Welcome message from U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld The dawn of the 21st century has been a time of challenge and change for NATO, marking some of the Alliance’s most significant reforms since 1949. While NATO’s core mission — the defense of its member states — remains the same, the dangers we face today are considerably different from those NATO was originally formed to confront – and we are transforming to meet them. In recent months, NATO has approved a streamlined command structure that lays out a blueprint for the new way the Alliance will fight; a new NATO Response Force (NRF) to increase the deployability, sustainability, and interoperability of our forces; and a new Strategic Command to transform NATO doctrine, tactics, training, and planning. In Colorado Springs, we will have the opportunity to continue our discussions about all of these changes, and participate in a simulation exercise that will enable us to explore the various capabilities and decision-making processes necessary to turn the NRF into a lethal, agile, and technologically-superior force. I hope it will be an exciting, stimulating and enjoyable experience for you. We look forward to seeing you in Colorado Springs!