國防部長帕內塔在美國海軍學院畢業典禮上的演講節選

國防部長帕內塔在美國海軍學院畢業典禮上的演講節選

2012.05.31
美國國防部
助理國防部長辦公室（公共事務）
美國海軍學院畢業典禮
國防部長萊昂•帕內塔（Leon E. Panetta）發表演講
馬里蘭州安納波利斯（Annapolis）
2012年5月29日（星期二）
謝謝，海軍中將米勒（Miller）。馬伯斯（Mabus）部長，感謝你出色地擔任海軍部部長一職。奧馬利（O』Malley）州長以及各位國會議員、尊貴的來賓、家長、朋友、家人、院長和教職員，還有最重要的，2012屆學員們：能以國防部長的身份來到這個特殊的場合，實在是我的殊榮。
首先我要向2012屆學員們致以最誠摯的祝賀。祝賀你們，你們完成學業了！
* * * *
我們的作戰部隊已經從伊拉克返國；上周北約在芝加哥批准了艾倫（Allen）將軍提出的一項計劃，到2014年年底將安全主導權完全移交給阿富汗軍隊；我們也成功地追剿「基地」組織頭目，並以此清楚地表明：絕不讓攻擊美國的人逍遙法外。我們還與北約盟國一起成功地將利比亞歸還給利比亞人民。
但我們依然面臨著重大的挑戰和危險：我們繼續面對暴力極端主義的威脅，那些人仍在威脅要攻擊我們的國土；我們仍在作戰；我們抗擊大規模毀滅性武器的擴散；伊朗和北韓破壞穩定的行為；整個亞太地區的軍事現代化；中東的動蕩；公海的海盜活動；以及在我國和其他地方日益增加並且變化莫測的攻擊、網路攻擊。這一切都發生在我國面臨越來越棘手的預算問題的時候。
我們國家現在期望你們，下一代軍事領導人，迎接我剛剛提到的各種挑戰，保衛我們的國家，並確保美國始終保持全世界最強大的軍力。
* * * *
我們未來的軍隊必須敏捷，必須靈活，必須可以部署，也必須技術先進；我們會重視亞太地區及中東地區；我們會強化全球的關鍵聯盟與夥伴關係；我們會確保我們的軍隊不論何時何地都能迎戰挑釁並且擊敗對手；我們會保護對新能力的投資－－從網路到無人系統，再到空間和特種部隊。
海軍與海軍陸戰隊（Navy and Marine Corps）是該戰略的各個要素的根本。
美國是個海洋國家，我們正在重返我們的海洋根基。你們這一代必須面對的重要任務之一將是保持並強化美國在寬廣的太平洋海域的實力。
美國未來的繁榮和安全與我們增進從西太平洋和東亞延伸到印度洋和南亞的弧形地帶的和平與安全的能力息息相關。這是我們國家以及我國軍隊無法迴避的事實，它已使我們開始擴展並深化我們在整個亞太地區的參與。
你們作為海軍將領將面臨的重大挑戰之一是確保21世紀亞太地區的和平與繁榮。
我們需要你們展現美國的力量並體現美國的國格：在軍艦和潛艇上服役，駕機飛行，並且在整個地區展開培訓和作業。
我們需要你們完成強化我們與日本、韓國、澳大利亞、菲律賓和泰國的歷史性同盟並使之現代化的重要任務。
我們需要你們在整個地區建立強勁的夥伴關係，與馬來西亞和印度尼西亞等國，以及與越南、新加坡、印度和其他國家。
我們也需要你們增強與中國的防務聯繫。中國的軍力日益增強而且日益現代化。我們必須保持警覺。我們必須保持強大。我們必須做好準備迎接任何挑戰。但該地區和平的關鍵在於美中兩國開啟防務協作的新紀元－－我們兩國軍隊共同承擔安全責任，以促進亞太地區和世界各地的和平。
明天我將啟程前往東南亞。在今年晚些時候，我將以國防部長的身份首次訪問中國。
我會告訴所有這些國家，美國將一直是一個亞太大國，我也會告訴他們這正是因為有你們。因為你們中有很多人在職業生涯中將會前往太平洋地區。
在那裡乃至全球各地，海軍與海軍陸戰隊都必須引導美國重建持久的海軍存在和實力。
* * * *
一名美國海軍艦長曾經寫道，他實在想不出有什麼比在海軍學院任職回報更大的……因為用他的話說：「雖然別處的金錢待遇可能更優厚，但是沒有任何地方有更大的榮耀。」
確實，沒有任何地方比此地更有榮耀。
當你們離開此地時，將那份榮耀一起帶走吧。捍衛它，為它而戰，並且在必要時為它獻身。榮耀屬於你們－－現在努力去贏得它吧！
祝賀你們大家。願主保佑你們，願主保佑海軍，願主保佑海軍陸戰隊，並預祝2012屆學員一路順風。
謝謝大家。


