Around the world, the United States is leading once more. From Europe to Asia, our alliances are stronger than ever. Our ties with the Americas are deeper. We’re setting the agenda in the region that will shape our long-term security and prosperity like no other — the Asia Pacific.
We’re leading on global security — reducing our nuclear arsenal with Russia, even as we maintain a strong nuclear deterrent; mobilizing dozens of nations to secure nuclear materials so they never fall into the hands of terrorists; rallying the world to put the strongest sanctions ever on Iran and North Korea, which cannot be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.
We are leading economically — forging trade pacts to create new markets for our goods; boosting our exports, stamped with three proud words — Made in America.
Another more recent former United States President, Barack Obama, gave the commencement speech to the Air Force Academy of the class of 2012. President Obama states how the Air Force Academy has had so much to offer to the United States as a nation. Thanks to the Air Force, Osama Bin Laden is no longer alive and al Qaeda is deteriorating in strength after the horrible event attacks on 9/11 about a decade before this address. After the tragic events of 9/11, President George Bush initiated America’s entrance into the global war on terrorism which was an area that the Air Force held strong importance (Globalisation, the New US Exceptionalism and the War on Terror”). President Obama later speaks on how the U.S. is “leading” in his words: “From Europe to Asia, our alliances are stronger than ever. Our ties with the Americas are deeper. We’re setting the agenda in the region that will shape our long-term security and prosperity like no other — the Asia Pacific.” Obama informs the young crowd that the U.S. is exceptional and will stay exceptional throughout the 21st century and so on if the capable youth and students, such as the Air Force Academy graduates, keep working hard and striving for excellence.