Secretary of State Mike Pompeo keynote address at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Annual Convention, in Orlando, Florida, July 22, 2019.

Transcript

It is now my honor and a privilege to present the 2019 VFW Armed Forces Award to Admiral Michelle J. Howard, United States Navy, Retired. (audience cheering) There you go, Navy in the house. (audience applauding) Admiral Howard was the first African American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS, and the first to achieve both two and three-star ranks. (audience applauding) You’ll be doing a lot of applauding before I get through this bio, I guarantee you. In 2006, she was selected for the rank of Rear Admiral Lower Half, the first female graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy selected for flag rank, but the first admiral selected from her entire class of 1982. (audience applauding) On July 1st, 2014, she became the first woman to become a four-star admiral. (audience applauding) As Vice Chief of Naval Operations, which she began that same day. She became the first woman as well as first African-American, post. Howard also became the first female four-star admiral to command operational forces when she assumed command of U.S. Navel Forces Europe, Forces Africa. (audience applauding) Starting to figure out real quick, she is the real deal. (person yelling) You got it. The VFW Armed Forces Award has been presented annually since 1964 to operational units as well as active or retired members of the Armed Forces for outstanding contributions to national security. The award recognizes extraordinary achievements that reflect the highest traditions of service. Admiral Howard’s near 36-year career has been a record of many first, but what’s most important to the VFW is she led from the front while taking care of her sailors and their families. (audience applauding) Now it is with great pride and honor that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States presents its 2019 Armed Forces Award to a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Joint Endeavor. In relief efforts in Indonesia and Maritime Security Operations in the North Persian Gulf, and the rescue a Merchant Mariner Captain Richard Phillips from pirates off the coast of Somalia. (audience applauding) Now we’re talking. Please welcome Admiral Michelle Howard.

Armed Forces Award and Citation awarded to Admiral Michelle J. Howard, United States Navy, Retired, in special recognition and sincere appreciation of her faithful and dedicated service to America, her Navy, her sailors, and joint service teammates and their families at home and abroad. Admiral Howard’s near 36-year career has been a record of many first, from achieving flag rank and commanding ships to becoming the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Combatant Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa, Her selfless service to nation is true to the ideals, traditions, and values of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, in witness whereof we have here unto set our hands, and the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States this 22nd day of July, 2019, approved by the National Council of Administration, signed by BJ Lawrence, Commander-in-Chief, and Kevin Jones, Adjutant General.

One more time, raise the roof!

All right, thank you. All right, good morning, shipmates. (audience yelling) Well, let me start by thanking the Veterans of Foreign Wars for this recognition. It’s a privilege to address members of an organization that has devoted its existence to honoring military service and patriotism. I suspect that one of my factors in my selection for this award is that my career, just breaking through the glass ceiling, but perhaps, perhaps since we’re all veterans, we know senior officers are referred to The Brass. And I would describe my and other women’s advancements in the Armed Forces as breaking through the brass ceiling. (audience applauding) Breaking through the brass ceiling is one perspective. Another is that our military organizations create environments for their members to succeed. And all of our, we have opened up our aperture beyond equal opportunity and have come to recognize the importance of diversity to mission success. And I understand that diversity means many things to many people, but particularly for women and minority members, how we see ourselves defines our ideas, and how we see ourselves is a result of our upbringing and our experiences. But I’d like to share with you just one sea story on this topic. When I had command of USS Rushmore, I was asked to