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TOBIAS ELLWOOD, BRITISH DEFENSE MINISTER: Well, we`re responding to a democratic process in the referendum that took place a couple of years ago. But you rightly point out, the world is changing, it`s getting more dangerous, terrorist attacks continue. And whilst we are focused on Brexit, United States is focused on the shutdown, France has got their Gilet jaune issues as well, the West needs to recognize that the world is changing. We have reserves and nations pushing the — checking the boundaries of the World Order that we`ve assumed after the Second World War, migration issues as well. It`s so important that we recognize that we must wake up to our global responsibilities. And that means ensuring that we move forward with Brexit as quickly as possible because we have a job to do.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: You know, you are very well-known for your military experience, for your own brushes with terrorism, your own brother was killed by, then, al-Qaeda offshoot in the Bali bombings in the early 2000. And you yourself raised famously to try to survive and revive a policeman who had been eventually fatally stabbed when ISIS motivated terrorists drove over the sidewalk, and we`re looking at the picture now, right outside Parliament where you are now. This is something, you know, very, very much about. So, when President Trump said that ISIS had been defeated and that`s why they were pulling out of Syria and of course, you know, the Brits have their own issues, I wonder what you make of that. I`m going to play President Trump`s soundbite.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have one against ISIS. We have beaten them and we`ve beaten them badly. We have taken back the land. And now, it`s time for our troops to come back home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: So, Tobias Ellwood, I mean, did he speak too soon?
ELLWOOD: Well, I`m pleased to say that since he`s made those comments, John Bolton has visited the area. We have continued our underlined — our commitment. You can`t simply walk away because you think you`ve defeated the enemy. I think General Petraeus famously said, “It`s no longer enough to do that, you must enable the local. You must stay there for the cause and make sure that you`re able to rebuild and work with the new communities,” and that`s exactly what Britain is doing. And I hope America will stay the course as well. We blinked back in August 2013 when we actually gave up and handed responsibility of the future of this area to Russia. We must make sure that we stay the course and defeat terrorism. It doesn`t just mean those who actually brandishing the weapons, but those who might be enticed, might be indoctrinated to believe that they`re going to get a fast track to paradise if they turn themselves into a terrorist, and that takes time.