English subtitles for clip: File:President Obama's statement on US Consulate in Benghazi attacks 2012-09-12.ogv

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Good morning.

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Every day, all across the world,
American diplomats and civilians

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work tirelessly to advance
the interests and values

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of our nation.

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Often, they are away
from their families.

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Sometimes, they
brave great danger.

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Yesterday, four of these
extraordinary Americans were

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killed in an attack on our
diplomatic post in Benghazi.

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Among those killed was our
Ambassador, Chris Stevens,

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as well as Foreign Service
Officer Sean Smith.

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We are still notifying the
families of the others who

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were killed.

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And today, the American people
stand united in holding the

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families of the four
Americans in our thoughts

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and in our prayers.

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The United States condemns
in the strongest terms this

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outrageous and shocking attack.

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We're working with the
government of Libya to

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secure our diplomats.

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I've also directed my
administration to increase

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our security at diplomatic
posts around the world.

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And make no mistake; we will
work with the Libyan government

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to bring to justice the killers
who attacked our people.

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Since our founding, the United
States has been a nation that

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respects all faiths.

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We reject all efforts to
denigrate the religious

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beliefs of others.

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But there is absolutely no
justification to this type

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of senseless violence.

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None.

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The world must stand together
to unequivocally reject these

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brutal acts.

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Already, many Libyans
have joined us in doing so,

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and this attack will not break
the bonds between the United

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States and Libya.

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Libyan security personnel
fought back against the

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attackers alongside Americans.

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Libyans helped some of our
diplomats find safety, and they

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carried Ambassador Stevens's
body to the hospital,

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where we tragically
learned that he had died.

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It's especially tragic that
Chris Stevens died in Benghazi

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because it is a city
that he helped to save.

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At the height of the Libyan
revolution, Chris led our

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diplomatic post in Benghazi.

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With characteristic skill,
courage, and resolve,

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he built partnerships with
Libyan revolutionaries,

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and helped them as they
planned to build a new Libya.

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When the Qaddafi regime came to
an end, Chris was there to serve

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as our ambassador to the new
Libya, and he worked tirelessly

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to support this young democracy,
and I think both Secretary

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Clinton and I relied deeply on
his knowledge of the situation

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on the ground there.

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He was a role model to all who
worked with him and to the young

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diplomats who aspire to
walk in his footsteps.

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Along with his colleagues, Chris
died in a country that is still

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striving to emerge from the
recent experience of war.

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Today, the loss of these four
Americans is fresh, but our

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memories of them linger on.

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I have no doubt that their
legacy will live on through

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the work that they did far from
our shores and in the hearts of

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those who love them back home.

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Of course, yesterday was already
a painful day for our nation as

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we marked the solemn
memory of the 9/11 attacks.

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We mourned with the families
who were lost on that day.

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I visited the graves of troops
who made the ultimate sacrifice

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in Iraq and Afghanistan at the
hallowed grounds of Arlington

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Cemetery, and had the
opportunity to say thank

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you and visit some of our
wounded warriors at Walter Reed.

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And then last night, we
learned the news of this

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attack in Benghazi.

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As Americans, let us never, ever
forget that our freedom is only

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sustained because there are
people who are willing to fight

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for it, to stand up for it,
and in some cases, lay down

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their lives for it.

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Our country is only as strong as
the character of our people and

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the service of those both
civilian and military who

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represent us around the globe.

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No acts of terror will ever
shake the resolve of this great

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nation, alter that character, or
eclipse the light of the values

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that we stand for.

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Today we mourn four more
Americans who represent the

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very best of the United
States of America.

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We will not waver in our
commitment to see that justice

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is done for this terrible act.

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And make no mistake,
justice will be done.

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But we also know that the lives
these Americans led stand in

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stark contrast to those
of their attackers.

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These four Americans stood up
for freedom and human dignity.

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They should give every American
great pride in the country that

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they served, and the hope that
our flag represents to people

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around the globe who also
yearn to live in freedom

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and with dignity.

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We grieve with their families,
but let us carry on their

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memory, and let us continue
their work of seeking a stronger

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America and a better world
for all of our children.

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Thank you.

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May God bless the memory of
those we lost and may God bless

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the United States of America.