Remarks by President Obama and President Ghani of Afghanistan in Joint Press Conference

East Room

*Please see below for a correction, marked with an asterisk.

2:30 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Before I begin, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Europe, especially the people of Germany and Spain, following a terrible airplane crash in France.  It’s particularly heartbreaking because it apparently includes the loss of so many children, some of them infants.

I called German Chancellor Merkel -- and I hope to speak with President Rajoy of Spain later today -- to express the condolences of the American people and to offer whatever assistance that we can as they investigate what has proven to be an awful tragedy.  Our teams are in close contact, and we’re working to confirm how many Americans may have been onboard.  Germany and Spain are among our strongest allies in the world, and our message to them is that, as their steadfast friend and ally, America stands with them at this moment of sorrow.

Now, it is a great pleasure to welcome President Ghani to the White House.  As many of you know, President Ghani spent time here in the United States, as a student and as a scholar.  He happened to go to Columbia University, where we both studied, and then spent time at the World Bank just down the street from here.  And so his life reflects, in many ways, the friendship and mutual respect between Americans and Afghans.  And in that spirit, Mr. President, I want to extend to you the warmest of welcomes.

President Ghani’s presence here today, along with Chief Executive Abdullah, underscores Afghanistan’s progress.  In last year’s election, millions of Afghans defied the threats from the Taliban and bravely cast their ballots.  In the spirit of compromise and putting their interests behind the interests of the nation, President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah ensured the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power in Afghanistan’s history.  And together they now lead a national unity government that reflects the diversity, the strength and the determination of the Afghan people.

Their government signed the Bilateral Security Agreement between our two countries, and on December 31st, after more than 13 years, America’s combat mission in Afghanistan came to a responsible end.  Afghan forces now have full responsibility for security across their country.  Some 330,000 Afghans serve in the police and security forces, and they are making extraordinary sacrifices -- fighting and often dying for their country, and they continue to grow stronger month by month.

Today, we honor the many Afghans -- men, women and children -- who have given their lives for their country.  We salute the more than 2,200 Americans, patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, and the many more who were wounded.  This morning, President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah visited Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects to our fallen heroes.  We are grateful for that gesture of gratitude, and we know it meant a lot to the families as well.  We’ll see the bonds again between our people on display when President Ghani has an opportunity to address Congress tomorrow. 

So with a new government in Afghanistan and with the end of our combat mission, this visit is an opportunity to begin a new chapter between our two nations.  President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah, I thank you both for your strong support of the partnership between our two nations.  And yesterday, they had a chance to spend time at Camp David with our respective teams, and had excellent discussions on how we can move forward together.  Today, guided by our Strategic Partnership, we focused on several areas.

First, we agreed to continue to keep in place our close security cooperation.  Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place, and insurgents still launch attacks, including cowardly suicide bombings against civilians.  President Ghani is pursuing reforms to further strengthen Afghan security forces, including respect for human rights.  And as part of the ongoing NATO mission, the United States will continue to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces. 

As we announced yesterday, we’ll work with Congress on funding to sustain 352,000 Afghan police and troops through 2017.  At the same time, we’ll continue to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations, and we agreed to maintain a dialogue on our counterterrorism partnership in the years ahead.

At our peak four years ago, the United States had more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan.  In support of today’s narrow missions, we have just under 10,000 troops there.  Last year, I announced a timeline for drawing down our forces further, and I’ve made it clear that we’re determined to preserve the gains our troops have won.  President Ghani has requested some flexibility on our drawdown timelines.  I’ve consulted with General Campbell in Afghanistan and my national security team, and I’ve decided that we will maintain our current posture of 9,800 troops through the end of this year.

The specific trajectory of the 2016 drawdown will be established later this year to enable our final consolidation to a Kabul-based embassy presence by the end of 2016.  This flexibility reflects our reinvigorated partnership with Afghanistan, which is aimed at making Afghanistan secure and preventing it from being used to launch terrorist attacks.  Reconciliation and a political settlement remain the surest way to achieve the full drawdown of U.S. and foreign troops from Afghanistan in a way that safeguards international interests and peace in Afghanistan, as well as U.S. national security interests.

Second -- and since the best way to ensure Afghanistan’s progress is a political settlement -- we’re going to continue to support an Afghan-led reconciliation process.  President Ghani, you’ve shown bold leadership in reaching out to Pakistan, which is critical to the pursuit of peace.  Afghanistan and the United States agree on what the Taliban must do, which is break with al Qaeda, renounce violence, and abide by Afghan laws, including protections for women and minorities. 

Third, we’ll continue to support the national unity government in its efforts to truly serve the Afghan people.  We discussed the urgent need, with parliament’s support, to seat a full cabinet.  President Ghani, in your inaugural address you spoke forcefully about the need to combat corruption, uphold rule of law, and strengthen democratic institutions -- and the United States very much commends you for those efforts.  And you moved many Afghans with your eloquent tribute to your wife and partner, First Lady Rula Ghani.  America will continue to be your partner in advancing the rights and dignity of all Afghans, including women and girls.  

And, finally, we’ll continue to support the development that underpins stability and improves the lives of the Afghan people.  Over the years, there have been major gains -- dramatic improvements in public health, life expectancy, literacy, including for millions of girls who are in school.  President Ghani is a leading expert on development, and I’ve been impressed by the reforms that he’s pursuing to make Afghanistan more self-reliant.  He wants to empower Afghans in these efforts, and that’s why, under the new development partnership that we announced yesterday, U.S. economic assistance will increasingly go through Afghan institutions, in support of Afghan priorities, with an emphasis on accountability, performance and achieving results.

In closing, I’d note that, as many of you know, President Ghani is, by training, an anthropologist -- as was my mother.  It’s been said that, “The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences.”  Afghanistan, and our world, is marked by incredible diversity and differences of history, and culture and faiths.  But I believe that the progress that we’ve made on this visit will advance the goal for which so many of your citizens, Mr. President, have sacrificed over the years -- the goal of making our two countries, and the world, safer. 

President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, thank you both for your leadership and your partnership.  America’s combat mission in Afghanistan may be over, but our commitment to the Afghanistan people -- that will endure. 

President Ghani.

