Liveblog: President Obama delivers Oval Office address on terrorism, gun violence
President Obama is about to address the nation from the Oval Office, to talk about "the broader threat of terrorism, including the nature of the threat, how it has evolved, and how we will defeat it," according to the White House. According to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, he will "call on the American people to not give into fear." He is also expected to address the epidemic of gun violence in the nation.
This will be just his third Oval Office address. The first in the summer of 2010 was in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the second a few months later to announce the end of combat operations in Iraq.
He begins with the 14 killed in San Bernardino Wednesday. “All of them were a part of our American family.”
So far we have no evidence the killers were directed by any organization overseas, “but this was an act of terrorism.”
Discusses existing infrastructure for fighting terrorism, previous successes including preventing attacks and killing Osama bin Laden.
For seven years, he said, he begins every morning with a national security briefing. There’s nothing he takes more seriously in his job: "As Commander-in-Chief, I have no greater responsibility than the security of the American people."
Discusses measures taken by the U.S. and allies to confront ISIL/ISIS. Working to circumvent their plots, cut off their financing, etc.
"Here at home, we have to work together to address the challenge. There are several steps that Congress should take right away." That includes preventing those on the terrorist watch list from buying guns. It also includes making it harder for people to buy guns. We also need to strengthen the visa process. He also asks Congress for a vote on the use of force of this military to fight ISIL.
"We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq or Syria."
"It is our responsibility to reject proposals that Muslim Americans should somehow be treated differently. [...] It is our responsibility to reject proposals that Muslim Americans should somehow be treated differently."
"My fellow Americans, I am confident we will succeed in this mission because we are on the right side of history. [...] Let’s make sure we never forget what makes us exceptional. Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear."