English subtitles for clip: File:2014-09-13 President Obama's Weekly Address.webm
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1 00:00:10,343 --> 00:00:11,845 The President: As Commander in Chief, 2 00:00:11,845 --> 00:00:14,347 my highest priority is the security of the American people. 3 00:00:14,347 --> 00:00:17,684 And I've made it clear that those who threaten the United 4 00:00:17,684 --> 00:00:20,453 States will find no safe haven. 5 00:00:20,453 --> 00:00:23,390 Thanks to our military and counterterrorism professionals, 6 00:00:23,390 --> 00:00:26,593 we took out Osama bin Laden, much of al Qaeda's leadership 7 00:00:26,593 --> 00:00:29,963 in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and leaders of al Qaeda 8 00:00:29,963 --> 00:00:32,766 affiliates in Yemen and Somalia. 9 00:00:32,766 --> 00:00:35,135 We've prevented terrorist attacks, 10 00:00:35,135 --> 00:00:39,705 saved American lives and made our homeland more secure. 11 00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:41,708 Today, the terrorist threat is more diffuse, 12 00:00:41,708 --> 00:00:45,178 from al Qaeda affiliates and other extremists-like ISIL 13 00:00:45,178 --> 00:00:47,513 in Syria and Iraq. 14 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:49,716 As I said this week, our intelligence community has 15 00:00:49,716 --> 00:00:53,386 not yet detected specific ISIL plots against our homeland. 16 00:00:53,386 --> 00:00:57,123 But its leaders have repeatedly threatened the United States. 17 00:00:57,123 --> 00:01:00,492 And, if left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing 18 00:01:00,493 --> 00:01:04,798 threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States. 19 00:01:04,798 --> 00:01:06,299 So we're staying vigilant. 20 00:01:06,299 --> 00:01:08,835 And we're moving ahead with our strategy to degrade 21 00:01:08,835 --> 00:01:12,505 and ultimately destroy this terrorist organization. 22 00:01:12,505 --> 00:01:15,208 To meet a threat like this, we have to be smart. 23 00:01:15,208 --> 00:01:17,210 We have to use our power wisely. 24 00:01:17,210 --> 00:01:20,312 And we have to avoid the mistakes of the past. 25 00:01:20,313 --> 00:01:22,482 American military power is unmatched, 26 00:01:22,482 --> 00:01:25,185 but this can't be America's fight alone. 27 00:01:25,185 --> 00:01:28,655 And the best way to defeat a group like ISIL isn't by sending 28 00:01:28,655 --> 00:01:32,225 large numbers of American combat forces to wage a ground war 29 00:01:32,225 --> 00:01:34,092 in the heart of the Middle East. 30 00:01:34,093 --> 00:01:36,229 That wouldn't serve our interests. 31 00:01:36,229 --> 00:01:40,667 In fact, it would only risk fueling extremism even more. 32 00:01:40,667 --> 00:01:43,870 What's needed now is a targeted, relentless counterterrorism 33 00:01:43,870 --> 00:01:47,407 campaign against ISIL that combines American air power, 34 00:01:47,407 --> 00:01:49,776 contributions from allies and partners, 35 00:01:49,776 --> 00:01:52,345 and more support to forces that are fighting these 36 00:01:52,345 --> 00:01:53,379 terrorists on the ground. 37 00:01:53,379 --> 00:01:56,416 And that's exactly what we're doing. 38 00:01:56,416 --> 00:01:58,585 We're moving ahead with our campaign of airstrikes against 39 00:01:58,585 --> 00:02:01,253 these terrorists, and we're prepared to take action 40 00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:03,990 against ISIL in Syria as well. 41 00:02:03,990 --> 00:02:06,359 The additional American forces I've ordered to Iraq will 42 00:02:06,359 --> 00:02:09,495 help Iraqi and Kurdish forces with the training, 43 00:02:09,496 --> 00:02:13,032 intelligence and equipment they need to take the fight 44 00:02:13,032 --> 00:02:15,134 to these terrorists on the ground. 45 00:02:15,134 --> 00:02:17,670 We're working with Congress to expand our efforts to train 46 00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:20,039 and equip the Syrian opposition. 47 00:02:20,039 --> 00:02:23,243 We'll continue to strengthen our defenses here at home. 48 00:02:23,243 --> 00:02:25,945 And we'll keep providing the humanitarian relief to help 49 00:02:25,945 --> 00:02:28,381 Iraqi civilians who have been driven from their 50 00:02:28,381 --> 00:02:32,318 homes and who remain in extreme danger. 51 00:02:32,318 --> 00:02:34,787 Because we're leading the right way, 52 00:02:34,787 --> 00:02:37,557 more nations are joining our coalition. 53 00:02:37,557 --> 00:02:40,059 This week, Arab nations agreed to strengthen their support 54 00:02:40,059 --> 00:02:43,196 for the new Iraqi government and to do their part in the fight 55 00:02:43,196 --> 00:02:47,100 against ISIL, including aspects of the military campaign. 56 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,202 Saudi Arabia will join the effort to help train 57 00:02:49,202 --> 00:02:52,438 and equip moderate Syrian opposition forces. 58 00:02:52,438 --> 00:02:55,875 And retired Marine general John Allen-who during the Iraq war 59 00:02:55,875 --> 00:02:58,578 worked with Sunnis in Iraq as they fought to reclaim their 60 00:02:58,578 --> 00:03:01,948 communities from terrorists-will serve as our special envoy 61 00:03:01,948 --> 00:03:05,985 to help build and coordinate our growing coalition. 62 00:03:05,985 --> 00:03:08,721 Today, every American can be proud of our men and women 63 00:03:08,721 --> 00:03:11,524 in uniform who are serving in this effort. 64 00:03:11,524 --> 00:03:14,360 When our airstrikes helped break the siege of the Iraqi town 65 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,664 of Amerl, one Kurdish fighter on the ground said, 66 00:03:17,664 --> 00:03:20,533 "It would have been absolutely impossible 67 00:03:20,533 --> 00:03:22,535 without the American planes." 68 00:03:22,535 --> 00:03:27,140 One resident of that city said-"thank you, America." 69 00:03:27,140 --> 00:03:30,476 Today we're showing the world the best of American leadership. 70 00:03:30,476 --> 00:03:32,045 We will protect our people. 71 00:03:32,045 --> 00:03:34,714 We will stand with partners who defend their countries 72 00:03:34,714 --> 00:03:38,051 and rally other nations to meet a common threat. 73 00:03:38,051 --> 00:03:41,421 And here at home-thirteen years after our country was 74 00:03:41,421 --> 00:03:44,991 attacked-we continue to stand tall and proud. 75 00:03:44,991 --> 00:03:46,225 Because we're Americans. 76 00:03:46,225 --> 00:03:48,328 We don't give in to fear. 77 00:03:48,328 --> 00:03:49,329 We carry on. 78 00:03:49,329 --> 00:03:52,599 And we will never waver in the defense of the country we love.