Six hundred men and women of the Army's 4th Infantry Division were sent on a hunt with a simple objective: capture or kill Saddam Hussein. Over the course of the war, forty soldiers from this division have been killed. Now imagine for a minute the emotional charge you would feel knowing you were searching for the man responsible for the death of these "family members." How much restraint could you muster?

Saddam was captured in a hole with two AK-47 rifles and a pistol. Shooting him on sight would have been justified, even applauded. But he wasn't. The soldiers could have changed the course of international affairs with a single bullet. But they didn't. The reason why is because they believe in an outdated concept -- moral virtue.

The Army sets a standard that all soldiers are expected to live by. The 4th Division held to its core values of discipline and professionalism and the soldiers exemplified their rules of conduct: We are courageous but not reckless; We are devoted to duty but not to ourselves; We always honor our Nation. We will do everything to uphold it and nothing to disgrace it.

The strength of our military lies not just in the number of tanks, aircraft, and ships we have in our arsenal. Our true strength lies in the character of our men and women in uniform. The U.S. military exemplifies a standard of military virtue that is unprecedented in history and that's what sets us apart.

The outcome of the war on terrorism will determined not by bombs and bullets but by will, determination, and honorable conduct. It will require men and women whose core values can inspire even our enemies. Fortunately, our military is composed not only of our nation's defenders but our country's new moral elite.