is the progress that we've made. thanks to the extraordinary service of our men and women in uniform, we're winding down a decade of war; we're destroying the terrorist network that attacked us; we're strengthening the alliances that extend our values. and today, every american can be proud that the united states is safer and stronger and more respected in the world.

and all this allows us to fulfill another promise that i made to you four years ago -- strengthening our military. after 10 years of operations, our soldiers will now have fewer and shorter deployments, which means more time on the home front to keep their families strong; more time to heal from the wounds of war; more time to improve readiness and prepare for future threats. as president, i've continued to make historic investments to keep our armed forces strong. and guided by our new defense strategy, we will maintain our military superiority. it will be second to none as long as i am president and well into the future.

we've got the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped military in history. and as commander-in-chief i am going to keep it that way. and by the way, given all the rhetoric lately -- it is political season -- let's also set the record straight on the budget. those big, across-the-board cuts, including defense, that congress said would occur next year if they couldn't reach a deal to reduce the deficit? let's understand, first of all, there's no reason that should happen, because people in congress ought to be able to come together and agree on a plan, a balanced approach that reduces the deficit and keeps our military strong. it should be done. and there are a number of republicans in congress who don't want you to know that most of them voted for these cuts. now they're trying to wriggle out of what they agreed to. instead of making tough choices to reduce the deficit, they'd

rather protect tax cuts for some of the wealthiest americans, even if it risks big cuts in our military. and i've got to tell you, vfw, i disagree. if the choice is between tax cuts that the wealthiest americans don't need and funding our troops that they definitely need to keep our country strong, i will stand with our troops every single time. so let's stop playing politics with our military. let's get serious and reduce our deficit and keep our military strong. let's take some of the money that we're saving because we're not fighting in iraq and because we're winding down in afghanistan -- use half that money to pay down our deficit; let's use half of it to do some nation-building here in the united states of america.

let's keep taking care of our extraordinary military families. for the first time ever, we've made military families and veterans a top priority not just at dod, not just at the va, but across the government. as richard mentioned, this has been a mission for my wife, michelle, and vice president joe biden's wife, dr. jill biden. today, more people across america in every segment of society are joining forces to give our military families the respect and the support that they deserve. and there's another way we can honor those who serve. it may no longer be a crime for con artists to pass themselves off as heroes, but one thing is certain -- it is contemptible. so this week, we will launch a

new website, a living memorial, so the american people can see who's been awarded our nation's highest honors. because no american hero should ever have their valor stolen. this leads me to another promise i made four years ago -- upholding america's sacred trust with our veterans. i promised to strengthen the va, and that promise has been kept. in my first year, we achieved the largest percentage increase in the va budget in 30 years. and we're going to keep making historic investments in our veterans. when richard came to the oval

office, we talked about what those automatic budget cuts -- sequestration -- could mean for the va. so my administration has made it clear: your veteran's benefits are exempt from sequestration. they are exempt. and because advance appropriations is now the law of the land, veterans' health care is protected from the budget battles in washington. i promised you that i'd stand up for veterans' health care. as long as i'm president, i will not allow va health care to be turned into a voucher system, subject to the whims of the insurance market. some have argued for this plan. i could not disagree more. you don't need vouchers, you need the va health care that you have earned and that you depend on.

so we've made dramaticinvestments to help care for our veterans. for our vietnam veterans, we declared that more illnesses are now presumed connected to your exposure to agent orange. as a result of our decision, vietnam-era vets and your families received nearly $4 billion in disability pay. you needed it; you fought for it. we heard you and we got it done. we've added mobile clinics for our rural veterans; more tailored care for our women veterans; unprecedented support for veterans with traumatic brain injury. all tolled, we've made va health care available to nearly 800,000 veterans who didn't have it

before. and we're now supporting caregivers and families with the skills and the stipends to help care for the veterans that they love. of course, more veterans in the system means more claims. so we've hired thousands of claims processors. we're investing in paperless systems. to their credit, the dedicated folks at the va are now completing one million claims a year. but there's been a tidal wave of new claims. and when i hear about veterans waiting months, or years, for your benefits -- it is unacceptable. and we are doing something about it. we're taking all those folks who processed your agent orange claims -- more than 1,200 experts -- and giving them a new mission: attack the backlog. we're prioritizing veterans with the most serious disabilities. and the va and dod will work harder towards a seamless transition so new veterans aren't just piled on to the backlog.