PRESIDENT GHANI:  President Obama, first of all, I'd like to express the deep sympathies of the government and the people of Afghanistan to German and Spanish families and governments.  Both of these countries took part in the ISAF coalition.  They have made major commitments and they’ve sacrificed in Afghanistan. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to those common sacrifices and, simultaneously, take the opportunity to pay tribute to the 2,215 American servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice; more than 22,000 American soldiers who have been wounded in action; civilians, numerous contractors and others.  You stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and I'd like to say thank you.

I would also like to thank the American taxpayer for his and her hard-earned dollars that have enabled us.  Yesterday at the Pentagon, I saw a young girl; her name is Reese.  And her father came out of retirement, out of reserve, to serve again in Afghanistan.  She is sending a care package every week to her father.  And I want to thank her and the fathers of all other American children who are making sure that their parents are helping us and standing next to us.

Reese, I promised, now has 3 million Afghan sisters in school.  And those sisters are dreaming of achievements that whatever career path, and hopefully one day we'll see an Afghan woman president.  It should not be soon -- it should not be too far, because we soon -- we now have four women in the cabinet.  That's 20 percent of our cabinet are women.  I hope that some other countries will match us.  (Laughter.)  That we are intent.

And thank you for the reference to Afghanistan’s First Lady.  She was delighted to have an opportunity to speak to Mrs. Obama.  She’s devoted her life to the most underprivileged of Afghans, and all of us are committed to make sure that 36 percent of Afghans that live below poverty will have -- will live with dignity and one day not in the distant future see prosperity.

Dr. Abdullah and I are grateful for the reception that you’ve accorded us, Mr. President.  Your national security team has gone out of its way to engage in intensive, comprehensive discussion, and both of us would like to thank Secretary Kerry for the loss of hours of sleep we caused you, and for your very able diplomacy and catalyzing the unity that today is on display.  The government of national unity is going to be an enduring phenomena, and both of us stand for the unity against the divisions that our opponents and enemies had hoped for. 

This unity is a reflection of the desire of the Afghan public to overcome the last 200 years of our political history where rarely public figures have chosen the country before themselves.  We are committed in this regard to emulate the founding fathers and mothers of the United States, where national interest would stand above personal or factional interests.

I'm glad that the security transition is completed.  You fulfilled your promise to your people, and we fulfilled our promise to our people.

Afghans, for millennia, they’ve guarded our homeland and have a reputation for serving.  The last years were an exception when we needed help, and we’re grateful that help was provided, but we are pleased that the security transition has been met according to the timeline that you set.  Today the combat role of the United States and Afghanistan is over. 

But the train, advise and assist mission is a vital part of our collective interests and collective endeavors.  Tragedy brought us together; interests now unite us.  And we can assure you that the government of national unity has revitalized the partnership, and looks at this partnership with the United States as foundational not just for Afghanistan’s stability but for regional and global stability. 

Much binds us together, and the flexibility that has been provided for 2015 will be used to accelerate reforms, to ensure that the Afghan National Security Forces are much better led, equipped, trained, and are focused on their fundamental mission.

I'm pleased to say that the departure of 120,000 international troops has not brought about the security gap or the collapse that was often anticipated.  I’d like to pay tribute at this moment to the continuous sacrifice of the Afghan security forces, civilians, and a patriotic nation. 

Our patriotism is part of, simultaneously, our internationalism.  We are unique in that we have embraced democratic ways.  We are very proud of our Islamic civilization that is in Islam.  That is truly in dialogue with the word, and we have the capacity to speak truth to terror.  They do not speak for Islam -- we do.  And it's the genuine Islam that is interested in dialogue between civilizations and cooperation and endeavor forward.

On regional cooperation, we have taken both in novel steps -- we do hope that these steps would be reciprocated, because the threats that exist, the changing ecology of terror, are making it imperative that all governments cooperate with each other. 

Today, the state system as we have known it is under attack.  These are not classic national liberation movements; these are destructive, nihilistic movements.  And it's essential that we confront them with vigor and determination.  But we must differentiate between those and Afghan citizens who desire peace.

Any political difference, anything that defines us must be resolved politically, and we have shown the wisdom and determination that we can arrive at unity of purpose.  So our commitment to peace is clear.  What we require is reciprocity so that Afghan patriots will choose the country over themselves and unite in resolving whatever might be that divides us.

But we will not have peace with those who use our territory as a proxy for other purposes, as a battleground for alien forces, or as a launching pad for global terrorism. 

This trip has provided us an opportunity to have a comprehensive overview, and I again want to express thank you for your commitment to submit a bill to Congress for support of our security forces 2017.

There’s much work that lies ahead of us.  And the flexibility that has been provided will be used to maximum effect to accelerate reforms to ensure that our security forces honor human rights; that they internalize the practices that binds an army, a police force, a secret service to the people.  Violence against our people has no place within our security culture, and we will overcome those types of legacies.

It’s again a pleasure to be standing next to a graduate of Columbia University.  (Laughter.)  There’s much that unites us.  And your mother was an inspiration to us.  I understand that the president of the World Bank actually got the job because he invoked your mother’s teachings to convince you that an anthropologist could lead the World Bank.  So thank you for according him that rare opportunity.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  He’s doing a great job.

All right, with that, let’s take a couple questions.  Leo Shane, Military Times.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  This is on, right?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Yes, it’s on.  I can hear you.

Q    With the increased slowdown in the drawdown here, we're looking at more risk, more danger for U.S. troops that are in Afghanistan.  How do you justify that to them?  How do you tell them that the mission is still worth it?  And how do you assure them that there is an end coming to this mission?

And for President Ghani, you've talked the last couple days a lot about the sacrifice of U.S. troops.  You were at Arlington earlier today.  How do you tell them that this continued sacrifice will be worth it to them, as well?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, first of all, I think it’s important, Leo, to remember the timeline for a withdrawal down to an embassy-centered presence, a normalization of our presence in Afghanistan remains the end of 2016.  So that hasn’t changed.  Our transition out of a combat role has not changed. 

Now, I am the first to say that as long as our men and women in uniform are serving in Afghanistan, there are risks involved.  It’s a dangerous place.  Casualties have come down precipitously as we’ve engaged in the drawdown.  It’s been over 90 days since two Americans were killed in Afghanistan.  That has occurred precisely because we're not in a combat role.  And I think it is worth noting the significant casualties that the Afghan security services have incurred.  As we’ve drawn down, they’ve stood up, and they're fighting.  And they're fighting with courage and tenacity, and they're getting better month by month.

