WEBVTT 00:00:07.014 --> 00:00:11.912 Tonight, I'd like to update the American people on the international effort 00:00:11.912 --> 00:00:21.037 that we have led in Libya. What we have done, what we plan to do, and why this matters to us. 00:00:21.037 --> 00:00:29.655 I want to begin by paying tribute to our men and women in uniform who once again have acted with courage, 00:00:29.655 --> 00:00:38.014 professionalism, and patriotism. They have moved with incredible speed and strength. 00:00:38.014 --> 00:00:45.112 Because of them, and our dedicated diplomats, a coalition has been forged and countless lives have been 00:00:45.112 --> 00:00:55.879 saved. Meanwhile, as we speak, our troops our supporting our ally Japan, leaving Iraq to its people, 00:00:55.879 --> 00:01:03.948 stopping the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, and going after al-Qaeda all across the globe. 00:01:03.948 --> 00:01:12.520 As Commander in Chief I am grateful to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, Coast Guardsmen and 00:01:12.520 --> 00:01:19.865 to their families, and I know all Americans share in that sentiment. 00:01:19.865 --> 00:01:28.400 For generations, the United States of America has played a unique role as an anchor of global security 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:35.202 and as advocate for human freedom. Mindful of the risks and costs of military action 00:01:35.202 --> 00:01:41.998 we are naturally reluctant to use force to solve the world's many challenges. 00:01:41.998 --> 00:01:50.104 But when our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act. 00:01:50.104 --> 00:01:55.850 That's what happened in Libya over the course of these last six weeks. 00:01:55.850 --> 00:02:04.294 Libya sits directly between Tunisia and Egypt: two nations that inspired the world when their people 00:02:04.294 --> 00:02:10.821 rose up to take control of their own destiny. For more than four decades 00:02:10.821 --> 00:02:16.836 the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant, Muamar Ghadaffi. 00:02:16.836 --> 00:02:24.010 He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, 00:02:24.010 --> 00:02:29.513 and terrorized innocent people around the world, including Americans who were killed 00:02:29.513 --> 00:02:35.970 by Libyan agents. Last month Ghadaffi's grip of fear appeared to give way 00:02:35.970 --> 00:02:51.089 to the promise of freedom. In cities and towns across the country Libyans took to the streets 00:02:51.089 --> 00:02:53.033 to claim their basic human rights. As one Libyan said, 00:02:53.033 --> 00:02:57.540 "For the first time we finally have hope that our nightmare of forty years will soon be over." 00:02:57.540 --> 00:03:03.293 Faced with this opposition, Ghadaffi began attacking his people. As President, my immediate 00:03:03.293 --> 00:03:08.152 concern was the safety of our citizens, so we evacuated our embassy and 00:03:08.152 --> 00:03:14.351 all Americans who sought our assistance. When we took a series of swift 00:03:14.351 --> 00:03:24.201 steps in a matter of days to answer Ghadaffi's aggression, we froze more than 33 billion dollars 00:03:24.201 --> 00:03:30.489 of Ghadaffi's regime's assets. Joining with other nations of the United Nations Security Council 00:03:30.489 --> 00:03:35.249 we broadened our sanctions, imposed an arms embargo, 00:03:35.249 --> 00:03:41.588 and enabled Ghadaffi and those around him to be held accountable for their crimes. 00:03:41.588 --> 00:03:48.206 I made it clear that Ghadaffi had lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to lead, and 00:03:48.206 --> 00:03:57.018 I said that he needed to step down from power. In the face of the world's condemnation, Ghadaffi chose 00:03:57.018 --> 00:04:04.109 to escalate his attacks, launching a military campaign against the Libyan people. 00:04:04.109 --> 00:04:11.081 Innocent people were targeted for killing; hospitals and amublances were attacked. 00:04:11.081 --> 00:04:17.799 Journalists were arrested, sexually assaulted, and killed. Supplies of food and fuel 00:04:17.799 --> 00:04:26.310 were choked off. Water for hundreds of thousands of people in Misrata was shut off. 00:04:26.310 --> 00:04:33.672 Cities and towns were shelled, mosques were destroyed, and apartment buildings reduced to rubble. 00:04:33.672 --> 00:04:38.430 Military jets and helicopters, gunships were all unleashed on people 00:04:38.430 --> 00:04:44.320 who had no means to defend themselves against attacks from the air. 00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:50.017 Confronted by this brutal repression, and a looming humanitarian crisis, 00:04:50.017 --> 00:04:53.693 I ordered worships in the Mediterranean. 