English subtitles for clip: File:2011-12-17 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv

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The President:
This week marked a historic
moment in the life of our

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country and our military.

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For nearly nine years, our
nation has been at war in Iraq.

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More than 1.5 million Americans
have served there with honor,

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skill, and bravery.

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Tens of thousands
have been wounded.

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Military families have
sacrificed greatly --

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none more so than the families
of those nearly 4,500 Americans

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who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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All of them -- our troops,
veterans, and their families --

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will always have the thanks
of a grateful nation.

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On Thursday, the colors our
Armed Forces fought under in

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Iraq were formally cased in
a ceremony in Baghdad before

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beginning their
journey back home.

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Our troops are now preparing to
make their final march across

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the border and out
of the country.

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Iraq's future will be in
the hands of its own people.

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Our war there will be over.

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All of our troops
will be out of Iraq.

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And this holiday season,
all of us can finally say:

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welcome home.

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This is an extraordinary
achievement --

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one made possible by the hard
work and sacrifice of the men

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and women who had
the courage to serve.

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And there's a lesson
to learn from that --

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a lesson about our
character as a nation.

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See, there's a reason our
military is the most respected

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institution in America.

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They don't see themselves or
each other as Democrats first or

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Republicans first.

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They see themselves
as Americans first.

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For all of our differences,
all of our disagreements,

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they remind us that we are all
a part of something bigger;

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that we are one
nation and one people.

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And for all our challenges, they
remind us that there is nothing

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we can't do when
we stick together.

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They're the finest our
nation has to offer.

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Many will remain in the military
and go on to the next mission.

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Others will take off the
uniform and become veterans.

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But their commitment to service
doesn't end when they take off

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the uniform -- in fact, I'm
confident the story of their

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service to America
is just beginning.

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After years of rebuilding
Iraq, it's time to enlist our

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veterans and all our people in
the work of rebuilding America.

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Folks like my grandfather came
back from World War II to form

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the backbone of the largest
middle class in history.

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And today's generation
of veterans --

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the 9/11 Generation
of veterans --

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is armed with the
skills, discipline,

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and leadership to attack the
defining challenge of our time:

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rebuilding an economy
where hard work pays off,

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responsibility is rewarded, and
anyone can make it if they try.

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Now it is up to us to serve
these brave men and women as

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well as they serve us.

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Every day, they meet their
responsibilities to their

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families and their country.

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Now it's time to meet ours --
especially those of us who you

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sent to serve in Washington.

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This cannot be a country where
division and discord stand in

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the way of our progress.

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This is a moment where we must
come together to ensure that

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every American has the chance
to work for a decent living,

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own their own home, send
their kids to college,

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and secure a decent retirement.

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This is a moment for us to build
a country that lives up to the

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ideals that so many of our
bravest Americans have fought

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and even died for.

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That's our highest
obligation as citizens.

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That is the welcome home
that our troops deserve.

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Thanks.