On most occasions, we rely on diplomacy to cement our alliances, build coalitions, and find ways to defend our interests without putting our fighting men and women at risk. Force, and the credible possibility of its use, are essential. Our armed forces must remain the best led, best trained, best equipped and most respected in the world.Īnd as President Clinton has pledged, and Defense Secretary Cohen and General Shelton ensure, they will.īut we also need first-class diplomacy.
#LEGION INSTRUMENTS OF DESTRUCTION FULL#
To prevail we must summon our courage, and we must equip ourselves with a full range of foreign policy tools. It doesn't lend itself to quick victories. We must understand that this confrontation is long term. These unconventional threats endanger not only our armed forces, but all Americans and America's friends everywhere. We must be concerned, instead, by weapons of mass destruction and by the cowardly instruments of sabotage and hidden bombs. In this struggle, our adversaries are likely to avoid traditional battlefield situations because there, American dominance is well established. It is not as much a clash between cultures or civilizations it is a clash between civilization itself and anarchy - between the rule of law and no rules at all. This is a confrontation not so much of armies as of values and emotions of reason versus hate of faith versus fear. They were caught up, instead, in a new kind of confrontation that looms as a new century is about to begin. But there is a difference between them and you, for they were not participants in a war as we have long understood that term. Like the members of this Legion, and your compatriots of long and not so long ago, they went in harm's way for our country. As the Commander said, about a month ago I had the sad duty of bringing ten of the 12 Americans who perished in the embassy bombing in Kenya back home to US soil.Īs I flew on that mission of pride and sorrow, accompanying the flag-draped coffins, I studied the pictures I had been given of our fallen colleagues among them, the Marine guard, the career foreign service officer and his son, the epidemiologist from here in New Orleans, the Army Sergeant with the boyish expression and the future in his eyes. Unfortunately, sacrifice has been much on my mind in recent weeks. May we never cease to honor their memory. For it is also a time to remember those who are not here - the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. This convention is a wonderful occasion for bringing veterans together but it is more than that. As Secretary of State and a very proud citizen, I salute you and wish you many more decades of success. From sponsoring baseball to promoting child welfare to ensuring that veterans receive the respect they have earned, you serve our country well and you remind us daily of what it means to be Americans. For almost 80 years, you have helped the United States remain strong and free.
The American Legion is one of our country's truly great organizations. is quite an accomplishment.įor my part, I am delighted and honored to participate in this convention.
In New Orleans, just being awake at 9:00 a.m. I want to begin by saying good morning to all of those here in the ballroom and in the grand salon. I'm delighted to be able to be here today with them. I know that you will be addressed later by Secretary Togo West and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Hugh Shelton. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Thank you very much, Commander Jordan, National Adjutant Spanogle and members of the American Legion and honored guests. New Orleans, Louisiana, September 9, 1998Īs released by the Office of the Spokesman Remarks to the American Legion Convention
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#LEGION INSTRUMENTS OF DESTRUCTION ARCHIVE#
Archive sites are not updated, so external links may no longer function. Or visit for information from that period. Please see for current material from the Department of State. The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released online from Januto January 20, 2001.
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