WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: We Will Degrade and Destroy the terrorist group ISIL

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, September 20, 2014

**WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: We Will Degrade and Destroy the terrorist group ISIL**

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, Ricardo Zúñiga discussed the plan to train and equip Syrian opposition forces to fight ISIL. This plan is part of the President’s comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy to degrade and destroy the terrorist group, and does not commit our troops to fighting another ground war. America, working with a broad coalition of nations, will continue to train, equip, advise, and assist our partners in the region in the battle against ISIL.

The audio of the address and video of the message will be available online [HERE](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2014/09/19/mensaje-de-la-casa-blanca).

**Remarks of Ricardo Zúñiga, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the National Security Council**

**Spanish Weekly Address**

**The White House**

Over the past week, the United States has continued to lead our friends and allies in the strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL. As the President has said before, our intelligence community has not yet detected specific plots from these terrorists against America. Right now, they pose a threat to the people of Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East. But its leaders have threatened America and our allies. And if left unchecked, they could pose a growing threat to the United States.

So, last month, the President gave the order for our military to begin taking targeted action against ISIL.

Going forward, we won’t hesitate to take action against these terrorists in Iraq or in Syria. But this isn’t America’s fight alone. The President won’t commit our troops to fighting another ground war in Iraq, or in Syria. It’s more effective to use our capabilities to help partners on the ground secure their own country’s futures. We will use our air power. We will train and equip our partners. We will advise and assist.  And we’ll lead a broad coalition of nations who have a stake in this fight. This isn’t America vs. ISIL. This is the people of that region vs. ISIL. It’s the world vs ISIL.

This is an effort that America has the unique ability to lead. When the world is threatened; when the world needs help; it calls on America. And we call on our troops. Whether it’s to degrade and ultimately destroy a group of terrorists, or to contain and combat a threat like the Ebola epidemic in Africa; we ask a lot of our troops. But while our politics may be divided at times, the American people stand united around supporting our troops and their families. This is a moment for American leadership. Thanks to them, it is a moment we will meet. Thank you.