speak to elementary children in a neighborhood school. And after talking a little bit about myself in command of the ship, the youngsters asked me questions, and they were easy with me at first. And I was able to answer with confidence questions such as, “Why are Navy ships gray?” “Do you see dolphins at sea?” And then this young boy stood up, and he started with, “How can you be in command of a ship? “You’re, you’re,” and he paused, searching for words. And in that two-second pause, so much went through my mind. Was he going to comment on me being a woman? And then I found myself, “Please, Lord, do not “let this child ask me about my heritage.” And then he continued. How can you be in command of a ship? You’re short. (audience laughing) Bring out the box. Diversity is not about height. Diversity is the opportunity to aspire to the heights. Been very fortunate and joined a service that allowed me to get to the height. And I’ve had many assignments throughout my 35 years. And years ago when I was in a session with a fellow admiral that I had recently met, early in the conversation, he stated that he’d read my biography. He recounted that I was in the first Gulf War, that I was in the Pentagon on 9/11. That early in my second 2004 deployment, I was involved in Indonesia Tsunami Relief Operations. And within 48 hours of taking command of the counter-piracy taskforce, an American was kidnapped at sea. And so then this admiral blurted out, “Boy, are you lucky.” And he’s right, I am lucky and blessed. In my case, I’ve had command several times, and I’ve always been trained and ready to take on the challenges that came to me and my team. In addition, I am lucky and blessed that I grew up in a service in a nation where over the years, opportunities have expanded for women and minorities. And I have been lucky and blessed to serve with sailors, Marines, soldiers, airmen, guard, and reserves who volunteer to protect the Constitution, our people, and our American ideals. And I have been lucky and blessed that I’ve had over three decades of service with shipmates who live a life of purpose on and off duty. They know service is about the people of this country. Services based on a constant belief in these ideas of opportunity and freedom, ideals based on our Constitution, our rights, and responsibilities as citizens. And it’s these ideals that remain the impetus and motivation behind my commitment to our Armed Forces and to our veterans. We veterans represent the fabric and strength of our nation. Our military draws its talent from that strength and ensures that we services represent all of America. So whether we are Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, reserve guard, and my favorite sibling sister service, the Coast Guard, that we in defending our nation must mirror the faces of the citizens we defend. And it’s important that we reflect America because sometimes societal attitudes shift because the brass ceiling is broken. Living role models can be very powerful, and they can influence and change the beliefs of those who encounter them. So any individual who breaks through the brass ceiling is significant for our nation. And we need to continue shaping future leaders who not only break that ceiling but shatter it to pieces. And so for my fellow veterans, each of you, you are role models in your communities. You inspire your hometowns, your neighbors, friends, and families, and it’s this inspiration that generates willingness for others to serve. So sometimes citizenship can be bounded by color or by gender, but it’s your inspiration that unites us as patriots, and it’s your inspiration that will assure one day there will be a future patriot, and it will no longer be rare for women to achieve command or senior leadership position in our Armed Forces. So I thank you. In order to get through brass ceilings, we almost have the same firm footing when we start the journey. And then once we’ve gone through the ceiling, we’re obligated to reach out and pull up. And then thanking all of you in the VFW, if I had to describe how I see you, it’s this notion of reaching out and pulling up. Thank you for continuing your focus on military service. You provide veteran support for the return to civilian life and our communities. You pave the way for veterans to be as successful as full-time citizens as we have been in our military careers. So BJ, thank you again for this award. I accept it on behalf of all of the servicemen and women that I’ve served with, and for those who still serve. And may God bless our Armed Forces and our veterans. (audience applauding) Thank you.