and we will not rest -- i will not be satisfied until we get this right. and today, i'm also calling on all those who help our vets complete their claims -- state vas, physicians and veteran groups like the vfw -- to join us. you know how this can work better, so let's get it done, together. we're also focused on the urgent needs of our veterans with ptsd. we've poured tremendous resources into this fight -- thousands of more counselors and more clinicians, more care and more treatment. and we've made it easier for veterans with ptsd to qualify for va benefits. but after a decade of war, it's now an epidemic.

we're losing more troops to suicide -- one every single day -- than we are in combat. according to some estimates, about 18 veterans are taking their lives each day -- more every year than all the troops killed in iraq and afghanistan combined. that's a tragedy. it's heartbreaking. it should not be happening in the united states of america. so when i hear about servicemembers and veterans who had the courage to seek help but didn't get it, who died waiting, that's an outrage. and i've told secretary panetta, chairman dempsey and secretary shinseki we've got to do better. this has to be all hands on deck. so our message to everyone who's ever worn the uniform -- if you're hurting, it's not a sign of weakness to seek help, it's a sign of strength. and when you do, we'll be there and do more to help -- including more counselors and clinicians to help you heal.

we need to end this tragedy, vfw. and we're going to work together to make it happen. so, too with our campaign to end homelessness among our veterans. we've now helped to bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets and into permanent housing. this has to be a core mission, because every veteran who has fought for america ought to have a home in america. and this brings me to the last promise i want to discuss with you. four years ago, i said that i'd do everything i could to help our veterans realize the american dream, to enlist you in building a stronger america. after all, our veterans have the skills that america needs.

so today, our economy is growing and creating jobs, but it's still too hard for too many folks to find work, especially our younger veterans, our veterans from iraq and afghanistan. and with a million more troops rejoining civilian life in the years ahead -- and looking for work -- we've got to step up our game, at every stage of their careers. so today, i'm announcing a major overhaul of our transition assistance program. we're going to set up a kind of "reverse boot camp" for our departing servicemembers. starting this year, they'll get more personalized assistance as they plan their careers. we'll provide the training they need to find that job, or pursue that education, or start that business. and just as they've maintained their military readiness, we'll have new standards of "career readiness." in addition, by making the post-

9/11 gi bill a priority, we've helped more than 800,000 veterans and their families pursue their education. and i've issued an executive order to help put a stop to schools that are ripping off our veterans. i've directed the federal government to step up on jobs. since i took office, we've hired more than 200,000 veterans into the federal government. we made it a priority. and we're keeping track -- every agency, every department: what are you doing for our veterans? i've challenged community health centers to hire thousands of veterans as physicians and nurses. and as we help local communities hire new police officers and firefighters and first responders, we're giving a preference to veterans. we're also fighting to get more vets hired in the private sector. with new tools like our online veterans jobs bank, we're connecting veterans directly to

jobs. we're helping thousands of veterans get certified for good-paying jobs in manufacturing. we succeeded in passing tax credits for businesses that hire our veterans and our wounded warriors. and this morning, i signed into law the veteran skills to jobs act -- making it easier for veterans to transfer their outstanding military skills into the licenses and credentials they need to get civilian jobs. if you are a young man that is in charge of a platoon or millions of dollars of equipment and are taking responsibility, or you're a medic out in the field who is saving lives every single day -- when you come home, you need to be credentialed and certified quickly so you can get on the job. people should understand how skilled you are. and there shouldn't be bureaucrats or runarounds. we've got to put those folks to work.

