Can Barack Obama Keep U.S. Safe?
Close on the heels of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) release of a new web video entitled ‘Can Leaders Like These Keep Us Safe?’, President Barack Obama said Wednesday that security professionals are working to keep U.S. safe.
As Americans begin Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) travel, Obama wants them to know U.S. counterterrorism, intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement professionals at every level continually monitor threats at home and abroad for their safety.
“Top U.S. officials are taking every step possible and working overtime to continually monitor threats at home, abroad and evaluate U.S. security posture,” Obama said.
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The U.S. President made his televised remarks Wednesday from the White House after meeting with his national security team.
Calling the Nov. 13 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist attacks on Paris “horrific and heinous,” Obama said those events, which killed 130 people from 20 nations and wounded more than 350 others, “touched a deep chord” for Americans.
“It’s understandable that people worry that something similar could happen here,” he said.
“As we go into Thanksgiving weekend, I want the American people to know that we are taking every possible step to keep our homeland safe,” Obama said.
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Obama said the U.S.-led 60-plus nation anti-ISIL coalition continues to go after the terrorist group “where it hides.”
With more than 8,000 coalition airstrikes in the past year on ISIL strongholds and equipment, combined with partners on the ground, “[We] have taken out key leaders and have taken back territory from ISIL in both Iraq and Syria,” Obama said.
Coalition forces also continue to choke off ISIL financing, supply lines and counter their recruitment and communications, he said.
Obama and French President Francois Hollande met at the White House Tuesday, where the two leaders agreed to increase pressure on ISIL.
Photo courtesy: White House
