Today, June 25th, 2009, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi
Ashkenazi, delivered a speech at the IAF Flight School Graduation Ceremony
in the Hatzerim air force base in southern Israel. In his speech, the Chief
of Staff addressed the graduates, their families and other guests, and
related to the Iranian threat on Israel and the importance of a strong and
advanced air force as part of a strong IDF and a strong state of Israel that
will successfully face the challenges of the future.

The following is an excerpt from Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi's speech:

"As of today, you are entrusted with the world's most advanced flight combat
systems, combining advanced technology and sophisticated arming systems,
developed after years of investment in research, development and
manufacturing.

"However, not for one moment do we forget that the qualitative advantage of
the IDF and the IAF lies in the dedicated, ethical and trained soldiers such
as yourselves, who have the ability to push the weapon systems to maximum
performance, and sometimes even further than that.

"We are seekers of peace, not of war, but a realistic observation of the
reality in the Middle East reveals a number of risks and security challenges
that we are likely to face.

"The re-election of the Iranian President, his threatening statements
against Israel and his country's constant race to obtain non-conventional
weapons, forces us to maintain an alert and watchful military and a skilled,
sharp air force in order to remove any threat hovering over the heads of our
citizens and civilians. It is our duty as an army to lay down all of our
options and prepare ourselves to confront any threat, near or far, and we
shall continue to do so.

"The IDF will continue to face these challenges at land, air and sea, with
regular and reserve forces, while strengthening ourselves, training and
arming according to a long term plan.

"As the Chief of the General Staff, I know that only a big, strong and
qualitative IDF, that has this kind of air force, is the one to deter war
away from this land, successfully face any challenge, near or far, and if
required to defeat our enemy and prevail!"