last summer, i also challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans or their spouses. michelle and jill biden have been leading the effort, through joining forces. and so far, thousands of patriotic businesses have hired or trained more than 90,000 veterans and spouses. and our message to companies is simple: if you want somebody who gets the job done, then hire a vet. hire a vet. hire a vet and they will make you proud just like they've made america proud. and we're fighting for veterans who want to start their own businesses, including more training in entrepreneurship. it's one of the reasons we've cut taxes -- 18 times for small businesses, including veteran- owned businesses. and the effects ripple out, because vets are more likely to hire vets. so today, we can point to

progress. more veterans are finding jobs; the unemployment rate for veterans has come down. yes, it's still too high, but it's coming down. and now we've got to sustain that momentum. it's one of the reasons i've proposed to congress a veterans jobs corps to put our veterans back to work protecting and rebuilding america. and today, i am again calling on congress: pass this veterans jobs corps and extend the tax credits for businesses that hire veterans so we can give these american heroes the jobs and opportunities that they deserve. so, vfw, these are the promises that i made. these are the promises that i've kept. where we still have more to do, we will not rest. that's my vow to you. i've got your back. i've got your six. because we have a solemn obligation to all who serve

-- not just for the years you're in uniform, but for all the decades that follow, and because even though today's wars are ending, the hard work of taking care of our newest veterans has only just begun. just as you protected america, we're going to pass our country to the next generation, stronger and safer and more respected in the world. so if anyone tries to tell you that our greatness has passed, that america is in decline, you tell them this: just like the 20th century, the 21st is going to be another great american century. for we are americans, blessed with the greatest form of government ever devised by man, a democracy dedicated to freedom and committed to the

ideals that still light the world. we will never apologize for our way of life; we will never waver in its defense. we are a nation that freed millions and turned adversaries into allies. we are the americans who defended the peace and turned back aggression. we are americans who welcome our global responsibilities and our global leadership. the united states has been, and will remain, the one indispensable nation in world affairs. and you, you are the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the marines and the coast guardsmen who have kept us strong. we will honor your legacy. and we will ensure that the military you served, and the america that we love, remains the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known. god bless you.

god bless all of our veterans. and god bless the united states of america. ♪

♪

today, congressman henry cuellar. then, republican of new jersey and number of the house financial-services committee. he talks about the fight over tax cuts and defense sequestration. later, spotlight on magazines features of the gillespie, editor in chief of reason.com. that is live at starting at 7:00 eastern on c-span. >> of the brookings institution who is the discussion today and the president of candidates foreign-policy agendas. michelle florinor will speak at

c-span at 3:00. >> this is the kind of job you can disagree vehemently on the ball without taking it personally and without hating the person who was on the other side. you want to find another job. >> the supreme court justice reflects on over 25 years on the bench and interpreting legal documents. that is sunday at 8:00 on c-span q&a. >> there wrongly spoke to the veterans of foreign wars convention one day after president alibaba. he accused the white house of leaking classified information about the u.s. military raid that killed osama bin laden and called for a special counsel to investigate. he then outlined his policy.

his remarks are 25 minutes. >> wednesday on "washington journal," congressman henry cuellar discuss relations with the new mexican president. he talks about the site of tax cuts and about sequestration. later, "washington journal"'s spotlight on magazines featured the editor in chief of -- he will talk about his article. it is live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> wednesday, treasury secretary tim geithner is before the house expected topics include the annual financial stability oversight council report. live coverage starting at 9:30 eastern on c-span 3. >> if you cannot disagree, even disagree vehemently without taking it personally and hating the person on the other side, you want to find another job. >> justice scalia reflects on 25 years on the bench and interpreting documents. sunday at 8:00 on "q&a." >> mitt romney spoke to the veterans of foreign wars. it called for a special counsel to investigate. he outlined his policy on the future of u.s. involvement in afghanistan and iran. his remarks from reno, nevada, are 25 minutes. >> thank you so much. it is a source of pride for us to see a combat veteran from massachusetts serving as a national commander of the vfw. great job, cmdr. the auxiliary president, incoming national commander john hamilton, executive director bob wallace,

