President Obama's Speech on ISIL Threat

On September 10, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation about the terrorist threat posed by those known as ISIS ( Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or ISIL
(Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) a force which has arisen as the successor to al Qaeda in Iraq. Here are 24 vocabulary words from the President's speech announcing a coalition of nations which will carry out air strikes. Read the full transcript of the speech here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. degrade
    lower the rank or value of something
    My fellow Americans -- tonight, I want to speak to you about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL.
  2. affiliate
    a subsidiary organization linked with another organization
    We've targeted al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen, and recently eliminated the top commander of its affiliate in Somalia.
  3. vigilant
    carefully observant or attentive
    That's why we must remain vigilant as threats emerge.
  4. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    At this moment, the greatest threats come from the Middle East and North Africa, where radical groups exploit grievances for their own gain.
  5. grievance
    a complaint about a wrong that causes resentment
    At this moment, the greatest threats come from the Middle East and North Africa, where radical groups exploit grievances for their own gain.
  6. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
    No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim.
  7. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    It was formerly al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq, and has taken advantage of sectarian strife and Syria's civil war to gain territory on both sides of the Iraq-Syrian border.
  8. genocide
    systematic killing of a racial or cultural group
    They threatened a religious minority with genocide.
  9. decisive
    characterized by resoluteness and firmness
    American power can make a decisive difference, but we cannot do for Iraqis what they must do for themselves, nor can we take the place of Arab partners in securing their region.
  10. coalition
    the union of diverse things into one body or form or group
    So tonight, with a new Iraqi government in place, and following consultations with allies abroad and Congress at home, I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat.
  11. comprehensive
    including all or everything
    Our objective is clear: we will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.
  12. deploy
    place troops or weapons in battle formation
    In June, I deployed several hundred American service members to Iraq to assess how we can best support Iraqi Security Forces.
  13. legitimacy
    lawfulness by virtue of being authorized
    In the fight against ISIL, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorizes its people; a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost.
  14. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
    Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off its funding; improve our intelligence; strengthen our defenses; counter its warped ideology; and stem the flow of foreign fighters into -- and out of -- the Middle East.
  15. grave
    causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
    This includes Sunni and Shia Muslims who are at grave risk, as well as tens of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities.
  16. bipartisan
    supported by both sides
    My Administration has also secured bipartisan support for this approach here at home.
  17. eradicate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
    Now, it will take time to eradicate a cancer like ISIL.
  18. wage
    carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
    This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.
  19. relentless
    never-ceasing
    This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.
  20. grueling
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
    Yet despite these shocks; through the pain we have felt and the grueling work required to bounce back -- America is better positioned today to seize the future than any other nation on Earth.
  21. thriving
    very lively and profitable
    Our technology companies and universities are unmatched; our manufacturing and auto industries are thriving.
  22. bestow
    give as a gift
    America, our endless blessings bestow an enduring burden.
  23. enduring
    unceasing
    America, our endless blessings bestow an enduring burden.
  24. vanquish
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
    And our own safety -- our own security -- depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation, and uphold the values that we stand for -- timeless ideals that will endure long after those who offer only hate and destruction have been vanquished from the Earth.
Created on Wed Sep 10 21:19:09 EDT 2014 (updated Wed Sep 10 21:41:44 EDT 2014)

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