But you can't minimize the sacrifices that our military families make.  It means some folks are going to be rotating back into Afghanistan for a few extra months relative to what otherwise would have been the case.  We’re essentially moving the drawdown pace over to the right for several months, in part to compensate for the lengthy period it took for government formation; in part because we want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help Afghan security forces succeed so we don’t have to go back, so we don’t have to respond in an emergency because counterterrorist -- or because terrorist activities are being launched out of Afghanistan. 

We’re on the path to do that, and it was my assessment as Commander-in-Chief that it made sense for us to provide a few extra months for us to be able to help on things like logistics, making sure that equipment is not just in place but it’s also used properly; that the training and advising and strategic input that’s been provided continues through this fighting season, in part so that President Karzai [Ghani]*, who has taken on the mantle of Commander-in-Chief in a way that we have not seen in the past from an Afghan President, can do a serious review and can assess here is where our strengths are, here’s where our weaknesses are, and we can proceed with more effective joint planning going forward.

So the bottom line is our men and women in uniform make enormous sacrifices.  Their families do, too; they serve alongside them.  This will mean that there are going to be some of our folks who are in Afghanistan under the new schedule who would have been home.  But it is important to keep in perspective, first of all, that we’ve gone down from 100,000 down to under 10,000; that they are not on the frontlines because they’re not in a combat role.  We are doing all that we can do to make sure that force protection is a priority for those who are in Afghanistan.  And the date for us to have completed our drawdown will not change.

But it is my judgment, it’s the judgment of General Campbell and others who are on the ground, that providing this additional time frame during this fighting season for us to be able to help the Afghan security forces succeed is well worth it.  And in that sense, once again, we are asking our men and women in uniform to fight on behalf of our freedom and on behalf of a more orderly world.

It does, perhaps, raise one thought, which is right now there’s a debate going up on Capitol Hill about budgets.  This would be a good time for my friends up on Capitol Hill, including on the other side of the aisle, to take a look at their budgets.  If we’re holding both our defense and non-defense budgets to 2006 levels, it’s a lot harder for us to do the job that we need to do not only on the national security side but also here at home, making sure that when our men and women come home, and when they potentially go into civilian life, that they’ve got a strong economy, that their kids have good schools, that they can send their kids to college, that they get the veterans benefits that they have so richly earned and deserve.  That would be a good way for us to express the thanks for the sacrifices they consistently make.

PRESIDENT GHANI:  I met yesterday the widow of General Greene.  She would like the memory of her husband to be preserved by a sustainable Afghanistan that is secure.  The 2,215 Americans that have died must not die in vain.  They must leave behind a legacy of a stable Afghanistan.  And it’s that preservation of those gains that I think inspires the American servicemen and women to obey the call of their commander, the order of their commanders.

Second, we have taken them out of harm’s way.  As the President mentioned, for the past 100 days, because the combat role has ended, the exposure, the number of casualties is really down.  There isn’t -- my most horrible reading of the day is my first, middle-of-the-day and end-of-the-day security reports where I see the casualties of the Afghan figures.  But thank God they’re no longer American or European casualties.

John Campbell is making sure that they remain in a support role.  The train, advise, assist role has risks but they’re nowhere comparable to combat role.  And end of that combat role is very significant to this.  And again, the institutional gains that would be achieved through the train, advise and assist role is what will guarantee that the investments of the last 14 years pay off in terms of gains that would endure. 

Last point -- Afghanistan is the front line.  Because of American engagement in Afghanistan, there have not been attacks on mainland United States.  But let’s not forget that fortresses cannot be built around countries or continents.  We are living in an interconnected world, and our security is joined together.

Q    Thank you very much.  President Obama, you’re talking about the long-term strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the United States.  At the same time, you’re talking about deadlines about the withdrawal of the soldiers from Afghanistan.  How do you ensure the long term -- or how do you define the long-term strategy partnership after 2017, or from 2017 onward?

(As interpreted.)  Mr. President Ghani, I wanted to -- what do you expect, Mr. President -- what would the expectation coming to the United States and what would you like to return with to Afghanistan?

PRESIDENT GHANI:  (As interpreted.)  Our expectations were that our cooperation will be enhanced and we will have a clear vision and practical vision for cooperation -- for an enduring cooperation with the United States be there.  And this change of environment has occurred, and today the United States government considers the government of Afghanistan a really reliable partner.

Commitments that are made are considerable, and the funding proposal of supporting Afghan security forces by 2017 and it has reached to $4.1 billion.  It’s nothing less -- it's a significant issue, it's a very important issue.

And also, yesterday, there was a new framework of our economic cooperation was laid out, according to which $800 million were made -- a commitment were made that those will be spent through the Afghan budget.  But most importantly is the flexibility that has been shown in the area of security cooperation.  And this flexibility is going to ensure and provide confidence to our security forces and our people, and also is going to send a very strong message to the region that this cooperation is not short term, but is enduring and long term.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Our strategic partnership is based on a very simple principle.  We want the Afghan people, through their security forces directed by their president and commander-in-chief, to be able to provide for their own security.  And our goal is to make sure that we are a strong partner in helping to build and sustain effective Afghan security forces.

So from the start, when I first came into office, we put additional U.S. troops, coalition troops and resources into Afghanistan to shift momentum at a time when the Taliban and the enemies of peace and stability inside of Afghanistan I think were moving and had momentum.

We broke that momentum, elections took place, and the Afghan National Security Forces began to build up and get trained and become more and more effective.  And because of a successful election and a national unity government, and the leadership of President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah, we are now in a position where the Afghan security forces are not only more effective, but they're also better directed by the civilian government. 

We’ve been able to draw down and remove ourselves from a combat role, as President Ghani indicated, without collapse, as was predicted.  And Afghan soldiers have fought, and they’ve fought well.  And obviously there are still improvements to be made, but they're making significant progress.

So the strategic partnership involves us continuing to help support Afghan security forces -- that means financially.  The international community is going to have to continue to provide assistance to the Afghan government, which is carrying a significant security load not only for itself, but for the region and, in some ways, the world.  And we’ve made a commitment to do that.

We're going to continue to provide the kind of security cooperation and support that is required -- training, assisting, advising, helping on logistics, helping on developing enabler capacity -- all the things that go into a modern military, a professional military, a professional police force that can provide security on Afghan soil by Afghans.

And the cooperation and the strategic partnership involves building up the prosperity and opportunities for the Afghan people through the economic development that was mentioned by the President. 