distinguished guests and members, thank you for your generous welcome. i want to start with a few words about the tragedy in colorado last week. we have since learned that among the victims were four people who served or were serving our country in uniform. today our hearts go out to the families. an air force veteran, an army veteran and member of the air force reserves and a veteran who died shielding his girlfriend from the spray of bullets. the loss of four americans who served our country only adds to the tragedy of that day. all americans here are grateful for their service and saddened

by their deaths. we mourn them and we will remember them. the vfw is now over 2 million strong. it has a special place in america's heart. some of you fought recently in iraq or afghanistan. others are old enough to have marched by orders of franklin roosevelt. whatever your age, whether you are republican or democrat, whenever you served, there is one thing you have in common -- you answered the call of your country, in a time of war. whenever america has been tested, you stepped forward. you come from our farms, our great cities, our small towns and quiet neighborhoods. many of you have known of violence so that your neighbors could know peace. it is an honor to address you

today. [applause] our veterans are part of a proud tradition that stretches back to the battlefield of lexington and concord. now to places like kandahar. our men and women have added proud achievements to their service and president obama appointed some of them yesterday in his speech. anytime our military accomplishes a vital mission, it is a proud moment for our nation. but we owe our veterans and military more than an accounting of our successes. they deserve a fair and frank assessment of the whole picture of where we are and where we want to be. when it comes to national security and foreign policy, the last few years have been a time of declining influence and of

missed opportunity. consider some of the challenges i discussed with you at the last national convention. since then, has the american economy recovered? has our ability to shape world events been enhanced or diminished? have we gained greater confidence among our allies and greater respect from our adversaries? has the most severe security threat facing america and our friends, a nuclear-armed iran, become more likely or less likely? these are measures of the ultimate test of american leadership and by these standards, we have not seen much in the president's first term that inspires confidence in a second.

the president's policy that made it harder to recover from the deepest recession in 70 years. exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify. compromised our national security secrets. [applause] and in dealings with other nations, he has given trust where it is not earned, insults where it was not deserved and apology where it was not due. [applause] from berlin to cairo to the united nations, president obama has shared his view of america and his place among nations.

i have come here today to share mine. i am an unapologetic believer in the greatness of america. [applause] i am not ashamed of american power. i take pride that throughout history, our power has brought justice where there was tyranny, peace where there was conflict and help where there was affliction and despair. i do not view america as one more place on the map or one more power to the balanced i believe our country is the greatest force for good the world has ever known and our employees is needed today as ever before. [applause] and i am guided by one overwhelming conviction and passion.

this century must be an american century. in 1941, henry louis called on his countrymen realizing their strength to create the first great american century and they did. together with their allies, they won world war ii. and america took its place as leader of the free world. across the globe, they fought, they bled, they lead. they showed the world the extraordinary courage of the american heart. that remains unchanged today but sadly the president has diminished american leadership. the world is dangerous,

destructive and the two men running fro the commander in chief lifespan face the challenges we face. like a watchman in the night we must remain vigilant. we have the strongest economy and military in the world. if by necessity we must employ it, we must wield our strength with resolve. in an american century, we lead the free world and the free world leads the entire world. if they do not have the strength of vision to lead, other powers will take our place, pulling history in a different direction. a just and peaceful world depends on a strong and confident america. if i become commander in chief,

the united states of america will fulfill its destiny and its duty. [applause] now our leadership depends on our economic strength, on our military strength and our moral strength. if any one of those can compensate. the strength of our economy is in jeopardy. a healthy economy is what underwrites american power. when growth is missing, government revenues fall, social spending rises and washington looks to cut defense spending as the easy way out.

