President Biden Delivers Remarks on a Successful Counterterrorism Operation 8/01/22 Transcript

President Biden: (00:00) My fellow Americans, on Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully concluded an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed the Emir of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri. President Biden: (00:17) Zawahiri was bin Laden's leader. He was with him all the whole time. He was his number two man, his deputy at the time the terrorists attack on 9/11. He was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11. One of the most responsible for the attacks that murdered 2,977 people on American soil. President Biden: (00:38) For decades, he was a mastermind behind attacks against Americans, including the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, which killed 17 American sailors and wounded dozens more. He played a key role, a key role in the bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224 and wounding over 4,500 others. President Biden: (01:01) He carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, American service members, American diplomats, and American interests. And since the United States delivered justice to bin Laden 11 years ago, Zawahiri has been a leader of Al Qaeda, the leader. President Biden: (01:20) From hiding, he coordinated Al-Qaeda's branches and all around the world, including setting priorities for providing operational guidance that called for and inspired attacks against US targets. He made videos, including in recent weeks calling for his followers to attack the United States and our allies. President Biden: (01:39) Now, justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more. People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer. The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm. President Biden: (02:01) We make it clear again tonight that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out. President Biden: (02:15) After relentlessly seeking Zawahiri for years under President's Bush, Obama, and Trump, our intelligence community located Zawahiri earlier this year. He had moved to downtown Kabul to reunite with members of his immediate family. President Biden: (02:30) After carefully considering the clear and convincing evidence of his location, I authorized a precision strike that would remove him from the battlefield once and for all. This mission was carefully planned and rigorously minimized the risk of harm to other civilians. And one week ago, after being advised that the conditions were optimal, I gave the final approval to go get him, and the mission was a success. None of his family members were hurt and there were no civilian casualties. President Biden: (03:03) I'm sharing this news with the American people now after confirming the mission's total success through the painstaking work of our counter-terrorism community and key allies and partners. My administration has kept congressional leaders informed as well. President Biden: (03:20) When I ended our military mission in Afghanistan almost a year ago, I made the decision that after 20 years of war, the United States no longer needed thousands of boots on the ground in Afghanistan to protect America from terrorists who seek to do us harm. And I made a promise to the American people that we continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond. We've done just that. President Biden: (03:45) In February, our forces conducted a daring mission in Syria that eliminated the Emir of ISIS. Last month, we took out another key ISIS leader. Now we have eliminated the Emir of Al-Qaeda. He will never again, never again allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we're going to make sure that nothing else happens. It can't be a launching pad against the United States. We're going to see to it that won't happen. President Biden: (04:17) This operation is a clear demonstration that we will, we can, and will always make good on the solemn pledge. My administration will continue to vigilantly monitor and address threats from Al-Qaeda, no matter where they emanate from. President Biden: (04:34) As commander-in-chief, it is my solemn responsibility to make America safe in a dangerous world. The United States did not seek this war against terror. It came to us and we answered with the same principles and resolve that have shaped us for generation upon generation. To protect the innocent, defend liberty, and we keep the light of freedom burning, a beacon for the rest of the entire world. Because this is a great and defining truth about our nation and our people, we do not break. We never give in. We never back down. President Biden: (05:11) Last year on September 11th, I once more paid my respect to Ground Zero in New York City at that quiet field in Shanksville, and at the Pentagon. Standing in the Memorial at Ground Zero, seeing the names of those who died forever etched in bronze is a powerful reminder of the sacred promise we made as a nation. We will never forget. President Biden: (05:36) The memorial also bears the quotation from Virgil. "No day shall erase you from the memory of time. No day shall erase you from the memory of time." So we continue to mourn every innocent life that was stolen on 9/11 and honor their memories. President Biden: (05:53) To the families who lost fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and coworkers, on that searing September day, it is my hope that this decisive action will bring one more measure of closure. "No day shall erase them from the memory of time." President Biden: (06:13) Today and every day, I'm so grateful for the superb patriots who serve the United States intelligence community and counter-terrorism communities. They never forget. And those dedicated women and men who tireless work every single day to keep our country safe to prevent future tragedies, it is thanks to their extraordinary persistence and skill that this operation was a success. They made us all safer. President Biden: (06:43) And to those around the world who continue to seek to harm the United States, hear me now. We will always remain vigilant and we will act and we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and around the globe. President Biden: (06:59) Today, we remember the lost, we commit ourselves to the safety of the living, and we pledge that we shall never waiver from defending our nation as people. President Biden: (07:10) Thank you all, and may God protect our troops and all those who serve in harm's way. We will never, we will never give up.