So we intend to be working with the Afghan government and the Afghan people for a long time.  And, in many ways, our troop presence, our military assistance is just one component of what is a much larger process.  And the more successful we are in building Afghan capacity and strengthening the Afghan economy, the more the strategic partnership that we have will be like the partnership that we have with many countries around the world.  And it will be based on mutual interest, and scientific and educational exchanges, and business opportunities, and commerce and trade.  And that, I think, is the goal that we're all looking for.

Josh Lederman.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You’ve made very clear that you're not buying Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attempts to walk back the comments that he made before the election, opposing Palestinian statehood, and that you're reassessing your approach.  What could Prime Minister Netanyahu do, if anything, in the short term to persuade you that he’s serious about Israeli-Palestinian peace and that he’s an honest broker that you could work with?  Or is it too late to repair that relationship during your presidency?  And is there any truth to allegations that Israel was spying on the Iran talks?

And, President Ghani, if I may, you’ve been working very hard to pursue reconciliation talks with the Taliban, but there’s some indications that that’s not going so well and that they may not be willing to sit down with you.  What makes you hopeful that you can get those talks off the ground?  And do you want the U.S. to be involved in those talks?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Let me, first of all, address your second question about spying allegations.  As a general rule, I don't comment on intelligence matters in a big room full of reporters. (Laughter.)  And I think I'll continue that tradition.

But with respect to the possibility of an agreement that ensures that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon, we have not just briefed Congress about the progress or lack thereof that's being made, but we also brief the Israelis and our other partners in the region and around the world.  And if, in fact, an agreement is arrived at that we feel confident will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, it's going to be there for everybody to see.  And people are going to be able to lift up the hood and see what’s in there.

So I have confidence that if there’s an agreement, it's going to be a good agreement that’s good for American security and Israeli security and the region’s security.  And if it isn't, then there probably won't be an agreement.  So there will be, I think, significant transparency in the whole process.

With respect to Israel’s relations with the Palestinians, I think it's important to understand that the issue here is not what I believe, but it’s what the Palestinians and the parties in the negotiations and the Israeli people believe is possible.  That's the most important issue.  I've said before and I'll simply repeat:  Prime Minister Netanyahu, in the election run-up, stated that a Palestinian state would not occur while he was Prime Minister.  And I took him at his word that that's what he meant, and I think that a lot of voters inside of Israel understood him to be saying that fairly unequivocally.

Afterwards, he pointed out that he didn’t say “never,” but that there would be a series of conditions in which a Palestinian state could potentially be created.  But, of course, the conditions were such that they would be impossible to meet anytime soon.  So even if you accepted, I think, the corrective of Prime Minister Netanyahu in subsequent days, there still does not appear to be a prospect of a meaningful framework established that would lead to a Palestinian state even if there were a whole range of conditions and security requirements that might be phased in over a long period of time -- which was always the presumption. 

I don't think anybody ever envisioned in any peace agreement, certainly not one that Prime Minister Netanyahu would agree to, or that the Israeli people would agree to, that overnight you suddenly have a Palestinian state right next to Jerusalem and that Israel would not have a whole range of security conditions that had to be met, and that it would be phased in over a long period of time.

So the issue has never been, do you create a Palestinian state overnight.  The question is, do you create a process and a framework that gives the Palestinians hope, the possibility, that down the road they have a secure state of their own, standing side-by-side with a secure, fully recognized Jewish state of Israel. 

And I think -- it's not just my estimation -- I think it’s hard to envision how that happens based on the Prime Minister’s statements.  And so, when I said that we have to now do an evaluation of where we are, it's not in reference to our commitment to Israel’s military edge in the region, Israel’s security, our intelligence cooperation, our military cooperation.  That continues unabated.  And I will continue to do whatever I need to do to make sure that our friends in Israel are safe.  That's what I've done since I've been President, and that's not going to stop.  And so the Israeli people need to know that.

But I am required to evaluate honestly how we manage Israeli-Palestinian relations over the next several years.  Because up until this point, the premise has been, both under Republican and Democratic administrations, that as different as it was, as challenging as it was, the possibility of two states living side by side in peace and security could marginalize more extreme elements, bring together folks at the center and with some common sense, and we could resolve what has been a vexing issue and one that is ultimately a threat to Israel as well.

And that possibility seems very dim.  That may trigger, then, reactions by the Palestinians that, in turn, elicit counter-reactions by the Israelis.  And that could end up leading to a downward spiral of relations that will be dangerous for everybody and bad for everybody.

So, bottom line, just to summarize here -- number one, our military and intelligence cooperation with Israel will continue unabated, unaffected, and we are absolutely committed to making sure that the Israeli people are safe, particularly from rocket attacks and terrorist attacks aimed on civilians.

Number two, that the evaluation that’s taking place is specific to what happens between the Israelis and Palestinians going forward.  We’ll continue to engage the Israeli government as well as the Palestinians, and ask them where they are interested in going and how do they see this issue being resolved.  But what we can’t do is pretend that there’s a possibility of something that’s not there.  And we can’t continue to premise our public diplomacy based on something that everybody knows is not going to happen at least in the next several years.  That is something that we have to, for the sake of our own credibility, I think we have to be able to be honest about that.

And I guess one last point about this, because obviously I’ve heard a lot of the commentary -- there’s a tendency I think in the reporting here to frame this somehow as a personal issue between myself and Prime Minister Netanyahu.  And I understand why that’s done, because when you frame it in those terms, the notion is, well, if we all just get along and everybody cools down, then somehow the problem goes away.  I have a very business-like relationship with the Prime Minister.  I’ve met with him more than any other world leader.  I talk to him all the time.  He is representing his country’s interests the way he thinks he needs to, and I’m doing the same.

So the issue is not a matter of relations between leaders; the issue is a very clear, substantive challenge.  We believe that two states is the best path forward for Israel’s security, for Palestinian aspirations, and for regional stability.  That’s our view, and that continues to be our view.  And Prime Minister Netanyahu has a different approach.  And so this can’t be reduced to a matter of somehow let’s all hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.”  This is a matter of figuring out how do we get through a real knotty policy difference that has great consequences for both countries and for the region.

Q    Will you consider supporting Palestinian statehood at the U.N.?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  We’re going to do that evaluation -- we’re going to partly wait for an actual Israeli government to form. 

