Obama Discusses September 11th Anniversary

This week we marked the eleventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks. It's time to remember the nearly 3000. Innocent men women and children lost. -- the families they left behind. It's just honor... See More

This week we marked the eleventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks. It's time to remember the nearly 3000. Innocent men women and children lost. -- the families they left behind. It's just honor the courage of the first responders who risk their lives. On that day and every -- cents. And it's an opportunity to give thanks for men and women in uniform with served and sacrificed. Sometimes far from home to keep our country -- This anniversary is about that. It's also a time to reflect on just how far we've come as a nation these -- lift -- On that clear September morning Miss America watched the towers fall and the Pentagon burn and the record smoldering in a Pennsylvania field. We were filled with questions. -- the attacks come -- and how would America respond. With -- fundamentally weak in the country we love. Would they change we are. The last decade has been -- difficult. But together we answer those questions and come back stronger as a nation. We took the fight al-Qaeda decimating their leadership and put them on the path to defeat. And thanks to the courage and skill of our intelligence personnel and armed forces Osama bin Laden will never threaten America. Instead of pulling back from the world we strengthen our alliances while improving our security -- home. As Americans we refuse to live in fear. Today a new tower rises above the New York skyline. Our country stronger safer and more respected in the world. Instead of turning -- shut we resisted the temptation to give in to mistrust and suspicion. I've always said that America's war with al-Qaeda and its affiliates we will never be at war with Islam or any other -- We -- the United States of America. Freedom and diversity make us unique. You'll always be central to -- we are as a nation. -- the changing -- we get tax brought -- the best in the American people. More than five million members the 9/11 generation and -- Americans uniform over the past decade. And we've seen an outpouring of goodwill towards our military. Veterans and the -- Together they've done everything we've asked them. We ended the war in Iraq and -- troops home. We brought an end to talk about -- We've trained Afghan security forces and forced a partnership with the new Afghan government. And by the end of point fourteen the transition Afghanistan will be complete and our work there will be -- And finally. Sort of turning inward with -- we've honored the memory of those we lost by giving back -- communities. Serving those in need. And reaffirming the values the heart of who we are as people. That's what we mark September 11 -- -- national day of service and it's. Because we are one American -- We look out for each other. Not just on the difficult days and every. Eleven years later that's the legacy of nine elevenths. The ability to say with confidence that no adversary and no act of terrorism could change we are. We are Americans. We will protect and preserve this country we love. On this solemn anniversary. Let's remember those we've lost. Let -- reaffirm the values they stood. Let us keep moving forward as one nation. And one people.