00:04:53.693 --> 00:04:58.890 European allies declared their willingness to commit resources to stop the killing. 00:04:58.890 --> 00:05:06.573 The Libyan opposition and the Arab League appealed to the world to save lives in Libya. 00:05:06.573 --> 00:05:12.657 And so at my direction, America led an effort, with our allies at the United Nations Security Council, 00:05:12.657 --> 00:05:17.347 to pass a historic resolution that authorized a no-fly zone to stop 00:05:17.347 --> 00:05:22.833 the regime's attacks from the air and further authorized all necessary measures 00:05:22.833 --> 00:05:27.378 to protect the Libyan people. 00:05:27.378 --> 00:05:33.230 Ten days ago, having tried to end the violence without using force, 00:05:33.230 --> 00:05:37.316 the international community offered Ghadaffi a final chance to stop 00:05:37.316 --> 00:05:42.889 his campaign of killing or face the consequences. 00:05:42.889 --> 00:05:50.030 Rather than stand down, his forces continued their advance, bearing down on the city of Benghazi. 00:05:50.030 --> 00:05:59.157 Home to nearly 700,000 men, women, and children who sought their freedom from fear. 00:05:59.157 --> 00:06:04.312 At this point, the United States and the world faced a choice. 00:06:04.312 --> 00:06:11.426 Ghadaffi declared he would show no mercy to his own people. 00:06:11.426 --> 00:06:16.516 He compared them to rats and threatened to go door to door to inflict punishment. 00:06:16.516 --> 00:06:21.574 In the past we had seen him hang civilians in the streets and kill over a thousand 00:06:21.574 --> 00:06:24.917 people in a single day. 00:06:24.917 --> 00:06:31.086 Now we saw on regime forces on the outskirts of the city. 00:06:31.086 --> 00:06:39.105 We knew that if we wanted -- if we waited one more day, Benghazi, a city nearly 00:06:39.105 --> 00:06:47.092 the size of Charlotte, could have suffered a massacre that would have reverberated 00:06:47.092 --> 00:06:50.262 across the region and stained the conscience of the world. 00:06:50.262 --> 00:06:55.283 It was not in our national interests to let that happen. 00:06:55.283 --> 00:06:59.167 I refused to let that happen. 00:06:59.167 --> 00:07:04.494 And so nine days ago, after consulting the bipartisan leadership of Congress, 00:07:04.494 --> 00:07:13.261 I authorized military action to stop the killing and enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973. 00:07:13.261 --> 00:07:19.577 We struck regime forces approaching Benghazi to save that city and the people within it. 00:07:19.577 --> 00:07:28.331 We hit Ghadaffi's troops in nearby Adjabiya, allowing the opposition to drive them out. 00:07:28.331 --> 00:07:32.394 We hit Ghadaffi's air defences, which paved the way for a no-fly zone. 00:07:32.394 --> 00:07:36.481 We targeted tanks and military assets that had been choking off towns and cities, 00:07:36.481 --> 00:07:41.520 and we cut off much of their source of supply. 00:07:41.520 --> 00:07:47.275 And tonight, I can report that we have stopped Ghadaffi's deadly advance. 00:07:47.275 --> 00:07:52.085 In this effort, the United States has not acted alone. 00:07:52.085 --> 00:07:57.324 Instead, we have been joined by a strong and growing coalition. 00:07:57.324 --> 00:08:04.380 This includes our closest allies, nations like: the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Denmark, 00:08:04.380 --> 00:08:15.401 Norway, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey. All of whom have fought by our sides for decades. 00:08:15.401 --> 00:08:21.063 And it includes Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, 00:08:21.063 --> 00:08:27.816 who have chosen to meet their responsibilities to defend the Libyan people. 00:08:27.816 --> 00:08:34.392 To summarize them, in just one month the United States has worked with our international partners 00:08:34.392 --> 00:08:41.451 to mobilize a broad coalition, secure an international mandate to protect civilians, 00:08:41.451 --> 00:08:48.718 stop an advancing army, prevent a massacre, and establish a no-fly zone with our allies 00:08:48.718 --> 00:08:51.217 and partners. 00:08:51.217 --> 00:08:56.845 To lend some perspective on how rapidly this military and diplomatic response came together, 00:08:56.845 --> 00:09:03.717 when people were being brutalized in Bosnia in the 1990s, it took the international community 00:09:03.717 --> 00:09:09.338 more than a year to intervene with airpower to protect civilians. 