奥巴马总统说，在对全球挑战作出全球反应的时候，各国必须承担各自的责任。他说，美国将按照其价值观生活，以身作则来领导，但是其它国家不能袖手旁观，坐等美国独自解决世界的问题。
他还提到了对美国的批评。他说，那些质疑美国的特性和事业的人们，只需看看他的政府在执政头9个月中采取的行动。奥巴马总统特别强调了他做出的有关决定，包括禁止使用酷刑，关闭在古巴关塔那摩湾的美军监狱，以及在法治下制定出一个打击极端主义的框架。他说，美国政府已制定了打击基地分子及其极端主义盟友的明确和集中的目标，并在负责任地结束伊拉克战争。
President Obama says all nations must take their share of responsibility for global responses to global challenges.He said the United States will live according to its values and lead by example, but nations cannot just stand by and wait for the U.S. to solve the world’s problems alone.
He also addressed critics of the United States, saying those who question its character and cause need only look at the actions his administration have taken in its first nine months.President Obama highlighted his decisions to prohibit the use of torture, close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and forge a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law.He said the administration has set a clear and focused goal to defeat al Qaida and its extremist allies and is responsibly ending the war in Iraq.