President Bush discussed plans to transform the military, and repeated his commitment to fighting the war on terror during a speech Friday to graduating naval officers.
He's Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as President of the United States, the leader and ultimate boss for the hundreds of men and women graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland.
The President told the class of 2005 he wants to transform the military through new ideas, and advances in technology, like unmanned submarines that go where no underwater vehicle can reach today, and precision missiles, that single out enemy leaders, while sparing civilian lives.
"We can target a regime, not a nation, and 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," says president Bush.
To build a lighter, faster and more lethal military, Mr. Bush said he would request another $78 billion over four years. He reiterated his frequently stated position - that the U.S. will fight terrorism abroad, rather than facing it at home. And he said the U.S. will stop terrorists from getting their hands on the deadliest of weapons.
"We're 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 destruction," says the president.
Mr. Bush also pointed to peaceful changes in the world. "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," he added.
The President told the new officers, hearts around the world are burning for liberty, and their job is to fight for that cause.
