Today, I will discuss: · Global jihadists, their fanatical ideology, and the civilized world’s efforts to disrupt, dismantle and destroy their networks; · The struggle of the Iraqi and Afghan people to assert their sovereignty over insurgency, terror, and extremism; WMD-related proliferation and two states of particular concern, Iran and North Korea; · Issues of political instability and governance in all regions of the world that affect our ability to protect and advance our interests; and · Globalization, emerging powers, and such transnational challenges as the geopolitics of energy, narcotrafficking, and possible pandemics.