PRESIDENT GHANI:  Peace is our priority.  Don’t make premature judgments.  And what we have asked from the United States, and President Obama has graciously supported it, is to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.  And we are confident that this approach will bear the results in time.  Peace is always difficult, and it requires focus, attention and sacrifice, and that’s what we are willing to do to bring it about. 

Q    Thank you very much.  Mr. President, I’ve got a question to Mr. Obama.  You just mentioned that Afghanistan is still a dangerous place.  While it’s a dangerous place, is it the right decision to draw down the force level at a time when it’s a dangerous place and meanwhile Afghan forces are less equipped and they cannot fight truly? 

(As interpreted.)  Mr. President, my question is, the peace process -- what was your initial -- or your request from the United States President?

PRESIDENT GHANI:  (As interpreted.)  The United States has agreed with us that the peace process will be led by Afghans, and Afghans will continue this process and it will be led by Afghans.  And this is obvious for us, and we are thankful for the support. 

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Afghanistan is still a dangerous place.  The way it’s going to become less dangerous is by Afghan security forces and Afghan police being capable of keeping law and order and security in the country.  And that is not going to happen if foreign forces are continually relied upon for the basic security of Afghanistan. 

So there are going to be specialized areas where we can cooperate, dealing with some of the most vicious terrorist networks.  There’s going to be intelligence cooperation and counterterrorism cooperation.  And there are going to be specialized areas where we can provide logistical support and training, and enabling support.

But the fact is, is that unless Afghan soldiers and Afghan police are able to maintain security, at some point, someday, the United States and other coalition forces would leave.  And the good news is, what we’ve seen as we’ve removed ourselves from combat roles is the Afghan security forces have stepped up.  And although they're certainly not as well-equipped as coalition forces, they're better equipped than the Taliban.  They're better equipped than the Haqqani Network. 

And so with the kind of leadership that President Ghani is showing as a commander-in-chief, with the leadership that's being shown by a growing cadre of military officers up and down the military chain, Afghan forces are proving themselves and discovering that, in fact, when they fight, they can be successful.  And we want to stand with them in that process because we are very much invested in your success.

So, Mr. President, thank you for an outstanding visit.

PRESIDENT GHANI:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you.

END
3:25 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at White House Science Fair

East Room

12:15 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Hello, hello!  Thank you.  Everybody have a seat.  Thank you.  Hello, scientists.  (Laughter.) 

So this has got to be the most fun event of the year.  (Laughter.)  At least in the top three.  And before I go any further, though, I need to lay down some rules.  We had to put these in place based on the previous science fairs.  First of all, no taking your robots or electric go-karts for a spin on the South Lawn.  (Laughter.)  You can't do that.  Rule number two, if you’re going to explode something, you have to warn us first.  (Laughter.)  Actually, just don’t explode anything.  (Laughter.) Number three, no using a marshmallow air cannon in the house -- (laughter) -- unless you let me shoot it first.  (Laughter.)   

This is our fifth White House Science Fair.  And every year, I walk out smarter than I walked in, because these young people have something to teach all of us -- not just about batteries, or attacking cancer cells, or how to build a working robot or a rocket.  I will say, though, the robots I see keep getting smarter every year.  We are keeping an eye on that, by the way.  (Laughter.)  You’re on notice, Skynet.

But these young scientists and engineers teach us something beyond the specific topics that they’re exploring.  They teach us how to question assumptions; to wonder why something is the way it is, and how we can make it better.  And they remind us that there’s always something more to learn, and to try, and to discover, and to imagine -- and that it’s never too early, or too late to create or discover something new. 

That’s why we love science.  It’s more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves.  It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world, and to share this accumulated knowledge.  It’s a mindset that says we that can use reason and logic and honest inquiry to reach new conclusions and solve big problems.  And that’s what we are celebrating here today with these amazing young people. 

Now, first of all, I'm going to announce the people who are not that young -- although some of them are youngish.  We’re joined by some of America’s top scientists and engineers -- starting with my Science Advisor, John Holdren.  (Applause.)  Yay, John.  The Director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins is here.  (Applause.)  The head of our Patent and Trademark Office -- so, young people, if you’ve got something fancy, talk to Michelle Lee right here.  (Applause.)  She’s ready to sign you up.  The Acting Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Suzette Kimball is here.  (Applause.)  And somebody who has one of the coolest jobs in town, the head of NASA, Charles Bolden is here.  (Applause.)  Where’s Charlie?  If there are any aspiring astronauts here, he’s the man to impress.  He’s been in space himself. 

We also have some outstanding guests who are here who’ve been participating in this on an ongoing basis.  Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is here.  (Applause.)  Signature bowtie.  So is Rush Holt, who’s one of the few scientists to serve in Congress.  We could probably use some more.  (Applause.)  There you go.  Rush is now the head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  And just so you knew that athletes think science is cool, too, we've got Victor Cruz of the New York Giants here.  (Applause.)  He is a big fan of science.  And he has to be -- as all-pro wide receiver, he’s got to figure out trajectories and angles and velocities and the physics of doing the salsa.  (Laughter.)  For those of you who don't know, he does a salsa every time he gets a touchdown, and he gets a lot of them.  (Laughter.)

Now, Victor has been here before to celebrate the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl.  But as I’ve said many times before, we’ve got to celebrate the winners of our science fairs as much as we celebrate the winners of football or basketball or other athletic competitions, because young scientists, mathematicians, engineers, they’re critical to our future.  You guys are the ones who are going to define the contours of the 21st century.

And I just had a chance to meet some of these young people.  And I fired a lot of questions at them, and they know their stuff.  It is unbelievable what so many of these young people have accomplished at such an early age.  And I wish I could talk about every single one of them because all of them were extraordinarily impressive.  But I want to leave enough time for everybody else to explore some of their exhibits.  John Holdren probably wants me to get some of their résumés in case we’re hiring.  But let me just mention a few of the young people that I had a chance to talk to, to give you a sense of the scope and depth and quality of the work that they’re doing. 

So, first of all, we’ve got Sophia Sánchez-Maes who’s here from Las Cruces, New Mexico.  Where’s Sophia?  I just talked to her.  Did she get in?  There she is, right there.  (Applause.)  Sophia is a senior in high school and she is crazy about algae.  (Laughter.)  Now, to the non-science buffs here, you might say, what’s so great about algae?  But Sophia knows that algae is fascinating, especially as a potential fuel source. 