It is now my honor and a privilege to introduce our keynote speaker, the 70th U.S. Secretary of State, the Honorable Mike Pompeo. (audience applauding) The secretary hails from California, and in 1986 would graduate first among his class of more than 1,000 cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He would then serve until 1991 as an Armor Officer with the 2nd Squadron, 7th Calvary, 4th Infantry Division. Upon earning a law degree from Howard University, he went to work for a D.C.-based law firm. And then in the late 1990s, moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he and three fellow West Point classmates bought into an aircraft parts manufacturing business. In 2010, voters in the Kansas Fourth Congressional District elected him to the first of four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served until President Trump nominated him to be the CIA Director in January 2017, and now as the Secretary of State since April 2018. The secretary now serves as America’s chief diplomat, which to the VFW was important because of the relationships America has with our allies in the Far East, Middle East, and Europe, because of America’s efforts to recover and return our fallen to their families and to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and material. The secretary was copied on a letter the VFW sent President Trump last year to urge that the return of Korean War remains be a discussion point with the North Korean leader in Singapore. The fact that it was included in his Summit Agreement, and a little over a month later, North Korea released 55 transfer cases of American remains, is very important to America’s largest and oldest major combat veterans organization. The VFW wants more American remains returned home to their families. We need to keep this humanitarian mission above politics. We need to keep this one door open, and the VFW wants to aid in our government’s efforts just as we continue to do in Vietnam. Comrades, auxiliary members, and guests, I present to you an Army veteran, a West Point graduate whose class motto was “Courage never quits.” A lawyer, a businessman, and Director of the CIA, please welcome Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (audience applauding) Thank you for being here. It’s truly an honor.

Bless you. It’s an honor for me to be here. Gary Owen, yes. It’s an honor to be here. Good morning to everyone. It was about 30 years ago, I was a little younger, a little skinnier, a little less gray, and I was a young lieutenant. My tank was Bravo 21. And my gunner was a young man named Specialist 4 Sayed. He, the platoon. We were training, we were preparing to fight the East Germans and the Russians during the Cold War, and we’d just finished a training run at Grafenwohr. We’d fired 205 millimeter sabot rounds from our M1A1 main battle tank. Are tankers, how many tankers we got out here? (audience cheering) Yeah. So the smell of cordite filled the turret, it was awesome. And that jet engine, the turbine engine of that tank was whirring as we traveled down the range. And we’d just hit two moving targets at a distance of a little more of a than a mile, and my gunner sits right down on the front right tank commander was, and he turned around with this big old smile and said, “Lieutenant, America’s awesome.” (audience laughing) When I walked in here this morning and could see all of you and could get a feel for the room, I must say that it reminded me of that moment. It reminded me of the joy, Specialist 4 Sayed’s joy and mine. So thank you all, thank you all for what you do for America each and every day. I wanna thank too some very special people, Commander-in-Chief BJ Lawrence for inviting me to speak. It truly is a privilege to be here with you today. It’s been more than five decades since the sitting Secretary of State addressed your convention, and I think it’s about damn time. (audience applauding) I also want to recognize VFW Auxiliary National President Sandi Kriebel and congratulate VFW National Commander Doc Schmitz and Auxiliary National President Peggy Haake. It’s truly an honor to stand here and speak in front of so many patriots and to speak to your organization in particular. I know this organization. I represented South Central Kansas. I’ve been in a lot of VFW halls. Since 1899, you all have served our veterans and each other. And nobody orders you to devote your time to this. You all do this because it’s honorable. You do it because you have true servants’ hearts, and I thank you for that. It’s great too, I just came up after a Naval Academy grad. I wasn’t going to do the Army jokes, but now I feel compelled to do one. (audience laughing) More seriously, your service and the service of generations before you have helped make America the great and glorious place that it is. Americans have always looked out for one another. It’s what we do. Our first veterans knew the stakes of the battle for independence, for them, for their children, for us. They knew, folks like General then President George Washington. They knew service mattered. He carried himself not as an imperious king, but as a humble servant. A few decades later, a Frenchman, a fellow named Tocqueville, he marveled, he watched. He watched as