Obama on Syria: ‘A Changing Climate Is Increasing Competition for Food and Water’

THE PRESIDENT Thank you ░░░░░░░░ much Applause Thank you ░░░░░░░░ you so much everybody ░░░░░░░░ you Everybody please have ░░░░░░░░ seat Have a seat ░░░░░░░░ thank you so much ░░░░░░░░ afternoon everybody I was ░░░░░░░░ told that was going ░░░░░░░░ be the last Hail ░░░░░░░░ the Chief on the ░░░░░░░░ and it got me ░░░░░░░░ of sentimental I want ░░░░░░░░ first and foremost say ░░░░░░░░ to all of you ░░░░░░░░ before I came here ░░░░░░░░ was able to visit ░░░░░░░░ some of the men ░░░░░░░░ women from MacDill Air ░░░░░░░░ Base Central Command our ░░░░░░░░ Operations Command to thank ░░░░░░░░ for their extraordinary service ░░░░░░░░ so to you and ░░░░░░░░ families and to the ░░░░░░░░ family of American servicemembers ░░░░░░░░ me say that our ░░░░░░░░ owes you an unbelievable ░░░░░░░░ of gratitude We are ░░░░░░░░ for you and will ░░░░░░░░ praying for you over ░░░░░░░░ holidays Applause As you ░░░░░░░░ all too well your ░░░░░░░░ and the course of ░░░░░░░░ was changed after the ░░░░░░░░ 11 attacks By the ░░░░░░░░ I took office the ░░░░░░░░ States had been at ░░░░░░░░ for seven years For ░░░░░░░░ years that I ve ░░░░░░░░ in office there has ░░░░░░░░ been a day when ░░░░░░░░ terrorist organization or some ░░░░░░░░ individual was not plotting ░░░░░░░░ kill Americans And on ░░░░░░░░ 20th I will become ░░░░░░░░ first President of the ░░░░░░░░ States to serve two ░░░░░░░░ terms during a time ░░░░░░░░ war Applause Now we ░░░░░░░░ not choose this fight ░░░░░░░░ once it came to ░░░░░░░░ the world saw the ░░░░░░░░ of our resolve The ░░░░░░░░ solemn responsibility for any ░░░░░░░░ is keeping the American ░░░░░░░░ safe In carrying out ░░░░░░░░ duty I have sent ░░░░░░░░ and women into harm ░░░░░░░░ way I ve visited ░░░░░░░░ around the globe I ░░░░░░░░ met our wounded warriors ░░░░░░░░ I ve grieved with ░░░░░░░░ Star families I know ░░░░░░░░ than most that it ░░░░░░░░ because of your service ░░░░░░░░ your sacrifice that we ░░░░░░░░ been able during these ░░░░░░░░ years to protect our ░░░░░░░░ to strike crippling blows ░░░░░░░░ terrorist networks and fortify ░░░░░░░░ friends and our allies ░░░░░░░░ today I d like ░░░░░░░░ reflect on that work ░░░░░░░░ talk about the foundation ░░░░░░░░ we will leave for ░░░░░░░░ next administration I came ░░░░░░░░ this office with a ░░░░░░░░ of core convictions that ░░░░░░░░ guided me as Commander ░░░░░░░░ Chief I believe that ░░░░░░░░ United States military can ░░░░░░░░ any mission that we ░░░░░░░░ and must remain the ░░░░░░░░ fighting force the world ░░░░░░░░ ever known Applause I ░░░░░░░░ that we must never ░░░░░░░░ to act when necessary ░░░░░░░░ unilaterally when necessary against ░░░░░░░░ imminent threats to our ░░░░░░░░ But I have also ░░░░░░░░ that it is unwise ░░░░░░░░ unsustainable to ask our ░░░░░░░░ to build nations on ░░░░░░░░ other side of the ░░░░░░░░ or resolve their internal ░░░░░░░░ particularly in places where ░░░░░░░░ forces become a magnet ░░░░░░░░ terrorists and insurgencies Instead ░░░░░░░░ has been my conviction ░░░░░░░░ even as we focus ░░░░░░░░ on dismantling terrorist networks ░░░░░░░░ al Qaeda and ISIL ░░░░░░░░ should ask allies to ░░░░░░░░ their share in the ░░░░░░░░ and we should strengthen ░░░░░░░░ partners who can provide ░░░░░░░░ security And these convictions ░░░░░░░░ the policies we pursued ░░░░░░░░ in Iraq and Afghanistan ░░░░░░░░ I took office the ░░░░░░░░ States was focused overwhelmingly ░░░░░░░░ Iraq where nearly 150 ░░░░░░░░ American troops had spent ░░░░░░░░ fighting an insurgency and ░░░░░░░░ to build a democratic ░░░░░░░░ Meanwhile al Qaeda had ░░░░░░░░ in the border region ░░░░░░░░ Afghanistan and Pakistan and ░░░░░░░░ actively planning attacks against ░░░░░░░░ homeland So we brought ░░░░░░░░ 150 000 troops home ░░░░░░░░ Iraq consistent with the ░░░░░░░░ of Forces Agreement negotiated ░░░░░░░░ the previous administration and ░░░░░░░░ surged our efforts along ░░░░░░░░ our allies in Afghanistan ░░░░░░░░ allowed us to focus ░░░░░░░░ dismantling al Qaeda and ░░░░░░░░ the Afghan government the ░░░░░░░░ to succeed And this ░░░░░░░░ on al Qaeda the ░░░░░░░░ dangerous threat to the ░░░░░░░░ States at the time ░░░░░░░░ dividends Today by any ░░░░░░░░ core al Qaeda the ░░░░░░░░ that hit us on ░░░░░░░░ 11 is a shadow ░░░░░░░░ its former self Applause ░░░░░░░░ directed from within Afghanistan ░░░░░░░░ Pakistan have been consistently ░░░░░░░░ Its leadership has been ░░░░░░░░ Dozens of terrorist leaders ░░░░░░░░ been killed Osama bin ░░░░░░░░ is dead Applause And ░░░░░░░░ we have built a ░░░░░░░░ capability that can sustain ░░░░░░░░ pressure against any terrorist ░░░░░░░░ in South Asia that ░░░░░░░░ threaten the United States ░░░░░░░░ America That was because ░░░░░░░░ the work of our ░░░░░░░░ servicemembers Moreover that early ░░░░░░░░ to strengthen our efforts ░░░░░░░░ Afghanistan allowed us to ░░░░░░░░ the capacity of Afghans ░░░░░░░░ secure and defend their ░░░░░░░░ country So today there ░░░░░░░░ less than 10 000 ░░░░░░░░ troops in Afghanistan Instead ░░░░░░░░ being in the lead ░░░░░░░░ the Taliban Americans are ░░░░░░░░ supporting 320 000 Afghan ░░░░░░░░ forces who are defending ░░░░░░░░ communities and supporting our ░░░░░░░░ efforts Now I don ░░░░░░░░ want to paint too ░░░░░░░░ a picture The situation ░░░░░░░░ Afghanistan is still tough ░░░░░░░░ has been a part ░░░░░░░░ life in Afghanistan for ░░░░░░░░ 30 years and the ░░░░░░░░ States cannot eliminate the ░░░░░░░░ or end violence in ░░░░░░░░ country But what we ░░░░░░░░ do is deny al ░░░░░░░░ a safe haven and ░░░░░░░░ we can do is ░░░░░░░░ Afghans who want a ░░░░░░░░ future which is why ░░░░░░░░ have worked not only ░░░░░░░░ their military but we ░░░░░░░░ backed a unity government ░░░░░░░░ Kabul We ve helped ░░░░░░░░ girls go to school ░░░░░░░░ ve supported investments in ░░░░░░░░ care and electricity and ░░░░░░░░ You have made a ░░░░░░░░ in Afghanistan and America ░░░░░░░░ safer for it Applause ░░░░░░░░ course the terrorist threat ░░░░░░░░ never restricted to South ░░░░░░░░ or to Afghanistan or ░░░░░░░░ Even as al Qaeda ░░░░░░░░ been decimated in Afghanistan ░░░░░░░░ Pakistan the threat from ░░░░░░░░ metastasized in other parts ░░░░░░░░ the Middle East and ░░░░░░░░ Africa And most dangerously ░░░░░░░░ saw the emergence of ░░░░░░░░ the successor to al ░░░░░░░░ in Iraq which fights ░░░░░░░░ both a terrorist network ░░░░░░░░ an insurgency There s ░░░░░░░░ a debate about ISIL ░░░░░░░░ s focused on whether ░░░░░░░░ continued U S troop ░░░░░░░░ in Iraq back in ░░░░░░░░ could have stopped the ░░░░░░░░ of ISIL from growing ░░░░░░░░ as a practical matter ░░░░░░░░ was not an option ░░░░░░░░ 2011 Iraqis wanted our ░░░░░░░░ presence to end and ░░░░░░░░ were unwilling to sign ░░░░░░░░ new Status of Forces ░░░░░░░░ to protect our troops ░░░░░░░░ prosecution if they were ░░░░░░░░ to defend themselves in ░░░░░░░░ In addition maintaining American ░░░░░░░░ in Iraq at the ░░░░░░░░ could not have reversed ░░░░░░░░ forces that contributed to ░░░░░░░░ s rise a government ░░░░░░░░ Baghdad that pursued a ░░░░░░░░ agenda a brutal dictator ░░░░░░░░ Syria who lost control ░░░░░░░░ large parts of the ░░░░░░░░ social media that reached ░░░░░░░░ global pool of recruits ░░░░░░░░ a hollowing out of ░░░░░░░░ s security forces which ░░░░░░░░ ultimately overrun in Mosul ░░░░░░░░ 2014 In fact American ░░░░░░░░ had they stayed there ░░░░░░░░ have lacked legal protections ░░░░░░░░ faced a choice between ░░░░░░░░ on bases or being ░░░░░░░░ back into a sectarian ░░░░░░░░ against the will of ░░░░░░░░ s elected government or ░░░░░░░░ s local populations But ░░░░░░░░ changed When ISIL made ░░░░░░░░ gains first in Mosul ░░░░░░░░ then in other parts ░░░░░░░░ the country then suddenly ░░░░░░░░ reached out once again ░░░░░░░░ help And in shaping ░░░░░░░░ response we refused to ░░░░░░░░ some of the mistakes ░░░░░░░░ the 2003 invasion that ░░░░░░░░ helped to give rise ░░░░░░░░ the organization that became ░░░░░░░░ in the first place ░░░░░░░░ conditioned our help on ░░░░░░░░ emergence of a new ░░░░░░░░ government and prime minister ░░░░░░░░ was committed to national ░░░░░░░░ and committed to working ░░░░░░░░ us We built an ░░░░░░░░ coalition of nearly 70 ░░░░░░░░ including some of Iraq ░░░░░░░░ neighbors We surged our ░░░░░░░░ resources so that we ░░░░░░░░ better understand the enemy ░░░░░░░░ then we took the ░░░░░░░░ to ISIL