Madam Secretary, distinguished ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense England, members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen:
The Proliferation Security Initiative is a major contribution to international security of which many nations can be proud. As all of us recognize, along with terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction represents the gravest threat to our citizens, our sovereignty, and peace itself.
Unfortunately we know that state and non-state actors alike harbor the desire to empower themselves-and subjugate others-through the acquisition of these weapons, their delivery systems, and related materials. This is not supposition. It is knowledge based on intelligence that has been corroborated in too many instances by interdiction-interdiction conducted under the auspices and through the creative mechanisms of the Proliferation Security Initiative.
There is no need to spell out in any detail the role intelligence plays in supporting PSI. That is obvious to us all. On the occasion of the second anniversary of PSI, it makes more sense to note that PSI makes intelligence "actionable." That is a signal accomplishment, and it should be a great stimulus to all nations concerned about the menace of WMD. Through PSI, intelligence can be coupled to governmental actions in whatever way is judged to be maximally effective by the responsible authorities.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a threat the world community needs to monitor, probe, and guard against with maximum rigor and care. In our vigilance and cooperation lies our safety. Nothing less will serve.
Thank you very much.