In the end, we cannot expect to be responsible stewards of freedom if we are not also responsible stewards of our hemisphere's air, land and water. In my own country the armed forces are doing their part. Indeed, many of our military installations now contain some of the most unaltered ecosystems in the nation and are addressing the cleanup of some of the worst environmental problems in my country. And we are spending, indeed, scores of billions to clean up after years of the Cold War. All of us can, and must, do more.
Democracy requires both civic responsibility and individual accountability.
There is no doubt in my mind that in the next century, our hemisphere's militaries can become models for responsible environmental stewardship. But our challenge is not simply to manage the lands and waters we use for military purposes. Our broader challenge is to recognize that the sustainable development of democracy requires that we also sustain the development of the resources which nourish our freedoms. Today our armed forces, with their special skills and discipline, have a unique role in shaping this vision. This is a challenge that I hope your conference will take seriously.