in both ░░░░░░░░ and Syria not with ░░░░░░░░ battalions but with local ░░░░░░░░ backed by our equipment ░░░░░░░░ our advisors and importantly ░░░░░░░░ Special Forces In that ░░░░░░░░ we have now hit ░░░░░░░░ with over 16 000 ░░░░░░░░ We have equipped and ░░░░░░░░ tens of thousands of ░░░░░░░░ on the ground And ░░░░░░░░ the results are clear ░░░░░░░░ has lost more than ░░░░░░░░ its territory ISIL has ░░░░░░░░ control of major population ░░░░░░░░ Its morale is plummeting ░░░░░░░░ recruitment is drying up ░░░░░░░░ commanders and external plotters ░░░░░░░░ being taken out and ░░░░░░░░ populations are turning against ░░░░░░░░ Applause As we speak ░░░░░░░░ faces an offensive on ░░░░░░░░ from Iraqi troops and ░░░░░░░░ support That s the ░░░░░░░░ remaining city that it ░░░░░░░░ Meanwhile in Syria ISIL ░░░░░░░░ self declared capital in ░░░░░░░░ is being squeezed We ░░░░░░░░ attacked ISIL s financial ░░░░░░░░ destroying hundreds of millions ░░░░░░░░ dollars of oil and ░░░░░░░░ reserves The bottom line ░░░░░░░░ we are breaking the ░░░░░░░░ of ISIL We re ░░░░░░░░ away its safe havens ░░░░░░░░ And we ve accomplished ░░░░░░░░ this at a cost ░░░░░░░░ 10 billion over two ░░░░░░░░ which is the same ░░░░░░░░ that we used to ░░░░░░░░ in one month at ░░░░░░░░ height of the Iraq ░░░░░░░░ Applause So the campaign ░░░░░░░░ ISIL has been relentless ░░░░░░░░ has been sustainable It ░░░░░░░░ been multilateral And it ░░░░░░░░ a shift in how ░░░░░░░░ ve taken the fight ░░░░░░░░ terrorists everywhere from South ░░░░░░░░ to the Sahel Instead ░░░░░░░░ pushing all of the ░░░░░░░░ onto American ground troops ░░░░░░░░ of trying to mount ░░░░░░░░ wherever terrorists appear we ░░░░░░░░ built a network of ░░░░░░░░ In Libya where U ░░░░░░░░ airpower has helped local ░░░░░░░░ dislodge a dangerous ISIL ░░░░░░░░ In Mali where U ░░░░░░░░ logistics and intelligence support ░░░░░░░░ our French allies roll ░░░░░░░░ al Qaeda branches there ░░░░░░░░ Somalia where U S ░░░░░░░░ support an African Union ░░░░░░░░ force and international peacekeepers ░░░░░░░░ in Yemen where years ░░░░░░░░ targeted strikes have degraded ░░░░░░░░ Qaeda in the Peninsula ░░░░░░░░ these offensive efforts have ░░░░░░░░ a global effort to ░░░░░░░░ it harder for terrorist ░░░░░░░░ to breach our defenses ░░░░░░░░ spread their violent ideologies ░░░░░░░░ with European allies who ░░░░░░░░ suffered terrible attacks we ░░░░░░░░ strengthened intelligence sharing and ░░░░░░░░ in half the flow ░░░░░░░░ foreign fighters to ISIL ░░░░░░░░ ve worked with our ░░░░░░░░ sector to supports efforts ░░░░░░░░ push back on terrorist ░░░░░░░░ on social media that ░░░░░░░░ people to kill A ░░░░░░░░ study shows that ISIL ░░░░░░░░ propaganda has been cut ░░░░░░░░ half We ve launched ░░░░░░░░ Global Engagement Center to ░░░░░░░░ voices that are countering ░░░░░░░░ s perversion of Islam ░░░░░░░░ we re working closely ░░░░░░░░ Muslim majority partners from ░░░░░░░░ Gulf to Southeast Asia ░░░░░░░░ is your work We ░░░░░░░░ take great pride in ░░░░░░░░ progress that we ve ░░░░░░░░ over the last eight ░░░░░░░░ That s the bottom ░░░░░░░░ No foreign terrorist organization ░░░░░░░░ successfully planned and executed ░░░░░░░░ attack on our homeland ░░░░░░░░ And it s not ░░░░░░░░ they didn t try ░░░░░░░░ have been disrupted Terrorists ░░░░░░░░ been taken off the ░░░░░░░░ And we ve done ░░░░░░░░ even as we drew ░░░░░░░░ nearly 180 000 troops ░░░░░░░░ harm s way in ░░░░░░░░ and Afghanistan Today there ░░░░░░░░ just 15 000 New ░░░░░░░░ have been built We ░░░░░░░░ respected the rule of ░░░░░░░░ We ve enlisted our ░░░░░░░░ in this fight And ░░░░░░░░ of this progress is ░░░░░░░░ to the service of ░░░░░░░░ of Americans like you ░░░░░░░░ intelligence and in law ░░░░░░░░ in homeland security in ░░░░░░░░ in the armed services ░░░░░░░░ the United States of ░░░░░░░░ It s thanks to ░░░░░░░░ applause thanks to you ░░░░░░░░ to say that we ░░░░░░░░ made progress is not ░░░░░░░░ say that the job ░░░░░░░░ done We know that ░░░░░░░░ deadly threat persists We ░░░░░░░░ that in some form ░░░░░░░░ violent extremism will be ░░░░░░░░ us for years to ░░░░░░░░ In too many parts ░░░░░░░░ the world especially in ░░░░░░░░ Middle East there has ░░░░░░░░ a breakdown of order ░░░░░░░░ s been building for ░░░░░░░░ and it s unleashed ░░░░░░░░ that are going to ░░░░░░░░ a generation to resolve ░░░░░░░░ term corruption has rotted ░░░░░░░░ many nation states from ░░░░░░░░ Governance is collapsing Sectarian ░░░░░░░░ rage A changing climate ░░░░░░░░ increasing competition for food ░░░░░░░░ water Applause And false ░░░░░░░░ are peddling a vision ░░░░░░░░ Islam that is irreconcilable ░░░░░░░░ tolerance and modernity and ░░░░░░░░ science And in fact ░░░░░░░░ one of these trends ░░░░░░░░ at play inside of ░░░░░░░░ today And what complicates ░░░░░░░░ challenge even more is ░░░░░░░░ fact that for all ░░░░░░░░ our necessary focus on ░░░░░░░░ terrorists overseas the most ░░░░░░░░ attacks on the homeland ░░░░░░░░ the last eight years ░░░░░░░░ not been carried out ░░░░░░░░ operatives with sophisticated networks ░░░░░░░░ equipment directed from abroad ░░░░░░░░ ve been carried out ░░░░░░░░ homegrown and largely isolated ░░░░░░░░ who were radicalized online ░░░░░░░░ deranged killers can t ░░░░░░░░ the sort of mass ░░░░░░░░ that we saw on ░░░░░░░░ 11 but the pain ░░░░░░░░ those who lost loved ░░░░░░░░ in Boston in San ░░░░░░░░ in Fort Hood and ░░░░░░░░ that pain continues to ░░░░░░░░ day And in some ░░░░░░░░ it has stirred fear ░░░░░░░░ our populations and threatens ░░░░░░░░ change how we think ░░░░░░░░ ourselves and our lives ░░░░░░░░ while we ve made ░░░░░░░░ much more difficult you ░░░░░░░░ made it much more ░░░░░░░░ to carry out an ░░░░░░░░ approaching the scale of ░░░░░░░░ 11 the threat will ░░░░░░░░ We will not achieve ░░░░░░░░ kind of clearly defined ░░░░░░░░ comparable to those that ░░░░░░░░ won in previous wars ░░░░░░░░ nations We won t ░░░░░░░░ a scene of the ░░░░░░░░ of Japan and Douglas ░░░░░░░░ in a surrender And ░░░░░░░░ reason we won t ░░░░░░░░ that is because technology ░░░░░░░░ it impossible to completely ░░░░░░░░ impressionable minds from violent ░░░░░░░░ And somebody who is ░░░░░░░░ to kill and willing ░░░░░░░░ be killed is dangerous ░░░░░░░░ when we live in ░░░░░░░░ country where it s ░░░░░░░░ easy for that person ░░░░░░░░ buy a very powerful ░░░░░░░░ So rather than offer ░░░░░░░░ promises that we can ░░░░░░░░ terrorism by dropping more ░░░░░░░░ or deploying more and ░░░░░░░░ troops or fencing ourselves ░░░░░░░░ from the rest of ░░░░░░░░ world we have to ░░░░░░░░ a long view of ░░░░░░░░ terrorist threat and we ░░░░░░░░ to pursue a smart ░░░░░░░░ that can be sustained ░░░░░░░░ the time remaining let ░░░░░░░░ suggest what I think ░░░░░░░░ guide this approach First ░░░░░░░░ all a sustainable counterterrorism ░░░░░░░░ depends on keeping the ░░░░░░░░ in perspective The terrorist ░░░░░░░░ is real and it ░░░░░░░░ dangerous But these terrorists ░░░░░░░░ to cast themselves as ░░░░░░░░ vanguard of a new ░░░░░░░░ order They are not ░░░░░░░░ are thugs and they ░░░░░░░░ murderers and they should ░░░░░░░░ treated that way Applause ░░░░░░░░ threatened to overrun the ░░░░░░░░ world and we had ░░░░░░░░ wage total war in ░░░░░░░░ Communism threatened not only ░░░░░░░░ overturn a world order ░░░░░░░░ threatened nuclear Holocaust so ░░░░░░░░ had to build armaments ░░░░░░░░ alliances to contain it ░░░░░░░░ s terrorists can kill ░░░░░░░░ people but they don ░░░░░░░░ pose an existential threat ░░░░░░░░ our nation and we ░░░░░░░░ not make the mistake ░░░░░░░░ elevating them as if ░░░░░░░░ do That does their ░░░░░░░░ for them It makes ░░░░░░░░ more important and helps ░░░░░░░░ with recruitment A second ░░░░░░░░ related point is that ░░░░░░░░ cannot follow the path ░░░░░░░░ previous great powers who ░░░░░░░░ defeated themselves through over ░░░░░░░░ By protecting our homeland ░░░░░░░░ drawing down the number ░░░░░░░░ troops serving in harm ░░░░░░░░ way overseas we helped ░░░░░░░░ resources but more importantly ░░░░░░░░ saved lives I can ░░░░░░░░ you during the course ░░░░░░░░ my eight years that ░░░░░░░░ have never shied away ░░░░░░░░ sending men and women ░░░░░░░░ danger where necessary It ░░░░░░░░ always the hardest decision ░░░░░░░░ make but it s ░░░░░░░░ that I ve made ░░░░░░░░ the security of the ░░░░░░░░ people is at stake ░░░░░░░░ I ve seen the ░░░░░░░░ I ve held the ░░░░░░░░ of our wounded warriors ░░░░░░░░ Walter Reed