President Biden addresses West Point graduates

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — President Joe Biden told U.S. Military Academy graduates Saturday that their class is called to fight threats around the world and preserve the country’s ideals at home “like never before “.

Biden said the phrase, the class motto, was fitting for the type of challenges they will face as the Army’s new second lieutenants, from supporting the defense of Ukraine against Russian invasion to facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza and defending Israel against attacks by Iran.

“There has never been a time in history where we have asked our military to do so many different things in many different places around the world, all at the same time,” Biden said.

Speaking at sunny West Point, Biden reiterated that he would not allow the U.S. military to go to the battlefield in Ukraine, but said their work to equip and train Ukrainian forces had ” intensified and stopped” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brazen vision” for Europe. . Biden praised U.S. forces for helping Israel repel a massive drone and ballistic missile attack from Iran last month and for working to de-escalate the conflict.

Speaking before the graduating cadets took the oath of office, Biden reminded them that they were swearing fealty not to a person or political party, but to the Constitution. As other speakers alluded to partisan rancor and political division across the country, Biden said: “Hold tight to the values ​​you learned here at West Point. »

“Ideas need advocates to make them happen,” Biden said. “That’s what you are. You must keep us free right now like never before.

Biden pointed out that rates of sexual assault and harassment in the military declined for the first time last year in a decade, calling it “past times” but said more work still needs to be done.

The president stood for more than an hour, greeting and shaking hands with each graduate. Biden, as is customary, also absolved the cadets of minor infractions committed during their time at the academy, adding with a laugh, “the superintendent can clarify what minor means.”