he saw America perform voluntary service to each other. He said, quote, “To found seminaries, to build inns, “to raise churches, to distribute books, “to send missionaries, and to create “hospitals, prisons, and schools.” You all know this stuff. President Lincoln too, when he was writing about service, said that, quote, “I freely acknowledge myself the servant “of the people according to the bond of service, “the United States Constitution, and that, as such, “I am responsible for them.” About the people and the duty to serve. Today we still love to volunteer for greater causes. Your organization is proof of this. I’ve seen it. So are Rotary Clubs, with its “Service Above Self” motto, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity. So are the countless churches and synagogues and mosques that do good works in our communities. Thousands of other. And you all know this, danger does not deter our men and women from serving in uniform. (audience applauding) I was reminded of that on the very first day that I was sworn in as a member of Congress. I was sworn in, it was not the first time in my life. It was after my time in service in the Army. I was four hours earlier to defend the Constitution. And I got a note that said that there had been a young man killed in action whose family was in Wichita, Kansas. I made a call that day. It was one of my first acts as a member of Congress. I spoke with the father of Staff Sergeant Eric Nettleton. He’s a hero of mine. I spoke to his father, who was that day a hurting man. And I was a brand-new member of Congress. He knew that his son’s death meant something. It meant something to his fellow Americans. And so while I was thanking him and his family for their commitment to America, it’s a wonderful family, and their son’s service, Staff Sergeant Nettleton’s father said something to me. He said something that sticks with me to this very day. He said, “Mike, just don’t let the bad guys win.” Eric Nettleton gave all. He gave the ultimate service for his fellow Americans. As Secretary of State, my mission every day is to make sure we never let the bad guys win. (audience applauding) So I was once a soldier. Now I lead a diplomatic team. We protect the great fruits of others’ service. And I want to talk to you today about how President Trump and our administration is doing just that, but a little history I think is in order to talk about. Look, I know this. I know that diplomacy is our first and best tool for protecting American interest here. It’s how, when diplomacy is done well, it saves lives. It really matters. I tell my team that every day. It’s how we build alliances with our friends and allies around the world. It’s how we get American companies in the door so that they can grow their businesses in other countries, so that we can create jobs for your kids and for mine. It’s how we keep our enemies’ finger off the trigger, keeping troops out of harm’s way. But when we do it wrong, when it’s practiced poorly, diplomacy creates problems for our country. Serious problems. We live in dangerous times. No one knows that better than the men and women in this room. Some of that is because our leaders made foreign policy decisions that didn’t serve Americans well or put Americans first. We struck deals that enriched rivals like the Islamic Republic of Iran. And when competitors like China broke some fundamentally basic mutual-agreed-upon trade rules, we simply played nice. And when Russia violated important treaties, we sent them letters and just begged them to stop. And when rogue nations like North Korea had launched missiles and had tested nuclear weapons systems, we did too little. We abandoned our friends too, not just in North Asia and the Middle East but friends in Europe, in the Arctic, in Southeast Asia, and indeed, where I just came from, South America. And perhaps saddest of all, we let the doctrines of global elites dictate our engagement. Instead, instead of using the American creed, the one that you all fought for in places like Kasserine Pass and in Kumsong and in Khe Sanh and in Kirkuk and in Kandahar, those are the values that America must rest upon. When we get this diplomacy wrong, it’s selfish. It preferences the will of others over that of Americans and it affords politicians easy accolades without doing the hard work to secure real achievements. And we’ve learned the hard way that short-sighted diplomacy, bad decisions, have long-term consequences. And when we make those bad decisions, it doesn’t do honor to your service, because, in fact, it helps the bad guys win. But as those of you in uniform can appreciate, this isn’t about politics, and that staring at these problems or complaining about them, well, it doesn’t solve them. It’s on our administration. It’s on our administration every day to do something about these challenges. If we don’t, we’re derelict in our own service to you and to America. And when I meet with President Trump, I spoke to him just a couple hours back, he said to send his regards to you, tell you that he loves you and values you, and regrets that he couldn’t be here today himself. When I meet with President Trump, the outcomes he wants are always very clear. I never have any doubt about commander’s