Weekly Address: President Obama – Standing Strong in the Face of Terrorism

December 12, 2015 JanF Featured Posts, From the White House 9

The President’s Weekly Address post is also an Open News Thread. Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

From the White House – Weekly Address

In this week’s address, the President praised our country’s resilience in the face of terrorism, and discussed how we will keep America safe. Our military has been stepping up its campaign to destroy ISIL, and our airstrikes are hitting ISIL harder than ever before. The President emphasized that we will continue to move forward on all fronts, which is why this week he will go to the Pentagon to review our military campaign, and to the National Counterterrorism center to review our efforts to prevent attacks. And he reminded us that we all have a part to play in the fight against terrorism – potential terrorist attacks have been prevented over the years because someone saw something and said something. Americans should not turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam, which is what ISIL wants and only serves to undermine our national security. The President praised Americans across the country who have come together to reaffirm our core values and stand up, forcefully, for freedom of religion.

Transcript: Weekly Address: Standing Strong in the Face of Terrorism

Remarks of President Barack Obama, Weekly Address
The White House, December 12, 2015

Hello, everybody. This week, Americans across our country have shown what it means to be strong in the face of terrorism. In San Bernardino, even as the community continues to grieve, people are refusing to be ruled by fear. Across the county, dedicated public servants are on the job – and more will be returning to work this week. Faith communities have come together in fellowship and prayer. Families lined the streets for the annual children’s Christmas parade—because we can’t let terrorists change how we live our lives.

Meanwhile, our men and women in uniform are stepping up our campaign to destroy ISIL. Our airstrikes are hitting ISIL harder than ever, in Iraq and Syria. We’re taking out more of their fighters and leaders, their weapons, their oil tankers. Our Special Operations Forces are on the ground—because we’re going to hunt down these terrorists wherever they try to hide. In recent weeks, our strikes have taken out the ISIL finance chief, a terrorist leader in Somalia and the ISIL leader in Libya. Our message to these killers is simple—we will find you, and justice will be done.

This week, we’ll move forward on all fronts. On Monday, I’ll go to the Pentagon. And there, I’ll review our military campaign and how we can continue to accelerate our efforts. Later in the week, I’ll go to the National Counterterrorism Center. There, I’ll review our efforts—across our entire government—to prevent attacks and protect our homeland. And this week, the Department of Homeland Security will update its alert system to ensure Americans get more information, including steps that you and your communities can take to be vigilant and to stay safe.

In the wake of the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, I know a lot of Americans are asking—“what can I do?” First, as always, we have to stay vigilant. If you see something that seems suspicious, say something to law enforcement. Over the years, plots have been uncovered because someone saw something and spoke up.

As I said in my speech last weekend, one of the most important things we can do is to stay true to who we are as Americans. Terrorists like ISIL are trying to divide us along lines of religion and background. That’s how they stoke fear. That’s how they recruit. And just as Muslims around the world have to keep rejecting any twisted interpretation of Islam, all of us have to reject bigotry—in all of its forms. I’ll say it again, prejudice and discrimination helps ISIL and it undermines our national security.

The good news is that Americans are coming together to reaffirm the core values that keep us strong. Political leaders across the spectrum—Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives—are standing up, forcefully, for freedom of religion. Churches and synagogues are reaching out to local mosques—reminding us that we are all God’s children. Grateful citizens are saying thank you to our patriotic Muslim American service members and veterans. Some of our greatest sports heroes have reminded us why they’re true champions—and voices for tolerance and understanding. Across the country, Americans are reaching out—to their Muslim friends, neighbors and coworkers—to let them know we’re here for each other. I think of the woman in Texas carrying a sign saying, “We love our Muslim neighbors.”

That’s the message I hope every Muslim American hears—that we’re all part of the same American family. And it’s a message all of us can deliver—parents to our children, teachers to their students, leaders in politics and business and entertainment. Back in San Bernardino, people from across the community have joined in prayer vigils—Christians, Jews, Muslims and others. They’ve sent a powerful message—we’re all in this together. That’s the spirit we have to uphold. That’s what we can do—as Americans—united in defense of the country that we love.

Bolding added.

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9 Comments

  1. President Obama:

    … one of the most important things we can do is to stay true to who we are as Americans. Terrorists like ISIL are trying to divide us along lines of religion and background. That’s how they stoke fear. That’s how they recruit. And just as Muslims around the world have to keep rejecting any twisted interpretation of Islam, all of us have to reject bigotry—in all of its forms. I’ll say it again, prejudice and discrimination helps ISIL and it undermines our national security.

  2. This past week, the president signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, the replacement for the ill-conceived and poorly implemented No Child Left Behind Act, a legacy from the George W. Bush Administration.

    The president:

    Transcript: Remarks by the President at Every Student Succeeds Act Signing Ceremony

    “With this bill, we reaffirm that fundamentally American ideal–that every child, regardless of race, income, background, the zip code where they live, deserves the chance to make of their lives what they will.”

    — President Barack Obama on signing the Every Student Succeeds Act into law

    From the White House:
    This Fix to No Child Left Behind Will Give More Students a Shot at Success

    Q&A: What You Need to Know About the Fix to No Child Left Behind

  3. In the News: Hillary Clinton visits Oklahoma …

    [In Tulsa OK, Hillary] Clinton spoke to an energetic crowd of about 1,000 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. She opened her speech by telling a story of her time as a lawyer in nearby Arkansas. She then went into a full rundown of her platform and plans as president. In speaking about her health care plans, Clinton took the opportunity to criticize Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin for not taking federal funding to expand Medicaid in the state. She wrapped up her speech telling the story of her parents humble background, and in particular, her mother’s rough childhood, and how she maintained optimistic and had a chance to better herself in spite of it. Clinton said she is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has that same opportunity.