00:09:09.338 --> 00:09:13.308 It took us thirty-one days. 00:09:13.308 --> 00:09:17.569 Moreover, we've accomplished these objectives consistent with the pledge that I made 00:09:17.569 --> 00:09:22.736 to the American people at the outset of our military operations. 00:09:22.736 --> 00:09:29.224 I said that America's role would be limited and that we would not put ground troops into Libya. 00:09:29.224 --> 00:09:34.210 That we would focus our unique capabilities on the front end of the operation and that we would 00:09:34.210 --> 00:09:42.542 transfer responsibility to our allies and partners. Tonight we are fulfilling that pledge. 00:09:42.542 --> 00:09:49.793 Our most effective alliance, NATO, has taken command of the enforcement of the arms embargo 00:09:49.793 --> 00:09:51.087 and the no-fly zone. 00:09:51.087 --> 00:09:55.638 Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting 00:09:55.638 --> 00:10:04.392 Libyan civilians. This transfer from the United States to NATO will take place on Wednesday. 00:10:04.392 --> 00:10:12.046 Going forward, the lead in enforcing the no-fly zone and protecting civilians on the ground 00:10:12.046 --> 00:10:14.539 will transition to our allies and partners, 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:19.652 and I am fully confident that our coalition will keep the pressure on Ghadaffi's remaining forces. 00:10:19.652 --> 00:10:25.267 In that effort, the United States will play a supporting role including intelligence, 00:10:25.267 --> 00:10:33.630 logistical support, search and rescue assistance, and capabitilies to jam regime communications. 00:10:33.630 --> 00:10:39.988 Because of this transition to a broader, NATO-based coalition, the risk and costs 00:10:39.988 --> 00:10:49.595 of this operation to our military and to American taxpayers will be reduced significantly. 00:10:49.595 --> 00:10:55.267 So for those who doubted our capacity to carry out this operation, I want to be clear: 00:10:55.267 --> 00:11:01.885 the United States of America has done what we said we would do. 00:11:01.885 --> 00:11:07.926 That's not to say that our work is complete. In addition to our NATO responsibilities, 00:11:07.926 --> 00:11:13.100 we will work with the international community to provide assistance to the people of Libya: 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:18.394 to provide food to the hungry and medical care for the wounded. 00:11:18.394 --> 00:11:24.222 We will safeguard the more than 33 Billion dollars that was frozen from the Ghadaffi regime 00:11:24.222 --> 00:11:30.213 so that it's available to rebuild Libya. Afterall, the money doesn't belong to Ghadaffi or to us. 00:11:30.213 --> 00:11:36.559 It belongs to the Libyan people, and we'll make sure they receive it. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:40.848 Tomorrow Secretary Clinton will go to London, where she will meet with the Libyan opposition and 00:11:40.848 --> 00:11:45.004 consult with more than thirty nations. 00:11:45.004 --> 00:11:48.467 These discussions will focus on what kind of political effort is necessary to 00:11:48.467 --> 00:11:56.235 pressure Ghadaffi while also supporting a transition to the future that the Libyan people deserve. 00:11:56.235 --> 00:12:01.390 Because while our military position is narrowly focused on saving lives, 00:12:01.390 --> 00:12:07.136 we can continue to pursue a broader goal of a Libya that belongs not to a dictator 00:12:07.136 --> 00:12:11.150 but to its people. 00:12:11.150 --> 00:12:17.001 Now, despite the success of our efforts over the past week, I know that some Americans 00:12:17.001 --> 00:12:20.270 continue to have questions about our efforts in Libya. 00:12:20.270 --> 00:12:28.077 Ghadaffi has not yet stepped down from power and until he does Libya will remain dangerous. 00:12:28.077 --> 00:12:34.037 Moreover, even after Ghadaffi does leave power, forty years of tyranny has left Libya 00:12:34.037 --> 00:12:38.347 fractured and without strong civil institutions. 00:12:38.347 --> 00:12:42.565 The transition to a legitimate government that is responsive to the Libyan people 00:12:42.565 --> 00:12:49.904 will be a difficult task, and while the United States will do our part to help, it will be a task 00:12:49.904 --> 00:12:58.276 for the international community, and more importantly a task for the Libyan people themselves. 00:12:58.276 --> 00:13:05.713 In fact, much of the debate in Washington has put forward a false choice when it comes to Libya. 