that includes our president. today we are months away from an arbitrary the budget reduction that would saddle the military with $1 trillion in cut. it would impair our ability to meet and deter threats. do not bother trying to finding a serious military rationale behind that unless that rationale is wishful thinking. strategy is not driving the president's massive defense cuts. his own secretary of defense warned those reductions would be devastating. they would weaken an already stretched system. if i am president, i will not let that happen. [applause]

this is no time for the president's radical cuts in our military. look around the world. other major powers are rapidly adding to the military capabilities. some with intentions very different than our own. the regime in tehran is closer to developing nuclear weapons. the threat of radical islamist terrorism persists. weapons of mass destruction proliferation. we are still at war and still have uniformed men and women in, for it. all of this and more is going on and yet the president has chosen this moment for wholesale reductions in -- with the biggest announcement in the last state of the union address on improving our military was that the pentagon will start using more clean energy, you know it is time for a change. [applause]

we are not the first people to observe the spirit it is reported that bob gates, the first secretary of defense, i just another security problem. after the white house leaked secret operational details of the osama bin laden raid to reporters, secretary gates told the obama team to shut up. he added a colorful word for emphasis. lives are at stake but the administration failed to change its ways. more top-secret operations were leaked, even some of involving covert actions in iran. this is a national security crisis. democrat senator dianne

feinstein asked today, chairman of the senate intelligence committee, said, i think the white house has to understand that some of it is coming from them. this conduct betrays our national interest. it compromises our men and women investigation by special counsel with explanation and consequence. obama appointees who are accountable to the attorney- general should not be responsible for investigating the leaks coming from the white house. whoever provided classified information to the media must be exposed, dismissed and punished. the time for stonewalling is over.

[applause] it is not enough to say the matter is being looked into and leave it at that. when the issue is the political use of a highly sensitive national security information, it is unacceptable to say we will report our findings after the election who in the white house perpetrated these secrets? these are things americans are entitled to know. the president believes that the buck stops with him, he owes all americans a prompt accounting of the facts. let me be very clear -- these events make the decision we face in november all the more important.

what kind of white house would political gain? i will tell you right now --mine will not. [applause] national security secrets are betrayed extends to the trust that allies place in the united states. the operating principle of american foreign-policy has been to work with our allies to deter aggression before it breaks out into conflict. that policy depends on nurturing for our values. if the president moves in the opposite direction. it began with the abandonment of that -- with our friends in poland.

they were told at the last houras part of their policy. missile defenses were sacrificed as a unilateral concession to the russian government. it that gesture was designed to inspire good will from russia, it missed the mark. the russian government defended the dictator in damascus. i can only guess what putin makes of the obama administration. he got a congratulatory call from the oval office spirit then that exchange picked up by a microphone that president obama did not know was on. he told putin to give him space. why is that flexibility with russian leaders is more important to him than transparency for the american people? [applause]

now the president did have a moment of candor the other day. he said the actions of venezuelan dictator hugo chavez have not had a serious national security impact on us. in my view, inviting hezbollah into our hemisphere is severe, serious and a threat. i will recognize it as such. [applause] but at least he was being consistent. this is the president who faltered when the iranian people were looking for support in their struggle against the ayatollah. that uprising was treated as an inconvenient problem for the president of policy engagement instead of a moral opportunity. that misjudgment should never be -- when unarmed men and women find the courage to stand against their oppressors, they should hear the voice of an american president affirming their right

to be free. kabul we leaving this evening on a trip abroad that will take me to england -- i will be leaving this evening on a trip abroad that will take me to england and elsewhere. i will tell you what i think of this administration's treatment of one of our finest friends. president obama is fond of lecturing israel's leaders. he is undermine their position which was tough enough as it was. even at the united nations to the applause of israel's enemies, his boat as if our closest ally was a problem. the people of israel deserve better. the chorus of accusations and threats at the united nations should never again include the

voice of the president of the united states. [applause] their values and causes that depend on american strength and clarity of our purpose and the reliability of our commitments. there is work that only america and our allies can do. hostile powers that only we can deter and challenges that only we can overcome. i will have a solemn duty as commander in chief to our men and women in uniform. the troops, their families and the american people -- give them a clear explanation of our commitments.

