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Skriven 2007-07-27 23:30:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0707275) for Fri, 2007 Jul 27
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Vice President's Remarks at Armed Forces Farewell Tribute and Retirement
Ceremony for Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., USN
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
July 27, 2007

Vice President's Remarks at Armed Forces Farewell Tribute and Retirement
Ceremony for Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., USN
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland

˙˙Photos

˙

10:36 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Secretary Gates, Secretary
Rumsfeld, General Pace, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: It's a
privilege to join all of you in this tribute to Edmund Peter Giambastiani,
Jr. -- a fine American who President Bush, and all of us, know as Admiral
G.

I want to thank my good friend General Peter Pace for the invitation to be
here today, and for his own superb service as Vice Chairman and Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Of those in the military or public service today, it will be said that we
served during one of the most eventful periods in American history. It will
be said, as well, that the years of General Pace and Admiral G were years
of extraordinary leadership and accomplishment. These two officers, with
combined service of more than seven decades, have been a remarkable team
for the United States of America. They've earned the deepest respect of the
President and Vice President, and the gratitude of our entire nation.

Active duty places many demands on military families, who so often and so
freely put the interests of the nation above their own. Thus as we honor
the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we also honor his
wife, Cindy, and their entire family for their selfless devotion to our
country.

It's most fitting that we should gather at the Naval Academy this morning.
It's here that Ed Giambastiani, and his son Pete, and his late brother
Chick, all became officers in the United States Navy. Ed was a member of
the class of 1970. So he was here when Admiral Jack McCain spoke to the
class and said that while some proclaimed "make love, not war," Naval
officers were man enough to do both. (Laughter.)

I'm proud to say that I've known and respected Admiral Giambastiani for
more than two decades. When our paths first crossed, I was a member of the
House of Representatives serving on the House Intelligence Committee, and
Ed was the commander of a vessel carrying out very sensitive missions for
the country, as submariners often do. That day and ever after, I've known
him to be a man of ability; a man of discernment; and a man of character.

He's someone you can count on -- and the nation has counted on him time and
time again to accept the most demanding assignments. In his career he has
commanded a nuclear-powered deep research sub, commanded a fast attack sub,
commanded a submarine development squadron, and commanded the Atlantic
submarine fleet. In every station he excelled, bringing competence,
reliability, courage -- and something more. Ed Giambastiani stands out as a
visionary, and a strategic thinker of the first order. He understands
profoundly that a massive organization tends to move slowly, and turns in a
wide arc, much like an aircraft carrier. Therefore, in defense of this
nation's long-term security, we need to think about tomorrow's challenges
today. And we must prepare to meet those challenges systematically and
decisively.

In Ed's words, "big organizations need to have a group of smart people who
wake up every day thinking about how to innovate." And he has helped build
that very kind of culture in the United States military. He led the work of
transformation during his time as Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces
Command, and as the first Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation. As
Vice Chairman, he led the Joint Requirements Oversight Council -- making
the decisions that design the armed forces of the future.

He will always be remembered as one of the military leaders who brought us
into the 21st century -- with a clear understanding of this technological
age, and an absolute determination to preserve America's competitive
advantage in warfare. Years into the future, our military will be better,
and our nation will be safer, thanks to the skill and foresight of this
Navy admiral.

One of his many admirers has said this about Admiral G: "[He] reminds me of
the submarines he has commanded -- running silent and running deep." This
is a man who gets to where he's going by virtue of perseverance and clear,
focused thinking. He has said that the "most rewarding part" of his career
is working with younger members of the armed forces. And I know that so
many of those younger members, with years of service still ahead of them,
will always measure themselves by the standard of Admiral G: honest in
every circumstance, careful in judgment, generous in sharing credit for a
job well done.

Most of all, those of us gathered here today admire this man for his
dedication to the United States of America and to the cause of freedom. He
has spoken with feeling about the struggle our nation faces today, and
about the merciless tactics of our enemies. Admiral G has stated it well:
Our cause is to "defend our way of life and to promote human ideals in the
face of extremists that offer no hope, no program for the future and no
basis for democratic dialogue."

Admiral Giambastiani has devoted every hour of his career to protecting the
liberty and the lives of the American people. And in this time of
transition, every member of our military can be certain that America will
stay on the offensive in the war on terror. The work goes on, and it
doesn't get any easier. But our mission in this war is right, and our cause
in this world is just. We fight to remove deadly threats, and to defend
freedom against those who would destroy it. The United States has chosen an
honorable course. The United States has given its word. And we will see
this cause through to victory. (Applause.)

When Ed was a boy in rural New York State, his history teacher saw
something special in him: this was obviously a young man with the
"willpower and the determination to succeed." He has, of course, met and
exceeded those early expectations. I know that his mother, Adele, and his
father, Edmund, Sr., would be most proud of their son who has carried the
family name into American history, and who retires now with four stars on
his shoulder.

On the 3rd of June, 1970, Edmund Giambastiani, Jr. became an officer --
raising his right hand and swearing to defend the Constitution of the
United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He has been
faithful to that oath, and he has earned the satisfaction of this moment.
We honor this leader of distinction for his 37 years of commissioned
service; for his lifetime of achievement; and for the sterling example he
leaves to us all. Admiral G, you are a great man. On behalf of the
President of the United States and the American people, I commend you and
thank you for your service. (Applause.)

END 10:45 A.M. EDT
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