00:13:05.713 --> 00:13:11.940 On the one hand, some question why America should intervene at all, even in limited ways 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:14.494 in this distant land. 00:13:14.494 --> 00:13:17.327 They argue that there are many places in the world where innocent civilans 00:13:17.327 --> 00:13:23.452 face brutal violence at the hands of their government and America should not be expected 00:13:23.452 --> 00:13:30.701 to police the world, particularly when we have so many pressing needs here at home. 00:13:30.701 --> 00:13:37.389 It's true that America can not use our military wherever oppression occurs. 00:13:37.389 --> 00:13:43.466 And given the costs and risks of intervention, we must always measure our interests against the 00:13:43.466 --> 00:13:52.923 need for action, but that can not be an argument for never acting on behalf of what's right. 00:13:52.923 --> 00:13:59.557 In this particular country -- Libya -- at this particular moment, we were faced with the 00:13:59.557 --> 00:14:04.501 prospect of violence on a horrific scale. 00:14:04.501 --> 00:14:10.617 We had a unique ability to stop that violence: an international mandate for action, 00:14:10.617 --> 00:14:18.674 a broad coalition prepared to join us, the support of Arab countries, and a plea for help 00:14:18.674 --> 00:14:22.197 from the Libyan people themselves. 00:14:22.197 --> 00:14:27.345 We also had the ability to stop Ghadaffi's forces in their tracks without putting American 00:14:27.345 --> 00:14:31.021 troops on the ground. 00:14:31.021 --> 00:14:37.486 To brush aside America's responsibility as a leader, and more profoundly our responsiblities 00:14:37.486 --> 00:14:42.380 to fellow human beings under such circumstances, would have been a betrayal 00:14:42.380 --> 00:14:45.725 of who we are. 00:14:45.725 --> 00:14:51.786 Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. 00:14:51.786 --> 00:14:56.620 The United States of America is different, and as President I refuse to wait for the images of 00:14:56.620 --> 00:15:04.371 slaughter and mass graves before taking action. 00:15:04.371 --> 00:15:09.572 Moreover, America has a strategic interest in preventing Ghadaffi from overruning those 00:15:09.572 --> 00:15:12.405 who oppose him. 00:15:12.405 --> 00:15:18.280 A massacre would have driven thousands of additional refugee -- refugees across Libya's borders, 00:15:18.280 --> 00:15:25.887 putting enormous strains on the peaceful yet fragile transitions in Egypt and Tunisia. 00:15:25.887 --> 00:15:31.034 The democratic impulses that are dawning across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest 00:15:31.034 --> 00:15:40.077 form of dictatorship as repressive leaders concluded that violence is the best strategy to cling to power. 00:15:40.077 --> 00:15:44.866 The writ of the United Nations Security Council would have been shown to be little more 00:15:44.866 --> 00:15:53.713 than empty words, crippling that institution's future credibility to uphold global peace and security. 00:15:53.713 --> 00:16:01.236 So while I will never minimize the costs involved in miltiary action, I am convinced that a failure 00:16:01.236 --> 00:16:08.372 to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America. 00:16:08.372 --> 00:16:14.618 Now, just as there are those who have argued against intervention in Libya, there are others 00:16:14.618 --> 00:16:21.168 who've suggested we broaden our military mission beyond the task of protecting the Libyan people 00:16:21.168 --> 00:16:28.386 and do whatever it takes to bring down Ghadaffi and usher in a new government. 00:16:28.386 --> 00:16:32.358 Of course, there is no question that Libya and the world would be 00:16:32.358 --> 00:16:36.229 better off with Ghadaffi out of power. 00:16:36.229 --> 00:16:41.062 I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal and will actively 00:16:41.062 --> 00:16:47.514 pursue it through non-military means, but broadening out military mission to include 00:16:47.514 --> 00:16:52.019 regime change would be a mistake. 00:16:52.019 --> 00:17:01.287 The task I assigned our forces -- to protect the Libyan people from immediate danger and to 00:17:01.287 --> 00:17:06.438 establish a no-fly zone -- carries with it a UN mandate and international support. 00:17:06.438 --> 00:17:13.079 It's also what the Libyan opposition asked us to do. If we tried to overthrow 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:17.801 Ghadaffi by force, our coalition would splinter. 00:17:17.801 --> 00:17:23.296 We'd likely have to put U.S. troops on the ground to accomplish that mission, or risk 00:17:23.296 --> 00:17:27.941 killing many civilians from the air. 00:17:27.941 --> 00:17:34.395 The dangers faced by our men and women in uniform would be far greater -- so would the costs, 00:17:34.395 --> 00:17:40.483 and our share of the responsibility for what comes next. 00:17:40.483 --> 00:17:48.800 To be blunt, we went down that road in Iraq. Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our troops 00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:53.828 and the determination of our diplomats, we are hopeful about Iraq's future, but regime 00:17:53.828 --> 00:18:01.934 change there took eight years, thousands of American and Iraqi lives, and nearly 1 trillion dollars. 00:18:01.934 --> 00:18:07.716 That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya. 00:18:07.716 --> 00:18:15.494 As the bulk of our military effort ratchets down, what we can do -- and will do -- is support 00:18:15.494 --> 00:18:20.138 the aspirations of the Libyan people. 00:18:20.138 --> 00:18:25.920 We have intervened to stop a massacre, and we will work with our allies and partners to 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.729 maintain the safety of civilians. 00:18:29.729 --> 00:18:37.074 We will deny the regime arms, cut off its supplies of cash, assist the opposition, 00:18:37.074 --> 00:18:43.074 and work with other nations to hasten the day when Ghadaffi leaves power. 00:18:43.074 --> 00:18:49.236 It may not happen overnight, as a badly weakened Ghadaffi tries desparately to 00:18:49.236 --> 00:18:55.990 hang on to power, but it should be clear to those around Ghadaffi and to every Libyan that 00:18:55.990 --> 00:19:03.975 history is not on Ghadaffi's side, that the time and space we have provided for the Libyan people, 00:19:03.975 --> 00:19:11.454 they will be able to determine their own destiny, and that is how it should be. 00:19:11.454 --> 00:19:18.756 Let me close by addressing what this action says about the use of America's military power 00:19:18.756 --> 00:19:24.759 and America's broader leadership in the world under my presidency. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:30.866 As Commander in Chief, I have no greater responsbility than keeping this country safe. 00:19:30.866 --> 00:19:37.763 And no decision weighs on me more than when to deploy our men and women in uniform. 00:19:37.763 --> 00:19:43.383 I have made it clear that I will never hesitate to use our military swiftly, decisively, 00:19:43.383 --> 00:19:46.883 and unilaterally when necessary, to defend our people, 00:19:46.883 --> 00:19:51.995 our homeland, our allies, and our core interests. 00:19:51.995 --> 00:19:58.080 That's why we're going after al-Qaeda wherever they seek a foothold; that's why we continue to 00:19:58.080 --> 00:20:04.960 fight in Afghanistan, even as we have ended our combat mission in Iraq and removed more than 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:08.808 100,000 troops from that country. 00:20:08.808 --> 00:20:14.079 There will be times, though, when our safety is not directly threatened 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:19.108 but our interests and our values are. 00:20:19.108 --> 00:20:22.368 Sometimes the course of history poses challenges that threaten 00:20:22.368 --> 00:20:26.501 our common humanity and our common security. 00:20:26.501 --> 00:20:33.636 Responding to natural disasters, for example. Or preventing genocide, and keeping the peace. 00:20:33.636 --> 00:20:38.960 Ensuring regional security and maintaining the flow of commerce. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:45.425 These may not be America's problems alone, but they are important to us. 00:20:45.425 --> 00:20:48.142 They're problems we're solving. 00:20:48.142 --> 00:20:53.367 And in these circumstances we know that the United States, as the world's most powerful nation, 00:20:53.367 --> 00:20:58.516 will often be called upon to help. 00:20:58.516 --> 00:21:04.677 In such cases, we should not be afraid to act, but the burden of action should not 00:21:04.677 --> 00:21:09.226 be America's alone. 00:21:09.226 --> 00:21:17.051 As we have in Libya, our task is instead to mobilize the international community for collective action. 00:21:17.051 --> 00:21:21.950 Because contrary to the claims of some, American leadership is not simply a matter 00:21:21.950 --> 00:21:26.895 of going it alone and bearing all of the burden ourselves. 00:21:26.895 --> 00:21:33.733 Real leadership creates the conditions and coalitions for others to step up as well, 00:21:33.733 --> 00:21:37.621 to work with allies and partners so that they bear their share of the burden and 00:21:37.621 --> 00:21:42.437 they pay their share of the costs. 00:21:42.437 --> 00:21:48.491 And to see that the principles of justice and human dignity are upheld by all. 00:21:48.491 --> 00:21:52.613 That's the kind of leadership we've shown in Libya. 