intent. (audience laughing) And not only that, he expects me to deliver. He expects the State Department team to deliver for him. I start by trying to be true to men like Washington and men like Hamilton and all of our brilliant founders. I strive to stay true to their principles as the first idea and central defining idea, a right to life, to liberty, to the pursuit of happiness, that are contained in the Declaration of Independence, are our central guideposts. These are our constitutional rights, and President Trump is fearless in protecting our freedoms and in asserting our sovereignty. He, every day, wants to make sure that the bad guys don’t win. Two, President Trump is unafraid. He is unafraid to try new diplomatic tactics where the old ones were simply not getting the outcomes that America needs and deserves. You’ve seen this, you’ve seen this on North Korea, where we came into office and found that appeasement wasn’t working, and neither did neglect. So we’re maintaining pressure on the North Korean regime while keeping an outstretched hand for diplomacy. Meet with Chairman Kim on multiple occasions. Indeed, I think I’ve spent more time with Chairman Kim than any other American, now surpassing Dennis Rodman. (audience laughing) (audience applauding) This is an important step towards achieving America’s ultimate objective, the denuclearization of North Korea and the safety of countries in the region and all around the world. And on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the nuclear deal, it only made the regime more, we’ve re-engaged with allies to exert pressure on that regime. All we ask of them is all America ever asks. We just want them to behave like a normal nation. And today, as part of that maximum pressure campaign, I’m announcing that the United States is imposing sanctions on the Chinese entity Zhuhai Zhenrong and its chief executive, Youmin Li. They violated U.S. law by accepting crude oil. We’ve said all along that any sanction will indeed be enforced. We can’t tolerate more money going to the ayatollah, putting American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, and putting their life at risk. It’s too important. (audience applauding) On Venezuela. On Venezuela, our patience only emboldened Maduro and his Cuban masters. We’ve led a 55-nation coalition to support the Venezuelan people in their quest for democracy, for freedom, and for prosperity. And on the subject of Cuba, we’ve reversed President Obama’s appeasement of the brutal Castro regime. (audience applauding) Now, it’s important to note, this is sometimes misconstrued by some in the media, “America first” does not mean America alone. Indeed, other nations are rolling up their sleeves to work alongside of us. We’re restoring friendships that were neglected for a long, long time, from Eastern Europe, to our partners in the Gulf, to the Pacific Islands. And of course, our relationship with Israel is unequaled. It’s a democracy. It stands for the same things that we do here in America. That relationship is stronger than it’s ever been, and we’re very proud of that. (audience applauding) Another way that we seek every day in this administration to honor your service is to put America first economically. President Trump understands this in his gut. Economic security drives national security. We can’t support a military or a robust global diplomatic presence without prosperity. It’s how we pay for deterrence. It’s how we achieve peace. Now, those are just a few reasons why we insist on free and fair trade with rule-breakers like China. There are many others. It’s also why we tackle tough trade disputes with friendly partners like India. And it’s why we explain to nations like Hungary that companies that are tied to the Chinese Communist Party should not build out their 5G networks. We explain why America’s economic model is the best. It’s the best to secure prosperity not just for us, but for every citizen across the entire globe. And speaking of explaining, I’m honoring your service today too by telling the world one simple truth: The U.S. military is a force for good everywhere and always. (audience applauding) You take this for granted, but not everyone accepts that proposition. So I say it everywhere I travel whether they like it or not. You fought for things that deserve to be defended. You fought for your children, you fought for your homes, you fought for your neighbors and your friends and your family. You fought for our unalienable rights. You fought to keep our people and other people free. You fought so that this truly exceptional place that we call America might endure, and we will never apologize for that, not ever. (audience applauding) Last, but certainly not least, we take care of our own, both the living and the fallen. President Trump’s Singapore Summit with Chairman Kim produced the single largest return of remains from North Korea in history. 