So scientists are already working to turn algae into fuel.  One of the hurdles is to make the process more efficient so less energy gets wasted along the way.  Sophia saw that was a challenge.  She asked why.  She has created a more efficient method.  She’s identified optimal algae to use in her method, and she’s helping to bring the world closer to using algae as a clean, renewable, and even inexhaustible energy source.  And it’s already being tested in her hometown, the process that she’s developing.  It is amazing.  So let’s give Sophia a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  

Harry Paul is here from Port Washington, New York.  Where’s Harry?  There’s Harry, right here.  (Applause.)  So Harry graduated and is now in his first year at Tufts.  But listen to this story, because I think it gives you a sense of the quality of the young people we’ve got here.  Harry was born with a condition called congenital scoliosis -- a curvature of the spine.  So, growing up, Harry endured more than a dozen operations.  Rather than feel sorry for himself, he thought there’s got to be a better way of doing this.  So he designed a new type of spinal implant. 

Starting in his freshman year in high school, he started researching the processes that he himself had gone through -- his doctor was an expert on this -- and he decided, let’s see if I can come up with something better, an implant that can grow along with the growing child so it doesn’t have to be constantly replaced or adjusted, which means you don’t need as many intrusive operations.  And Harry’s implant could reduce the number of surgeries that a child may need for more than a dozen to as few as five, which obviously would cut down medical costs, but more importantly, would save a lot of young people pain and time out from school and recovery time, and the potential complications of an operation. 

Unbelievable stuff.  Give Harry a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

So Nikhil Behari is here from Pennsylvania.  Where’s Nikhil. There’s Nikhil.  (Applause.)  He’s a freshman -- right? -- in high school, interested in how we can better protect ourselves against hackers and data thieves online.  So scientists are already using biometrics to prove that each of us walk in our own distinct ways.  And Nikhil wondered, what if we each type in a distinct ways?  So he collected all kinds of data about how a person types -- their speed, how often they pause, how much pressure they use; built a special keyboard to test it.  And he proved that his hypothesis was correct -- that even if somebody knows your password, they don’t necessarily punch it in exactly the way you do. 

And he asked why -- and made discoveries that now could help keep our online accounts more secure.  So in the future, if keystroke-based authentication keeps your siblings from breaking into your Facebook account or your Instagram account, you will know who to thank.  (Laughter.)  It will be Nikhil.  Congratulations.  (Applause.) 

So those three are just samples of the extraordinary scientists that we’ve already -- and engineers -- that we’ve already got here. 

I should give special mention to our Girl Scouts from Oklahoma. Where are those Super Girls?  (Applause.)  They’re standing up, but you can’t really see them -- (laughter) -- because they’re in kindergarten and first grade.  They are today’s youngest scientists at six years old.  They built their device out of Legos.  They realized that some people who might be paralyzed or arthritic might have trouble turning pages on a book so they invented this page turner.  It was awesome.  It was working so well, despite the fact, as they pointed out -- this is a quote, they said, “This is just a prototype.”  (Laughter.)  That’s what they said.  I said, well, how’d you come up with the idea?  They said, well, we had a brainstorming session.  (Laughter.)  And then one of them asked, “Mr. President, have you had brainstorming sessions?”  (Laughter.)  I said, yes, but I didn’t come up with something as cool as this -- (laughter) -- an automatic page turner.  Unbelievable.

Ruchi Pandya -- where’s Ruchi?  There’s Ruchi.  (Applause.) Found a way to use a single drop of blood to test a person’s heart function, much like a person with diabetes tests their blood sugar.

Anvita Gupta -- where’s Anvita?  There she is.  (Applause.) Used artificial intelligence and biochemistry to identify potential treatments for cancer, tuberculosis, Ebola.  What she’s done is she’s developed an algorithm that could potentially significantly speed up the process of finding drugs that might work against these diseases.

Something smells like it’s burning there -- and I don’t think it’s an experiment.  (Laughter.)  I think it’s somebody’s camera.  Do we have it under control?  We don’t see any flames bursting.  Yes?  All right.  Okay, it sounds like a little electrical short, but let’s keep monitoring that.  (Laughter.)  Exits will be -- (laughter) -- in that direction, should anything happen.  The last time there was a fire here, the British were invading.  (Laughter.) 

But Anvita’s algorithm has the potential of speeding up pathways to discovering what drugs would work on what diseases, and is consistent with some of the work that we announced around precision medicine that we are funding at a significant pace here at the White House.

Now, I should point out that, like several of the young people here, Anvita and Ruchi are first-generation Americans.  Their parents came here, in part, so their kids could develop their talents and make a difference in the world.  And we’re really glad they did.

So I want to congratulate all of you for your remarkable achievements.  You’ve made a lot of people proud -- your parents, your teachers, your friends, your mentors.  And as President, I’m proud of you, because America is going to be stronger and smarter and healthier, and a much more interesting place because of you. 

But it’s not enough for our country just to be proud of you. We’ve also got to support you.  We’ve got to make sure that young people like you are going to keep on having what you need to discover and experiment and to innovate.  So I’ve got three announcements to make that really were already kind of in the works before I met you guys, but it’s a pretty good occasion to announce them because you’re so inspiring.

First -- four years ago, I set a national goal to provide 98 percent of Americans with high-speed wireless Internet so that any young scientist or entrepreneur could access the world’s information.  Today, I can announce that we have achieved that goal, and we did it ahead of schedule.  (Applause.)  That’s a big deal.

Second, to make sure that we keep expanding broadband across the country, I’m creating a new team called the Broadband Opportunity Council, made up of leaders across government, who will work with business and communities to invest in next-generation Internet nationwide.  Because this not just going to be a key for your ability to learn and create; it’s also a key for America’s ability to compete and lead in the world. 

Number three -- no young person in America should miss out on the chance to excel in these fields just because they don’t have the resources.  So, five years ago, we launched a campaign called “Educate to Innovate,” to help more of our students explore science, technology, engineering and math.  Today, I’m pleased to announce $240 million in new contributions from businesses, from schools, from foundations across the country to help kids learn in these STEM fields.  So we are very, very proud to make that announcement.  (Applause.)

Corporations have pledged to help expand high-quality science and technology education to more than 1.5 million students.  More than 120 universities have pledged to help train 20,000 new engineers to tackle the toughest challenges of this century.  Foundations like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Gates Foundation, and the Simons Foundation, will support scientists early in their careers with mentoring and funding.   And, all told, these new commitments bring our grand total up to $1 billion in commitments to our kids since we first got this initiative started five years ago.