i have been critical of the decision to withdraw search troops during the fighting season against it by some commanders on the ground. the president would have you believe that anyone who is disagreeing with his decision is arguing for endless war. it is a politically time to retreat. as president, michael in afghanistan will be to complete a successful transition to afghan security forces by the end of 2014. i will solicit the best advice of our military commanders and affirm that my duty is not to my political prospects to -- but the security of the nation and safety of our troops. [applause] we face another challenge in a rising china. china too often disregards the rights of its people. it is selected in the freedoms

it allows and with its one child policy, it can be ruthless in crushing the freedoms it denies. in trading with america, it commits a flagrant hypocrisy patent violations. it manipulates its currency to maintain an unfair advantage. it is our mutual interest for china to be a partner for a stable and secure world. we welcome its participation in trade but the cheating must be brought to a stop. the president has not done it and will not do it and i will. [applause] we will need that clarity of purpose and result in the middle east. america cannot be neutral in the outcome there. we have to clearly stand for the values that represented economic opportunity and human-

rights and we must stand against the extension of iranian influence. egypt is at the center of this drama. it has the power to tip the balance in the arab world toward freedom. as president, i will work with partner nations deeper place conditions on their assistance. unifying our common purpose doubled foster the development of a government that represents all egyptians, maintains peace with israel. the united states is willing to help egypt support peace and prosperity but will not be a composite in oppression. there is no greater danger in the world today than the prospect of ayatollahs in tehran possess a nuclear weapons capacity.

with all the talks and assurances, can anyone say we are further from this danger now than we were four years ago? the same ayatollahs who chanted "death to america" will not be talked out of their contempt for our country. sanctions must be enforced without exception, cutting off the sources of wealth. negotiations must secure full access for inspections. as it is, the iranian regime claims the right to enrich nuclear material for supposedly peaceful purposes. this claim is discredited by years of deception. a clear line has to be drawn. there must be a full suspension of any enrichment whatsoever. period.

and at every turn, iran must know that the united states and our allies stand as one in these critical objectives. only in this way can be successfully counter the threat that iran represents to us in the world. i pledge to you and all americans that if i become commander in chief, i will use every means necessary to protect ourselves and the region and prevent the worst from happening while there is still time. it is a mistake to think that firmness in american foreign policy can only bring tension or conflict. the surest path to danger is

always weakness and indecision. [applause] in the end, it is resolved that moves events in our direction and strength that keeps the peace. i will not surrender america's leadership in the world. we must have confidence in our cause, clarity in our purpose and resolved in our minds. it is very simple. if you do not want america to be the strongest nation on earth, i am not your president. but with his cuts to the military, you have that president today. this century began with terror, war, economic calamity. it is our duty to move towards freedom, peace and prosperity. the people here today cannot hold the torch as high as they have in the past.

they are getting older. it is our turn. we have to seize that torch they carried with such great sacrifice. it is an eternal torch of decency and freedom and hope. it is not our torch alone but america's duty and honor to hold it high enough so the whole world can see it. i love america, i love what america represents. i love the sacrifice america has made for freedoms throughout the world. this is a critical time for our nation, a time of toys -- of choice. we will have another american century with freedom blossoming and prosperity for all our citizens here because i believe in america. i believe in you.

i salute you. together we will make sure we keep america the whole of the earth. thank you so very much and god bless the vfw and the united states of america. ♪ >> the today treasury secretary tim of the day there is before the house financial-services committee. -- timothy geithner. live coverage at 9:30 eastern on c-span 3. the brookings institution host a discussion today on the presidential candidates foreign- policy agendas. rich williamson from the mitt romney campaign will speak.

see it live it 2:30 eastern on c-span 3. >> coming up live today on c- span, "washington journal" brings to the news of the day from capitol hill. that the house resumes to look at legislation for oil-drilling in the u.s.. later, a vote on the bill to require an audit of the federal reserve. coming up in 45 minutes, congressman henry clay hard to come a democrat of texas discusses u.s. relationships with the new mexican president. scott garrett, republican of new jersey a member of the house but mitchell services committee will address the fight over tax cuts to provide sequestration, and pp the secretary's