I ve ░░░░░░░░ the caskets of the ░░░░░░░░ at Dover And that ░░░░░░░░ why I make no ░░░░░░░░ for only sending our ░░░░░░░░ into harm s way ░░░░░░░░ there is a clear ░░░░░░░░ that is achievable and ░░░░░░░░ it is absolutely necessary ░░░░░░░░ three we need the ░░░░░░░░ to see that upholding ░░░░░░░░ values and adhering to ░░░░░░░░ rule of law is ░░░░░░░░ a weakness in the ░░░░░░░░ term it is our ░░░░░░░░ strength Applause The whole ░░░░░░░░ of these terrorists is ░░░░░░░░ scare us into changing ░░░░░░░░ nature of who we ░░░░░░░░ and our democracy And ░░░░░░░░ fact is people and ░░░░░░░░ do not make good ░░░░░░░░ when they are driven ░░░░░░░░ fear These terrorists can ░░░░░░░░ directly destroy our way ░░░░░░░░ life but we can ░░░░░░░░ it for them if ░░░░░░░░ lose track of who ░░░░░░░░ are and the values ░░░░░░░░ this nation was founded ░░░░░░░░ Applause And I always ░░░░░░░░ myself that as Commander ░░░░░░░░ Chief I must protect ░░░░░░░░ people but I also ░░░░░░░░ an oath to defend ░░░░░░░░ Constitution And over these ░░░░░░░░ eight years we have ░░░░░░░░ that staying true to ░░░░░░░░ traditions as a nation ░░░░░░░░ laws advances our security ░░░░░░░░ well as our values ░░░░░░░░ prohibited torture everywhere at ░░░░░░░░ times and that includes ░░░░░░░░ like waterboarding And at ░░░░░░░░ time has anybody who ░░░░░░░░ worked with me told ░░░░░░░░ that doing so has ░░░░░░░░ us good intelligence Applause ░░░░░░░░ we do capture terrorists ░░░░░░░░ all the political rhetoric ░░░░░░░░ the need to strip ░░░░░░░░ of their rights our ░░░░░░░░ teams have obtained valuable ░░░░░░░░ from terrorists without resorting ░░░░░░░░ torture without operating outside ░░░░░░░░ law Our Article III ░░░░░░░░ have delivered justice faster ░░░░░░░░ military trials And our ░░░░░░░░ have proven more than ░░░░░░░░ of holding the most ░░░░░░░░ terrorists Consider the terrorists ░░░░░░░░ have been captured lawfully ░░░░░░░░ and prosecuted in civilian ░░░░░░░░ Faisal Shahzad who tried ░░░░░░░░ set off a car ░░░░░░░░ in Times Square Dzohkar ░░░░░░░░ the Boston Marathon bomber ░░░░░░░░ Farouk Abdulmutallab the so ░░░░░░░░ underwear bomber American juries ░░░░░░░░ judges have determined that ░░░░░░░░ of these people will ░░░░░░░░ freedom again But we ░░░░░░░░ it lawfully And the ░░░░░░░░ of justice right now ░░░░░░░░ turning for others terrorists ░░░░░░░░ Ahmed Warsame an al ░░░░░░░░ commander and Abu Khatalla ░░░░░░░░ leader of the Benghazi ░░░░░░░░ We can get these ░░░░░░░░ and stay true to ░░░░░░░░ we are And in ░░░░░░░░ our success in dealing ░░░░░░░░ terrorists through our justice ░░░░░░░░ reinforces why it is ░░░░░░░░ time to shut down ░░░░░░░░ detention facility at Guantanamo ░░░░░░░░ This is not just ░░░░░░░░ opinion it s the ░░░░░░░░ of many military leaders ░░░░░░░░ my administration we have ░░░░░░░░ transferred over 175 detainees ░░░░░░░░ foreign governments with safeguards ░░░░░░░░ reduce the risk of ░░░░░░░░ returning to the battlefield ░░░░░░░░ we ve cut the ░░░░░░░░ in Gitmo from 242 ░░░░░░░░ 59 The politics of ░░░░░░░░ has led Congress to ░░░░░░░░ any detainees from being ░░░░░░░░ to prisons in the ░░░░░░░░ States even though as ░░░░░░░░ speak we imprison dangerous ░░░░░░░░ in our prisons and ░░░░░░░░ have even more dangerous ░░░░░░░░ in all of our ░░░░░░░░ across the country even ░░░░░░░░ our allies oftentimes will ░░░░░░░░ turn over a terrorist ░░░░░░░░ they think that terrorist ░░░░░░░░ end up in Gitmo ░░░░░░░░ though groups like ISIL ░░░░░░░░ Gitmo in their propaganda ░░░░░░░░ we re wasting hundreds ░░░░░░░░ millions of dollars to ░░░░░░░░ fewer than 60 people ░░░░░░░░ a detention facility in ░░░░░░░░ That s not strength ░░░░░░░░ Congress changes course it ░░░░░░░░ be judged harshly by ░░░░░░░░ and I will continue ░░░░░░░░ do all that I ░░░░░░░░ to remove this blot ░░░░░░░░ our national honor Applause ░░░░░░░░ four we have to ░░░░░░░░ terrorists in a way ░░░░░░░░ does not create more ░░░░░░░░ For example in a ░░░░░░░░ world terrorists seek out ░░░░░░░░ where it s often ░░░░░░░░ to capture them or ░░░░░░░░ count on local governments ░░░░░░░░ do so And that ░░░░░░░░ the best option for ░░░░░░░░ to get those terrorists ░░░░░░░░ a targeted strike So ░░░░░░░░ have taken action under ░░░░░░░░ command including with drones ░░░░░░░░ remove terrorists from the ░░░░░░░░ which protects our troops ░░░░░░░░ has prevented real threats ░░░░░░░░ the American people Applause ░░░░░░░░ under rules that I ░░░░░░░░ in place and that ░░░░░░░░ made public before any ░░░░░░░░ is taken outside of ░░░░░░░░ warzone there must be ░░░░░░░░ certainty that no civilians ░░░░░░░░ be killed or injured ░░░░░░░░ while nothing is certain ░░░░░░░░ any strike and we ░░░░░░░░ acknowledged that there are ░░░░░░░░ instances where innocents have ░░░░░░░░ killed by our strikes ░░░░░░░░ is the highest standard ░░░░░░░░ we can set Nevertheless ░░░░░░░░ still have critics who ░░░░░░░░ that these strikes are ░░░░░░░░ And I say to ░░░░░░░░ you have to weigh ░░░░░░░░ alternatives Drone strikes allow ░░░░░░░░ to deny terrorists a ░░░░░░░░ haven without airstrikes which ░░░░░░░░ less precise or invasions ░░░░░░░░ are much more likely ░░░░░░░░ kill innocent civilians as ░░░░░░░░ as American servicemembers So ░░░░░░░░ actions that we ve ░░░░░░░░ have saved lives at ░░░░░░░░ and abroad But the ░░░░░░░░ is is that we ░░░░░░░░ have to be careful ░░░░░░░░ make sure that when ░░░░░░░░ take actions we re ░░░░░░░░ alienating local populations because ░░░░░░░░ will serve as recruitment ░░░░░░░░ new terrorists Number five ░░░░░░░░ and accountability serve our ░░░░░░░░ security not just in ░░░░░░░░ of peace but more ░░░░░░░░ in times of conflict ░░░░░░░░ that s why we ░░░░░░░░ made public information about ░░░░░░░░ terrorist organizations we re ░░░░░░░░ and why we re ░░░░░░░░ them We ve released ░░░░░░░░ of non combatants killed ░░░░░░░░ our operations taken responsibility ░░░░░░░░ mistakes are made We ░░░░░░░░ declassified information about interrogation ░░░░░░░░ that were wrong so ░░░░░░░░ learn from past mistakes ░░░░░░░░ yesterday I directed our ░░░░░░░░ for the first time ░░░░░░░░ release a full description ░░░░░░░░ the legal and policy ░░░░░░░░ that guide our military ░░░░░░░░ around the world This ░░░░░░░░ information allows for a ░░░░░░░░ informed public debate and ░░░░░░░░ provides a potential check ░░░░░░░░ unfettered executive power The ░░░░░░░░ of the presidency is ░░░░░░░░ but it is supposed ░░░░░░░░ be bound by you ░░░░░░░░ citizens Applause But here ░░░░░░░░ the thing That information ░░░░░░░░ t mean anything it ░░░░░░░░ t work if the ░░░░░░░░ s representatives in Congress ░░░░░░░░ t do their jobs ░░░░░░░░ they re not paying ░░░░░░░░ Applause Right now we ░░░░░░░░ waging war under authorities ░░░░░░░░ by Congress over 15 ░░░░░░░░ ago 15 years ago ░░░░░░░░ had no gray hair ░░░░░░░░ years ago Laughter Two ░░░░░░░░ ago I asked Congress ░░░░░░░░ s update the authorization ░░░░░░░░ us a new authorization ░░░░░░░░ the war against ISIL ░░░░░░░░ the changing nature of ░░░░░░░░ threats reflecting the lessons ░░░░░░░░ we ve learned from ░░░░░░░░ last decade So far ░░░░░░░░ has refused to take ░░░░░░░░ vote Democracies should not ░░░░░░░░ in a state of ░░░░░░░░ authorized war Applause That ░░░░░░░░ not good for our ░░░░░░░░ it s not good ░░░░░░░░ our democracy And by ░░░░░░░░ way part of the ░░░░░░░░ that s dangerous is ░░░░░░░░ today with our outstanding ░░░░░░░░ volunteer force only one ░░░░░░░░ of the population is ░░░░░░░░ fighting Applause Which means ░░░░░░░░ you are carrying the ░░░░░░░░ Which means that it ░░░░░░░░ important for us to ░░░░░░░░ what it is that ░░░░░░░░ re doing and have ░░░░░░░░ explain what we are ░░░░░░░░ to the public because ░░░░░░░░ becomes too easy to ░░░░░░░░ send one percent of ░░░░░░░░ population out to do ░░░░░░░░ even if they re ░░░░░░░░ well thought through If ░░░░░░░░ threat is serious enough ░░░░░░░░ require the sacrifice of ░░░░░░░░ men and women in ░░░░░░░░ then members of Congress ░░░░░░░░ at least have the ░░░░░░░░ to make clear where ░░░░░░░░ stand not on the ░░░░░░░░ applause not on cable ░░░░░░░░ shows but by fulfilling ░░░░░░░░ constitutional duty and authorizing ░░░░░░░░ use of force against ░░░░░░░░ threats that we face ░░░░░░░░ That s how democracies ░░░░░░░░ supposed to work Number ░░░░░░░░ alongside our outstanding military ░░░░░░░░ we have to draw ░░░░░░░░ the strength of our ░░░░░░░░ Terrorists would love to ░░░░░░░░ us walk away from ░░░░░░░░ type of work that ░░░░░░░░ international coalitions and ends ░░░░░░░░ and stops the spread ░░░░░░░░ deadly weapons It would ░░░░░░░░ life easier for them ░░░░░░░░ would be a tragic ░░░░░░░░ for us Just think ░░░░░░░░ what we ve done ░░░░░░░░ last eight years without ░░░░░░░░ a shot We ve ░░░░░░░░ back Iran s nuclear ░░░░░░░░ That s not just ░░░░░░░░ assessment that s the ░░░░░░░░ of Israeli intelligence even ░░░░░░░░ they were opposed to ░░░░░░░░ deal We ve secured ░░░░░░░░ materials around the globe ░░░░░░░░ the risk that they ░░░░░░░░ into the hands of ░░░░░░░░ We ve eliminated Syria ░░░░░░░░ declared chemical weapons program ░░░░░░░░ of these steps have ░░░░░░░░ keep us safe and ░░░░░░░░ keep our troops safe ░░░░░░░░ are the result of ░░░░░░░░ And sustained diplomatic efforts ░░░░░░░░ matter how frustrating or ░░░░░░░░ they sometimes appear are ░░░░░░░░ to be required to ░░░░░░░░ the conflicts roiling the ░░░░░░░░ Middle East from Yemen ░░░░░░░░ Syria to Israel and ░░░░░░░░ And if we don ░░░░░░░░ have strong efforts there ░░░░░░░░ more you will be ░░░░░░░░ upon to clean up ░░░░░░░░ the failure of diplomacy ░░░░░░░░ any long term strategy ░░░░░░░░ reduce the threat of ░░░░░░░░ depends on investments that ░░░░░░░░ some of these fragile ░░░░░░░░ Our generals our commanders ░░░░░░░░ this This is not ░░░░░░░░ It s fundamental to ░░░░░░░░ national security A dollar ░░░░░░░░ on development is worth ░░░░░░░░ lot more than a ░░░░░░░░ spent fighting a war ░░░░░░░░ This is how we ░░░░░░░░ conflicts from starting in ░░░░░░░░ first place This is ░░░░░░░░ we can ensure that ░░░░░░░░ is lasting after we ░░░░░░░░ fought It s how ░░░░░░░░ stop people from falling ░░░░░░░░ to extremism because children ░░░░░░░░ going to school and ░░░░░░░░ can think for themselves ░░░░░░░░ families can feed themselves ░░░░░░░░ aren t desperate and ░░░░░░░░ are not ravaged by ░░░░░░░░ and countries are not ░░░░░░░░ by climate changes As ░░░░░░░░ we have to see ░░░░░░░░ value of empowering civil ░░░░░░░░ so that there are ░░░░░░░░ for people s frustrations ░░░░░░░░ we have to support ░░░░░░░░ who want to build ░░░░░░░░ instead of destroying We ░░░░░░░░ to invest in young ░░░░░░░░ because the areas that ░░░░░░░░ generating terrorists are typically ░░░░░░░░ a huge youth bulge ░░░░░░░░ makes them more dangerous ░░░░░░░░ there are times where ░░░░░░░░ need to help refugees ░░░░░░░░ have escaped the horrors ░░░░░░░░ war in search of ░░░░░░░░ better life Applause Our ░░░░░░░░ recognizes that these issues ░░░░░░░░ governance and human dignity ░░░░░░░░ development are vital to ░░░░░░░░ security It s central ░░░░░░░░ our plans in places ░░░░░░░░ Afghanistan and Iraq Let ░░░░░░░░ make sure that this ░░░░░░░░ is reflected in our ░░░░░░░░ as well And finally ░░░░░░░░ this fight we have ░░░░░░░░ uphold the civil liberties ░░░░░░░░ define us Terrorists want ░░░░░░░░ to turn on one ░░░░░░░░ And while defeating them ░░░░░░░░ us to draw upon ░░░░░░░░ enormous capabilities of all ░░░░░░░░ our government we have ░░░░░░░░ sure changes in how ░░░░░░░░ address terrorists are not ░░░░░░░░ This is why for ░░░░░░░░ we ve made extensive ░░░░░░░░ in how we gather ░░░░░░░░ around the world increasing ░░░░░░░░ placing new restrictions on ░░░░░░░░ government s ability to ░░░░░░░░ and search and use ░░░░░░░░ communications so that people ░░░░░░░░ us and that way ░░░░░░░░ cooperate and work with ░░░░░░░░ We don t use ░░░░░░░░ power to indiscriminately read ░░░░░░░░ or listen to phone ░░░░░░░░ just targeted at folks ░░░░░░░░ might be trying to ░░░░░░░░ us harm We use ░░░░░░░░ to save lives And ░░░░░░░░ doing so by maintaining ░░░░░░░░ civil liberties we sustain ░░░░░░░░ confidence of the American ░░░░░░░░ and we get the ░░░░░░░░ of our allies more ░░░░░░░░ Protecting liberty that s ░░░░░░░░ we do for all ░░░░░░░░ and not just some ░░░░░░░░ We are fighting terrorists ░░░░░░░░ claim to fight on ░░░░░░░░ of Islam But they ░░░░░░░░ not speak for over ░░░░░░░░ billion Muslims around the ░░░░░░░░ and they do not ░░░░░░░░ for American Muslims including ░░░░░░░░ who wear the uniform ░░░░░░░░ the United States of ░░░░░░░░ s military Applause