Person to person, unit to unit, service to service, you know how to operate together and support each other. This is illustrated by the changing mix of missions for our military, and by the extraordinary range of international training and other activities you conduct here at Elmendorf. My third conclusion stems from the previous two. The United States needs to be very disciplined in deciding where, when, and how you are deployed. Precisely because you are so good, and because the world remains so troubled, there is a risk you will be called upon too often.
Excellence is no accident.
Every deployment comes with a high cost of training foregone, equipment worn down, personal sacrifice, and danger. This means we must explore diplomatic options thoroughly before considering the use of force. My final conclusion is that the need for American leadership in the world is as great now as it has ever been, but that exercising that leadership will require an increasingly complex blend of diplomacy backed by power. This is true in Korea, which is perhaps the most dangerous place on Earth today. Here, U.S. forces help to maintain stability while diplomats strive for reconciliation.