English subtitles for clip: File:President Biden Delivers Remarks on a Successful Counterterrorism Operation (Mtw D4dltLQ).webm

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The President: Good morning.

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Last night,
operating on my orders,

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United States military
forces successfully removed

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a major terrorist
threat to the world:

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the global leader of ISIS,
known as Hajji Abdullah.

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He took over as the leader
of ISIS in 2019

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after the United States
counterterrorism operation

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killed al-Baghdadi.

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Since then, ISIS has directed
terrorist operations

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targeting Americans,
our Allies and our partners,

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and countless civilians
in the Middle East, Africa,

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and in South Asia.

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Hajji Abdullah oversaw
the spread

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of ISIS-affiliated
terrorist groups

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around the world
after savaging communities

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and murdering innocents.

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He was responsible
for the recent brutal attack

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on a prison in northeast Syria
holding ISIS fighters,

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which was swiftly addressed
by our brave partners

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in the Syrian
Democratic Forces.

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He was the driving force
behind the genocide

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of the Yazidi people
in northwestern Iraq

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in 2014.
We all remember the 

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gut-wrenching stories:
mass slaughters

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that wiped out
entire villages,

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thousands of women and young
girls sold into slavery,

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rape used as a weapon of war.

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And thanks to the bravery
of our troops,

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this horrible terrorist leader
is no more.

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Our forces carried out
the operation

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with their signature
preparation and precision,

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and I directed
the Department of Defense

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to take every precaution

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possible to minimize
civilian casualties.

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Knowing that this terrorist
had chosen to surround himself

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with families,
including children,

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we made a choice
to pursue a special forces raid,

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at a much greater risk
than our -- to our own people,

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rather than targeting him
with an air strike.

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We made this choice
to minimize civilian casualties.

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Our team is still compiling
their report,

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but we do know
that as our troops approached

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to capture the terrorist,

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in a final act of desperate
cowardice, he --

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with no regard to the lives
of his own family

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or others in the building,

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he chose to blow himself up --
not just with a vest,

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but to blow up that third floor
rather than face justice

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for the crimes he has committed,

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taking several members
of his family with him

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just as his predecessor did.

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I'm grateful for the immense
courage

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and skill and determination
of our U.S. forces

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who skillfully executed this
incredibly challenging mission.

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The members of our military

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are the solid-steel backbone
of this nation,

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ready to fly into danger
at a moment's notice

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to keep our country
and the American people safe,

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as well as our Allies.

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And I'm also grateful to the
families of our service members.

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You serve right
alongside your --

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these soldiers and sailors,
Marines, special forces --

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the loved ones, giving them
the strength and support

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they need to do what they do.

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To our service members
and their families:

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We are forever grateful
for the -- what you do for us,

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and we owe you a debt.
Thank you.

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We're also aided by
the essential partnership

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of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

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I want to commend our dedicated
intelligence community,

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the Department of Defense,

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and members of our national
security team

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throughout the government

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whose meticulous
and tireless work

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over the course of many months

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ensured that this
mission succeeded.

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This operation is testament
to America's reach

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and capability
to take out terrorist threats

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no matter where they try to
hide anywhere in the world.

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I'm determined to protect
the American people

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from terrorist threats,

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and I will take decisive action
to protect this country.

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And we'll continue working with
our close allies and partners --

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the Syrian Democratic Forces;
the Iraqi Security Forces,

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including the Kurdish Peshmerga;

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and the more than 80 members
of the global coalition --

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to keep pressure on ISIS,
to protect our homeland.

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We remain vigilant.
We remain prepared.

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Last night's operation
took a major terrorist leader

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off the battlefield.

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And it sent a strong message
to terrorists around the world:

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We will come after you
and find you.

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Once again, today, we continue
our unceasing effort

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to keep the American people safe

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and to strengthen
the security of our Allies

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and partners around the world.

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I want to thank you all.
And may God bless you.

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And may God protect our troops.

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I'm heading off to New York
right now; I'm late.

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And I thank you for your time.
Appreciate it.