English subtitles for clip: File:2014-09-13 President Obama's Weekly Address.webm

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The President: As
Commander in Chief,

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my highest priority is the
security of the American people.

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And I've made it clear that
those who threaten the United

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States will find no safe haven.

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Thanks to our military and
counterterrorism professionals,

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we took out Osama bin Laden,
much of al Qaeda's leadership

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in Afghanistan and Pakistan,
and leaders of al Qaeda

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affiliates in Yemen
and Somalia.

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We've prevented
terrorist attacks,

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saved American lives and made
our homeland more secure.

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Today, the terrorist
threat is more diffuse,

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from al Qaeda affiliates and
other extremists-like ISIL

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in Syria and Iraq.

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As I said this week, our
intelligence community has

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not yet detected specific ISIL
plots against our homeland.

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But its leaders have repeatedly
threatened the United States.

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And, if left unchecked, these
terrorists could pose a growing

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threat beyond the Middle East,
including to the United States.

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So we're staying vigilant.

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And we're moving ahead with
our strategy to degrade

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and ultimately destroy this
terrorist organization.

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To meet a threat like
this, we have to be smart.

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We have to use our power wisely.

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And we have to avoid the
mistakes of the past.

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American military
power is unmatched,

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but this can't be
America's fight alone.

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And the best way to defeat a
group like ISIL isn't by sending

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large numbers of American combat
forces to wage a ground war

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in the heart of the Middle East.

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That wouldn't serve
our interests.

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In fact, it would only risk
fueling extremism even more.

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What's needed now is a targeted,
relentless counterterrorism

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campaign against ISIL that
combines American air power,

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contributions from
allies and partners,

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and more support to forces
that are fighting these

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terrorists on the ground.

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And that's exactly
what we're doing.

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We're moving ahead with our
campaign of airstrikes against

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these terrorists, and we're
prepared to take action

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against ISIL in Syria as well.

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The additional American forces
I've ordered to Iraq will

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help Iraqi and Kurdish
forces with the training,

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intelligence and equipment
they need to take the fight

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to these terrorists
on the ground.

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We're working with Congress to
expand our efforts to train

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and equip the Syrian opposition.

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We'll continue to strengthen
our defenses here at home.

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And we'll keep providing the
humanitarian relief to help

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Iraqi civilians who have
been driven from their

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homes and who remain in
extreme danger.

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Because we're leading
the right way,

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more nations are
joining our coalition.

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This week, Arab nations agreed
to strengthen their support

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for the new Iraqi government and
to do their part in the fight

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against ISIL, including aspects
of the military campaign.

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Saudi Arabia will join
the effort to help train

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and equip moderate Syrian
opposition forces.

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And retired Marine general John
Allen-who during the Iraq war

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worked with Sunnis in Iraq as
they fought to reclaim their

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communities from terrorists-will
serve as our special envoy

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to help build and coordinate
our growing coalition.

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Today, every American can be
proud of our men and women

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in uniform who are
serving in this effort.

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When our airstrikes helped break
the siege of the Iraqi town

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of Amerl, one Kurdish fighter
on the ground said,

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"It would have been
absolutely impossible

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without the American planes."

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One resident of that city
said-"thank you, America."

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Today we're showing the world
the best of American leadership.

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We will protect our people.

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We will stand with partners
who defend their countries

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and rally other nations to
meet a common threat.

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And here at home-thirteen
years after our country was

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attacked-we continue to
stand tall and proud.

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Because we're Americans.

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We don't give in to fear.

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We carry on.

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And we will never waver in the
defense of the country we love.