Excerpts: Panetta at U.S. Naval Academy Graduation

30 May 2012
U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
U.S. Naval Academy Commencement
As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
Annapolis, MD, Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thank you, Vice Admiral Miller. Secretary Mabus thanks for the great job you do as the Secretary of the Navy. Governor O』Malley, Congressmen, distinguished guests, parents, friends, families, deans and faculty, Brigade of Midshipmen, and above all, Class of 2012: it is for me a very great honor and distinct privilege for me to take part in this special occasion as the Secretary of Defense.
And let me first and foremost express my deepest congratulations to those of you in the class of 2012. Congratulations to all of you, you made it!
* * * *
Our combat forces have come home from Iraq; NATO just approved a plan last week in Chicago a plan by General Allen to fully transition the lead for security to Afghan forces by the end of 2014; and we have successfully gone after the leadership of al Qaeda to send a very clear message that no one attacks the United States and gets away with it. And we successfully fought with our NATO allies to give Libya back to the Libyan people.
And yet we still face significant challenges and risks: we continue to face the threat of violent extremism, those who continue to threaten attacks on our homeland; we』re still at war; we confront proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; the destabilizing behavior of Iran and North Korea; military modernization across the Asia-Pacific; turmoil in the Middle East; piracy on the high seas; and increasing and creative attacks, cyber attacks, here in our country and elsewhere. All of this coming at a time of increasing budget challenges here at home.
Our nation now looks to you, the next generation of military leaders, to confront these challenges I just outlined, to protect our nation, and to ensure that America always has the strongest military force in the world.
* * * *
Our military force for the future must be agile, it must be flexible, it must be deployable, it must be technologically advanced; we will emphasize Asia-Pacific as well as the Middle East; we will strengthen key alliances and partnerships around the world; we will ensure our military can confront aggression and defeat any opponent anytime, anywhere; and we will protect investments in new capabilities – from cyber, to unmanned systems, to space to special operations forces.
The Navy and Marine Corps are fundamental to every element of that strategy.
America is a maritime nation, and we are returning to our maritime roots. One of the key projects of your generation will have to face is sustaining and enhancing American strength across the great maritime region of the Pacific.
America』s future prosperity and security are tied to our ability to advance peace and security along the arc extending from the Western Pacific and East Asia into the Indian Ocean and South Asia. That reality is inescapable for our country and for our military, which has already begun broadening and deepening our engagement throughout the Asia-Pacific.
One of your great challenges as an officer in the Navy will be to ensure the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region for the 21st century.
We need you to project America』s power and to reflect America』s character: to serve on ships and submarines, to fly planes, and to train and operate throughout the region.
We need you to do the important work of strengthening and modernizing our historic alliances with Japan, with Korea, with Australia, with the Philippines, with Thailand.
We need to you to build robust partnerships throughout the region; with countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia; with Vietnam, Singapore, India and others.
We also need you to strengthen defense ties with China. China』s military is growing and modernizing. We must be vigilant. We must be strong. We must be prepared to confront any challenge. But the key to peace in that region is to develop a new era of defense cooperation between our countries – one in which our militaries share security burdens to advance peace in the Asia-Pacific and around the world.
Tomorrow I depart on a trip to Southeast Asia. And later this year, I will visit to China for the first time as Secretary of Defense.
I』ll tell all of these nations that the United States will remain a Pacific power, and I』ll tell them why: because of you. Because during your careers many of you will be headed to the Pacific.
There and across the globe, the Navy and Marine Corps must lead a resurgence of America』s enduring maritime presence and power.
* * * *
A U.S. Navy ship captain once wrote that he could think of no greater prize for anyone than an appointment to the Naval Academy…for as he put it, 「there may be more money elsewhere, but there is no more honor anywhere.」
Indeed, there is no more honor anywhere than right here.
As you leave here, carry that honor with you. Defend it, fight for it and yes, if necessary, die for it. The honor is yours – now earn it!
Congratulations to all of you. God Bless you, God Bless the Navy, God Bless the Marine Corps, and Fair Winds to the Class of 2012.
Thank you.