Barack Obama

The road has been hard and the day has been long, but we have tomorrow, so we march.

We're now unified behind a plan to responsibly wind down the war in Afghanistan.

Remember what people did here.

Class of 2012, that story is yours.

I could not be prouder to welcome people from around the world to my hometown.

NATO supports the aspirations of the people of the region for political and economic reform.

As Afghans stand up, they will not stand alone.

Supporting Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) that are sufficient to the task of securing Afghanistan and financially sustainable by the Afghan government and the international community is the foundation of NATO's transition strategy.

Yes, you will encounter obstacles along the way.

We can define our lives not by what happens to us, but by how we respond.

And that's the spirit that has allowed all of you to rebuild this city.

Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you for allowing me the honor of playing a small part in this special day.

The timetable that we've established is a sound one, it is a responsible one.

My job is to make sure that the country is growing, not just now, but 10 years from now and 20 years from now.

I continue to believe that missile defense can be an area of cooperation with Russia.

Thomas M. Durkin, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, vice Wayne R. Andersen, retired.

Together, you decided this city wasn't about to spend the next year arguing over every detail of the recovery effort.

Deepened partnerships allow NATO to extend its reach and better share burdens.

They will not stand alone.

These agreements will support tens of thousands of American jobs, generate billions of dollars in additional exports, and help level the playing field.

I'm pretty confident that Joplin will never leave you.

NATO will continue to train, advise and assist, and support Afghan forces as they grow stronger.

The United States is proud of NATO's track record of encouraging and incentivizing democratization and stability through its open door to membership.

NATO's door remains open to new members.

A sufficient and sustainable ANSF will help guarantee that our hard-fought gains in Afghanistan will be preserved and is necessary for the stability and security of Afghanistan going forward.