  4. In the News: Business interests getting nervous about Republican climate denial …

    While congressional Republicans remain staunchly opposed to action on climate change, corporate America pretty much agrees that the change is happening, is caused at least partly by human activity, and needs to be remedied.

    The rift has put corporations and their lobbyists in an awkward situation as President Obama’s administration rolls out new climate regulations.

    “The Supreme Court has established that he’s required to address carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act, so he is acting under that authority,” said Tim Profeta, director of Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

    “Most large diversified companies are looking, over at least the longer term, to get some policy on the ground so they have certainty as to what their development paths should be,” he said. […]

    The Niskanen Center’s Taylor pointed back to 2009 and 2010, when Congress seriously debated a cap-and-trade bill that would have put a rising price on carbon. The measure had support in corporate America and both parties, but not enough votes to pass.

    “In retrospect, it was a lost opportunity,” he said. “And I think a lot of Republicans, if you gave them sodium pentothal [truth serum], would probably tell you the same thing.”

    After the bill went down, the 2010 elections sent Tea Party Republicans to Capitol Hill. Their anti-regulatory views took climate change off the GOP legislative agenda.

  5. In the News, more from Oklahoma: Oil and Gas Industry won’t take responsibility for earthquakes …

    Less than a week after state regulators shut down seven waste disposal wells in Oklahoma, two companies being sued for earthquake damages are asking the case be dismissed.

    Spess Oil Company and New Dominion LLC say that plaintiff Sandra Ladra waited too long to file her suit, which asks for $75,000 in damages stemming from being hit by falling rock when an earthquake struck her home and damaged her chimney. The earthquake was allegedly triggered by the fracking companies, who were conducting wastewater injection nearby.

    “When you look at the actual science and you look at the data, you can’t help but go, ‘It’s the injection wells, stupid.’ It’s just that obvious,” Scott E. Poynter, Ladra’s lead attorney, told the Associated Press. “Oklahoma shouldn’t have more earthquakes than anywhere on the planet, but it does.”

    […]

    Earthjustice managing attorney Stacey Geis told ThinkProgress that suggesting Oklahoma’s economy would collapse without fracking is “fear-mongering,” and, moreover, paying for the damage caused by the industry is part of normal business practice.

    “You, the industry, needs to pay the cost of your operations,” Geis said. “If that turns out to be uneconomical, than you need to rethink your economic model.”

  6. In the News: Oklahoma cop who chose black victims to rape convicted by all-white jury …

    Holtzclaw’s attorney, Scott Adams, asked the girl during the trial about perceived inconsistencies in her testimony as well as her use of drugs. She pushed back at one point, telling him, “I’m really getting upset by the way you’re coming after me.” […]

    Several of Holtzclaw’s accusers had been arrested or convicted of crimes, and his attorney made those issues a cornerstone of his defense strategy. Adams questioned several women at length about whether they were high when they allegedly encountered Holtzclaw. He also pointed out that most did not come forward until police identified them as possible victims after launching their investigation.

    Ultimately, that approach did not sway the jury to dismiss all the women’s stories.

    More on the targeting: Convicted officer chose rape victims carefully, attorney says

  7. In the News: Paris Climate Pact to be voted on today …

    The main hall of the COP21 climate meetings outside Paris echoed with applause from a standing ovation Saturday, after France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius presented the final draft of an agreement aimed at curbing global warming that will face a ratification vote within hours.

    Fabius told the delegations, “You go into this room to decide a historic agreement. The world holds its breath and it counts on you.”

    “The end is in sight. Let us now finish the job,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegates at the two-week meetings. “The whole world is watching. Billions of people are relying on your wisdom.”

    Here is the accord: COP21 Final Draft (PDF File)

    From Al-Jazeera: Climate accord unveiled in Paris, seeks to cap warming ‘well below’ 2 C

    A landmark climate accord seeking to limit global warming to “well below” 2 C has been presented at the tail end of grueling talks in Paris and is expected to be adopted by nearly 200 countries on Saturday.

  8. In the News: NPR interview with Eric Holder …

    On what the rest of his career looks like

    When I left, we had a White House ceremony and I said I would never leave the fight and that’s still the way I feel. I’m here at a law firm that does a whole variety of things on the commercial side but my life is still going to be focused on dealing with voting rights issues. Our firm filed a brief against the state of Alabama for what they have tried to do with regard to voter disenfranchisement. I’m working on the creation of an institute, it’s going to deal with civil rights issues. And I think I’ll also find places in which I’ll speak out about topics, hopefully using some of my notoriety to put a spotlight on issues. Actually I’ll have an ability to speak in a way that’s maybe a little more liberated than I could before. I’m not a member of an administration, I don’t have to worry about administration positions and policies. I can speak really more from the heart.

  9. In the News: A conversation with Justice Sonia Sotomayor from the University of Richmond School of Law …

    AP:

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday that she nearly pulled out of the confirmation process, but a friend — noting the lack of Hispanics in national leadership — told her, “This isn’t about you.”

    She stuck with it, shrugging off what she described as hurtful criticism from some that she wasn’t smart enough, and in 2009 became the court’s first Hispanic justice.

    Sotomayor, who rose from childhood poverty in a Bronx housing project, told a University of Richmond School of Law audience that she knew her decision to persevere was the right one when a tearful Albanian refugee later told the new justice that her success against the odds gave her hope.

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