00:21:52.613 --> 00:22:01.191 Of course, even when we act as part of a coalition, the risks of any miltiary action will be high. 00:22:01.191 --> 00:22:07.648 Those risks were realzied when one of our planes malfunctioned over Libya. 00:22:07.648 --> 00:22:14.265 Yet when one of our airment parachuted to the ground in a country whose leader has so often 00:22:14.265 --> 00:22:19.852 demonized the United States, in a region that has such a difficult history with our country, 00:22:19.852 --> 00:22:27.711 this American did not find enemies; instead he was met by people who embraced him. 00:22:27.711 --> 00:22:30.711 One young Libyan who came to his aid said, 00:22:30.711 --> 00:22:40.887 "We are your friends. We are so grateful to those men who are protecting the skies." 00:22:40.887 --> 00:22:46.169 This voice is just one of many in a region where a new generation is refusing to be denied 00:22:46.169 --> 00:22:51.487 their rights and opportunities any longer. 00:22:51.487 --> 00:22:59.007 Yes, this change will make the world more complicated for a time; progress will be uneven. 00:22:59.007 --> 00:23:04.028 And change will come differently to different countries. 00:23:04.028 --> 00:23:10.736 There are places like Egypt where this change will inspire us and raise our hopes. 00:23:10.736 --> 00:23:17.841 And then there will be places like Iran where change is fiercely suppressed. 00:23:17.841 --> 00:23:23.922 The dark forces of civil conflict and sectarian war will have to be averted and difficult 00:23:23.922 --> 00:23:30.894 political and economic concerns will have to be addressed. 00:23:30.894 --> 00:23:37.021 The United States will not be able to dictate the pace and scope of this change, only the 00:23:37.021 --> 00:23:41.281 people of the region can do that. 00:23:41.281 --> 00:23:45.589 But we can make a difference. 00:23:45.589 --> 00:23:51.441 I believe that this movement of change cannot be turned back, and that we must stand alongside 00:23:51.441 --> 00:23:57.626 those who believe in the same core principles that have guided us through many storms. 00:23:57.626 --> 00:24:01.936 Our opposition to violence directed at one's own's people. 00:24:01.936 --> 00:24:09.407 Our support for a set of universal rights including the freedom of people to express theirselves 00:24:09.407 --> 00:24:12.238 and choose their leaders. 00:24:12.238 --> 00:24:20.470 Our support for governments that are ultimately responsive to the aspirations of the people. 00:24:20.470 --> 00:24:29.850 Born as we are, out of a revolution by those who longed to be free, we welcome the fact that 00:24:29.850 --> 00:24:34.998 history is on the move in the Middle East and North Africa, and that young people are 00:24:34.998 --> 00:24:37.602 leading the way. 00:24:37.602 --> 00:24:45.900 Because wherever people long to be free, they will find a friend in the United States. 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:58.949 Ultimately, it is that faith, those ideals that are the true measure of American leadership. 00:24:58.949 --> 00:25:06.167 My fellow Americans, I know that at a time upheaval overseas, when the news is filled 00:25:06.167 --> 00:25:13.546 with conflict and change, it can be tempting to turn away from the world. 00:25:13.546 --> 00:25:20.322 And as I've said before, our strength abroad is anchored in our strength here at home. 00:25:20.322 --> 00:25:26.695 That must always be our North Star: the ability of our people to reach their potential, to make 00:25:26.695 --> 00:25:32.652 wise choices with our resources, to enlarge the prosperity that serves as a wealth spring for 00:25:32.652 --> 00:25:39.533 our power, and to live the values that we hold so dear. 00:25:39.533 --> 00:25:45.279 But let us also remember that for generations we have done the hard work of protecting our 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:50.265 own people as well as millions around the globe. 00:25:50.265 --> 00:25:54.821 We have done so because we know that our own future is safer, 00:25:54.821 --> 00:26:03.167 our own future is brighter, if more of mankind can live with the bright light of freedom and dignity. 00:26:03.167 --> 00:26:10.017 Tonight, let us give thanks for the Americans who are serving through these trying times and the 00:26:10.017 --> 00:26:16.743 coalition that is carrying our effort forward. And let us look to the future with confidence and hope, 00:26:16.743 --> 00:26:23.792 not only for our own country but for all those yearning for freedom around the world. 00:26:23.792 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.