And I was talking to some of the folks who are helping to finance our efforts, and one of the things that they’ve discovered is that it’s not enough just to talk about STEM.  Part of what’s important to do is also to recognize that what you do in math and engineering and science has a purpose to it; that there are huge challenges that we have to solve in how we have clean energy, and how to we clean up our environment, and how do we solve crippling diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.  And when we give students the inspiration not just that math and science are inherently interesting, and technology and engineering are inherently interesting, but there’s actual problems to solve, it turns out that young people, they rise to the challenge.  And that’s what’s so exciting about it.

We don’t want to just increase the number of American students in STEM.  We want to make sure everybody is involved.  We want to increase the diversity of STEM programs, as well.  And that’s been a theme of this science fair.  We get the most out of all our nation’s talent -- and that means reaching out to boys and girls, men and women of all races and all backgrounds. Science is for all of us.  And we want our classrooms and labs and workplaces and media to reflect that.

And this is something that Megan Smith, our Chief Technology Officer, is really keen about.  Part of the problem is we don’t tell the stories enough of the incredible scientists and inventors along the way who are women, or people of color, and as a consequence, people don’t see themselves as potential scientists.  Except the good news is these young women and African American and Latino and Asian American folks, young people who are here today -- you guys certainly see yourselves as scientists.  So you’re helping to inspire your classmates and kids who are coming up behind you to pursue these dreams as well. And that’s what’s so exciting. 

Because the United States has always been a place that loves science.  We’ve always been obsessed with tinkering and discovering and inventing and pushing the very boundaries of what’s possible.  That’s who we are.  It’s in our DNA. Technological discovery helped us become the world’s greatest economic power.  Scientific and medical breakthroughs helped us become the greatest source of hope around the world.  And that’s not just our past, that’s also our future, because of amazing young people like this. 

So I want to thank you for inspiring me.  You got me off to a good start today.  Keep exploring.  Keep dreaming.  Keep asking why.  Don’t settle for what you already know.  Never stop believing in the power of your ideas, your imagination, your hard work to change the world.  

And to all the adults in the room, and to any members of Congress who might be listening, just think about all -- oh, Eddie Bernice Johnson is here, an outstanding member of Congress, who’s a big support of STEM education.  Just remember, all these young people -- to continue to pursue the research that might bring about a new clean energy source, or might cure a disease, a lot of them are going to need the capacity to get research positions and fellowships and grants.  And that, particularly when it comes to basic research, has typically been funded by the federal government.  And my federal budget promotes a significant increase in the kinds of research that needs to happen.  Unfortunately, some of the budgets coming out of Congress don’t make those same commitments. 

So it’s not enough for us to just lift up young people and say, great job, way to go.  You also have to have labs to go to, and you’ve got to be able to support yourself while you’re doing this amazing research.  And that involves us as a society making the kind of investments that are going to be necessary for us to continue to innovate for many, many years to come.

So, congratulations.  Give all these young people a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Go take a look at their outstanding stuff.  It’s really great.  (Applause.)    

END
12:37 P.M. EDT

Weekly Address: It’s Time To Confirm Loretta Lynch

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, the President called on Republicans in Congress to stop playing politics with law enforcement and national security and confirm Loretta Lynch as Attorney General of the United States.  Loretta is an independent, career prosecutor who deserves to be confirmed as soon as possible.  She has proven herself time and again throughout her 30-year career, yet come Monday, the amount of time her nomination will have languished on the floor of the Senate will total more than that of the past seven Attorney General nominees combined.  In his address the President asked Republicans in Congress to stop denying a vote on the nomination of Loretta Lynch and end the longest confirmation process for an Attorney General in three decades.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, March 21, 2015.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
March 21, 2015

Hi, everybody.  One of the most important positions in the President’s Cabinet – and to our national security, our law enforcement, and our criminal justice system – is Attorney General.

It has been more than four months since I nominated Loretta Lynch to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States.  For 30 years, Loretta has distinguished herself as a tough, fair, and independent attorney.  As the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, she successfully prosecuted the terrorists who plotted to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank and the New York City subway.  She helped secure billions in settlements for people wronged by some of the world’s biggest banks.  She’s been dogged in her pursuit of public corruption.  She’s jailed some of New York’s most violent and notorious mobsters and gang members.  And through it all, she’s worked closely with law enforcement and local communities to get the job done.

In short, her qualifications are superb.  That’s why, in the past, the Senate easily confirmed Loretta to lead one of the most prominent U.S. Attorney offices in the country – not once, but twice.

Still – it has been more than four months since I nominated Loretta Lynch to serve as Attorney General.  

And this time, Republican leaders in Congress won’t even let her nomination come up for a vote.  In fact, by Monday, Loretta will have been languishing on the Senate floor for longer than the seven previous Attorneys General combined.  Let me say that again – she will have been waiting for a simple yes-or-no vote on the Senate floor for longer than the seven previous Attorneys General combined.

No one can claim she’s unqualified.  No one’s saying she can’t do the job.  Senators from both parties say they support her.  This is purely about politics.  First, Republicans held up her nomination because they were upset about the actions I took to make our broken immigration system smarter and fairer.  Now they’re denying her a vote until they can figure out how to pass a bill on a completely unrelated issue.  But they could bring her up for a yes-or-no vote at any time. 

Republicans promised that Congress would function smoothly with them in charge.  Here’s a chance for them to prove it.  Congress should stop playing politics with law enforcement and national security.  They should support good people in both parties who want to reform our criminal justice system.  And that means they should end the longest confirmation process for an Attorney General in three decades, and give Loretta Lynch a vote. 

Thank you.  And have a great weekend.

Remarks by the President at White House Student Film Festival

East Room

11:36 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much, everybody!  Have a seat.  Well, hello, everybody, and welcome to the second annual White House Film Festival.  (Applause.)  It’s like the Sundance or Cannes of film festivals that are open to the public through a government website.  (Laughter.)  It may also be the only film festival where one of the entrants has his tooth loose.  (Laughter.)  And may pull it out right here at the ceremony.  (Laughter.) 

Everybody looks wonderful, of course.  You’ll be disappointed to know I will not be doing a musical number based on this year’s films.