55 boxes filled with honor and with sacrifice. (audience applauding) I remember sitting in the room negotiating with my counterpart. He’s a former senior North Korean general, and I remember talking to him. And I think he was perplexed that we put this as the first among the items we wanted to talk about. Every one of you understands why we put that first and why we’ll continue to work on this. And we will not stop working on this until every one of our fallen heroes and their remains have been returned to the United States of America. (audience applauding) I’m immensely proud too that we’ve gotten dozens of Americans who were held hostage overseas back, back to their families, back to America, and we did so without paying a single penny in ransom. (audience applauding) In just about 2 1/2 years, that’s more than any other administration in modern history. I’ve had a chance to be part of that, too. As CIA Director, I vividly recall coordinating the rescue of an American woman and her family who were being held by terrorists in Pakistan. And then too, I had the glory of flying back from North Korea, flying back and bringing home three Americans who had been held there wrongfully. It was quite an amazing thing. It was 2:30 in morning, we arrived in Washington, D.C. President Trump and Melania and all the senior leaders were there from America, and the TVs, although it was 2:30 in the morning, every eye was riveted. It’s how much we care as Americans about getting our compatriots home. It’s how much President Trump and the administration cares about bringing these same people home. (audience applauding) I have many tasks, but every day I work to bring back Americans that are wrongly held in places like Iran, and in Syria, and in Mali, and in Venezuela, and all over the globe. I want to mention, too, there’s a threat that some of you know about. There are rogue courts, international courts, that have threatened to bring American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines to dock, to bring them to justice. This is wrong. This administration has moved heaven and earth to prevent them from wrongfully prosecuting anyone in this room or anyone other who has served in the United States. (audience applauding) It wasn’t too terribly long ago, and I had an incredible opportunity to land in darkness. It was a desert. I was flown in on a helicopter. We were miles from the nearest light. I was then serving as America’s chief spy, the Director of the CIA, and I needed to get out to this elite team, it was a small team of about a half a dozen folks. I wanted to thank them for the work that they were doing, work that is truly remarkable. And this half-dozen or so team members, they were nearly all veterans of the United States Armed Forces, and this mission required exactly the kind of excellence and experience that service in the military provides. So I climbed down out of the helicopter and I was met by an electrical engineer, a physicist, and four guys who told me, “Sir, we just get stuff done.” (audience laughing) And while I cannot tell you precisely their mission, I can tell you what I was thinking when I got back on that helicopter. I was thinking exactly what Specialist 4 Sayed had told me 30 years earlier. I was thinking that America is awesome. (audience applauding) No other country in the world could pull off that mission and no other country would accept such risk for such a noble purpose, and no other country has men and women willing to do what those men and women were doing that night. And as I wrap up here today, I hope you all get the sense that I take the mission as America’s most senior diplomat very seriously. Because of that, I can use your help, too. My wife Susan and I talk a lot about how America has changed in these last few decades. One way is one that you know, that we have fewer and fewer families, fewer and fewer families who have veterans that are part of their family. That’s not a good thing. We need veterans in the life of every, we need them both to serve others and to be an example of service itself. There was a fellow named Edmund Burke, and he stated that we all have our own little platoon, our families, our neighbors, our co-workers, and so on. He said to love that little platoon we belong to in society is the first link. It’s the first link by which we proceed towards a love to our country and to mankind. So I know you all love America. Continue to serve. Continue to serve your little platoon, and do it in the way you see fit. Continue your active work here with the VFW. Mentor a young person who really needs someone to look up to, tell them your stories. Run some errands for an elderly neighbor and spend a little time visiting with them, too. They’d love to hear about your service. Help your family members who may be struggling with demons or from addiction. As many of you do, continue to care for our brothers and sisters who are struggling with PTSD. As veterans you know this, and as active members of the VFW you have taken it to heart, your fidelity to the call of service was proven long ago. If you keep serving, each of you will be a force multiplier for freedom inside of our country and outside of it. And as you perform that service, know that you aren’t alone. My team and I will be doing our part right alongside you. We will not let the bad guys win. (audience applauding) I want to thank each of you VFW members, family members of those who have served. May God bless each of you. May God bless each and every veteran. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (audience applauding)