If ░░░░░░░░ stigmatize good patriotic Muslims ░░░░░░░░ just feeds the terrorists ░░░░░░░░ It fuels the same ░░░░░░░░ grievances that they use ░░░░░░░░ motivate people to kill ░░░░░░░░ we act like this ░░░░░░░░ a war between the ░░░░░░░░ States and Islam we ░░░░░░░░ not just going to ░░░░░░░░ more Americans to terrorist ░░░░░░░░ but we ll also ░░░░░░░░ sight of the very ░░░░░░░░ we claim to defend ░░░░░░░░ let my final words ░░░░░░░░ you as your Commander ░░░░░░░░ Chief be a reminder ░░░░░░░░ what it is that ░░░░░░░░ re fighting for what ░░░░░░░░ is that we are ░░░░░░░░ for the United States ░░░░░░░░ America is not a ░░░░░░░░ that imposes religious tests ░░░░░░░░ a price for freedom ░░░░░░░░ re a country that ░░░░░░░░ founded so that people ░░░░░░░░ practice their faiths as ░░░░░░░░ choose the United States ░░░░░░░░ America is not a ░░░░░░░░ where some citizens have ░░░░░░░░ withstand greater scrutiny or ░░░░░░░░ a special ID card ░░░░░░░░ prove that they re ░░░░░░░░ an enemy from within ░░░░░░░░ re a country that ░░░░░░░░ bled and struggled and ░░░░░░░░ against that kind of ░░░░░░░░ and arbitrary rule here ░░░░░░░░ our own country and ░░░░░░░░ the world We re ░░░░░░░░ nation that believes freedom ░░░░░░░░ never be taken for ░░░░░░░░ and that each of ░░░░░░░░ has a responsibility to ░░░░░░░░ it The universal right ░░░░░░░░ speak your mind and ░░░░░░░░ protest against authority to ░░░░░░░░ in a society that ░░░░░░░░ open and free that ░░░░░░░░ criticize a President without ░░░░░░░░ applause a country where ░░░░░░░░ re judged by the ░░░░░░░░ of your character rather ░░░░░░░░ what you look like ░░░░░░░░ how you worship or ░░░░░░░░ your last name is ░░░░░░░░ where your family came ░░░░░░░░ that s what separates ░░░░░░░░ from tyrants and terrorists ░░░░░░░░ are a nation that ░░░░░░░░ for the rule of ░░░░░░░░ and strengthen the laws ░░░░░░░░ war When the Nazis ░░░░░░░░ defeated we put them ░░░░░░░░ trial Some couldn t ░░░░░░░░ that it had never ░░░░░░░░ before But as one ░░░░░░░░ the American lawyers who ░░░░░░░░ at Nuremberg says I ░░░░░░░░ trying to prove that ░░░░░░░░ rule of law should ░░░░░░░░ human behavior And by ░░░░░░░░ so we broadened the ░░░░░░░░ and reach of justice ░░░░░░░░ the world We held ░░░░░░░░ out as a beacon ░░░░░░░░ an example for others ░░░░░░░░ are a nation that ░░░░░░░░ World Wars without grabbing ░░░░░░░░ resources of those we ░░░░░░░░ We helped them rebuild ░░░░░░░░ didn t hold on ░░░░░░░░ territory other than the ░░░░░░░░ where we buried our ░░░░░░░░ Our Greatest Generation fought ░░░░░░░░ bled and died to ░░░░░░░░ an international order of ░░░░░░░░ and institutions that could ░░░░░░░░ the peace and extend ░░░░░░░░ and promote cooperation among ░░░░░░░░ And for all of ░░░░░░░░ imperfections we depend on ░░░░░░░░ international order to protect ░░░░░░░░ own freedom In other ░░░░░░░░ we are a nation ░░░░░░░░ at our best has ░░░░░░░░ defined by hope and ░░░░░░░░ fear A country that ░░░░░░░░ through the crucible of ░░░░░░░░ Civil War to offer ░░░░░░░░ new birth of freedom ░░░░░░░░ stormed the beaches of ░░░░░░░░ climbed the hills of ░░░░░░░░ Jima that saw ordinary ░░░░░░░░ mobilize to extend the ░░░░░░░░ of civil rights That ░░░░░░░░ who we are That ░░░░░░░░ what makes us stronger ░░░░░░░░ any act of terror ░░░░░░░░ that history Remember what ░░░░░░░░ flag stands for For ░░░░░░░░ depend upon you the ░░░░░░░░ to that legacy our ░░░░░░░░ and women in uniform ░░░░░░░░ the citizens who support ░░░░░░░░ to carry forward what ░░░░░░░░ best in us that ░░░░░░░░ to a common creed ░░░░░░░░ confidence that right makes ░░░░░░░░ not the other way ░░░░░░░░ Applause That s how ░░░░░░░░ can sustain this long ░░░░░░░░ That s how we ░░░░░░░░ protect this country That ░░░░░░░░ how we ll protect ░░░░░░░░ Constitution against all threats ░░░░░░░░ and domestic I trust ░░░░░░░░ you will fulfill that ░░░░░░░░ as you have fulfilled ░░░░░░░░ others It has been ░░░░░░░░ greatest honor of my ░░░░░░░░ to serve as your ░░░░░░░░ in Chief I thank ░░░░░░░░ for all that you ░░░░░░░░ done and all that ░░░░░░░░ will do in the ░░░░░░░░ May God bless you ░░░░░░░░ God bless our troops ░░░░░░░░ may God bless the ░░░░░░░░ States of America. (Applause.)