AUDIENCE:  Awww --

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s the job of your emcees, Kal Penn and Terrence J.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  I don’t know if they’ll be doing musical numbers either.  (Laughter.)  But I do want to thank the folks at the American Film Institute and Participant Media for partnering with us on this event.  Thank you very much.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

I want to give a shout out to all the honorees’ dates tonight, which I assume are either parents or teachers, or somebody who’s supported these outstanding young people every step of the way.  And of course, most importantly, let’s give it up to our outstanding young filmmakers!  (Applause.)  Yay!  (Applause.)  Yay!  (Applause.) 

So I love this event.  This is the second year that we’ve hosted the White House Student Film Festival, and it's a great example of what happens when we just unleash the skills and the imagination of America’s young people.  In this country, if we give all of our kids the best opportunities and technology and resources, there’s no telling what they’ll create -- now and the years ahead.

This year, we received more than 1,500 submissions that came from all across the country -- actually even came as far as Azerbaijan.  Our theme was “The Impact of Giving Back.”  And today, we are proud to honor our 15 official selections, because these aren’t just great films, but they’re great examples of how young people are making a difference all over the country.

Today, we’re celebrating a 6-year-old in Montana.  Is that you?  (Applause.)  He’s the guy without -- he’s missing teeth.  (Laughter.)  But he’s also challenging us to see conservation through a child’s eyes. 

We’re honoring a young man’s story of service to his family and our environment in his Navajo Nation, Navajo tradition.  A teenager who started a wheelchair challenge and raised tens of thousands of dollars to make his school more accessible to folks with disabilities.  A third-grade superhero who wears a cape as he delivers clothes and food to the homeless.  You see even in indie film festivals, superhero movies are infiltrating.  I'm going to have to see “Super Ewan 2” next summer.  There’s going to be a sequel. 

And then there are two young women, Allyson Edwards and Madison Jaco, who adopted a highway to clean up the roads in their hometown of Hawkins, Texas.  Where are these young ladies? Raise your hands.  A little higher.  There you go.  (Applause.)  So they decided they wanted to make an even bigger impact, so they reached out to young people all across the globe, and this is part of the power of the Internet.  And now you’ve got groups in India, France, Nigeria, Benin, Argentina, all getting into the act -- cleaning up their schools and beaches and roads -- just because of these two young women. 

And as Allyson and Madison say in their film, “In today’s society, we’re often told how much we are different and how much divides us, but through our shared community service, we realized how much brings us together.”  That’s a profound statement, guys. I don’t think I was that smart when I was your age.  

But that’s the idea that lies at the heart of service -- empathy, understanding, being able to make a connection.  And as these young people are showing us, it’s a message that can be told powerfully through film, because that’s a media that connects us with people and stories we might otherwise never know.  And it puts us in the shoes of people potentially on the other side of the world, or a neighborhood very different than the one we grew up in.  And that’s true whether you’re a middle schooler with a GoPro, or a Hollywood director on a custom-made soundstage.

Now, we know that if today’s middle schoolers are going to become those big-time directors -- and we’ve got some big-time folks here.  Steve McQueen here, has filmed “12 Years a Slave.”  It was a big Oscar winner last year and a profound film.  And we appreciate his presence here today.  (Applause.)  So you guys could get some tips.  (Laughter.)

But the next Steve McQueen, or Scorsese, or Spielberg, or documentarian like Ken Burns -- if we’re going to make sure that these young people have those opportunities, then we’ve got to do our part to support them. 

That means we’ve got to give them a world-class education, access to science and technology, and engineering, and math, as well as the arts.  It means that they’ve got to have access to the technology they need to learn and explore and grow. 

It's not optional to have access to that technology in today’s world.  That’s one of the reasons I launched the ConnectED initiative, to connect 99 percent of our students to next-generation broadband and wireless -- because when we expect free WiFi with our coffee, then we should at least have it in our schools and our libraries, too.  (Applause.)

The good news is we’re making great progress.  More than 1,800 school districts have pledged to bring high-speed broadband and digital learning to their students.  Companies have committed billions of dollars in free technology for schools and libraries around the country.  And it’s making a difference.  Students in rural Alabama used software donated by Adobe to make a music video that won first place in a contest, and then earned their school $10,000 of new musical equipment.  So we know this can make a difference.

But we also know that it takes more than technology to help our kids thrive -- parents, teachers, people who love and inspire them, coaches, mentors to help guide their way. 

So today, as part of our “United We Serve” effort, I’m proud to announce that AFI and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are pairing up to give each of the young filmmakers here a mentor who can bring out the best of them in the months ahead.  That’s pretty cool.  (Applause.) 

And the organizations are also reaching beyond these young people; they’re going to pledge a million hours of educational and mentoring programs for young people across the country over the next three years -- (applause) -- which is a remarkable commitment, so we want to thank AFI and SAG-AFTRA for that wonderful contribution.

We’ve seen how impactful these mentoring experiences can be. I’ll just take a minute to give you one example -- the story of a young woman who we honored here last year named Shelly Ortiz.  And Shelly made this wonderful video -- is Shelly here?  There you are.  There’s Shelly.  Good to see you.  (Applause.)  So I'm going to brag about you for a second. 

So Shelly made a great video about how technology in her classroom helped fuel her passion for filmmaking.  But when Shelly came to the White House, she was still working on another project that meant a lot to her, which was a short documentary about how her father was abandoned by his mom as a child, and all the ramifications, what that meant.

After the festival, AFI connected her with an accomplished documentarian, who served as her mentor, giving Shelly detailed notes and the confidence to take risks as a director.  A few months later, Shelly’s documentary was featured at AFI’s International Documentary Festival.  Pretty cool.  And today, she says that the mentoring she received and the technology she’s been given didn’t just help her become a better filmmaker, it helped her become closer than ever with her dad. 

So that’s the power of what is being done here.  Experiences like these aren’t just about a young person’s future career.  They’re about helping them to connect in new and meaningful ways, whether it’s somebody as close as your parents, or somebody on an iPad halfway around the world who may share more in common with you than you think.

And we don’t know what these new connections will produce down the road, but if these movies are any indication I know that these young people are going to make an even bigger impact for their communities and their country in the years ahead.
 
So I'm proud of you.  Keep up the great work.  I can’t stay to watch them all, but I'm going to get them all, digitally.  And I'm going to give them a big thumbs-up.  All right.  Thank you.  I'm really proud of you guys.  (Applause.)  Now it’s time to begin our feature presentations.

END  
2:47 P.M. EDT