Obama Sticks to Strategy on Syria, Islamic State

President Obama on Sunday urged Americans not to “succumb to fear” or accept the threat of terrorism as a “new normal”, vowing as the United States intensifies its military campaign that defeating the Islamic State was “not only a realistic goal, we’re going to get it done”. Obama “has to have a strategy first”.

Brushing off refugee worries at home, President Barack Obama crouched alongside migrant children on Saturday and declared they are the opposite of terrorists wreaking havoc from Paris to Mali. “We will not allow these killers to have a safe haven”, Obama said, adding that the world is determined “to push back on the hateful ideologies that fuel this terrorism”. Having secured a veto-proof majority in the House, supporters are now hoping for a repeat in the Senate, while Obama works to shift the conversation to milder visa waiver changes that would not affect Syrian refugees. “We believe that an essential component of that effort is ensuring that no refugee related to the Syrian crisis is admitted to the United States unless the USA government can guarantee, with 100 percent assurance, that they are not members, supporters or sympathizers of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh or ISIL”. While the Vietnam War was a notable exception, the principle has a history of serving us interests.

Obama has stressed to Putin it is unlikely Syrian President Bashar Assad can regain the trust of his people, making it impossible for him to lead Syria effectively given that he has bombed his own civilian population. “He needs to go after the people who killed Russian citizens”, he stated of Putin.

“It’s easy to toss cheap insults when no one can respond”, Cruz said, noting Obama had appeared to criticize him in remarks in Turkey and the Philippines this week.

Almost five years of fighting between the Assad government and rebels has created a vacuum that allowed IS to thrive in both Syria and Iraq. But those who throw around such words as “weak” and “feckless” should tell us if they support the logical alternative: Sending in tens of thousands of USA troops.

As Obama spoke in the Malaysian capital, other Western leaders were stepping up their rhetoric against IS, while the European diplomatic hub of Brussels remained under the highest threat level for the second day in a row.

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Obama will host French President Francois Hollande at the White House on Tuesday.

“If Russian Federation is willing to help manage and negotiate a political transition that moves aside Assad, then the worldwide community would have an opportunity to consider cooperation with Russian Federation”.

Good governance advocates say the countries in this region need public prodding by powerful nations with leverage. Citing national security concerns, House Republicans and almost four dozen Democrats last week passed a bill that would significantly tighten screening procedures for Syrians seeking refuge in the U.S. “They cannot strike a mortal blow against France or the United States or a country like Malaysia, but they can make people fearful”, Obama said, speaking in Kuala Lumpur and using an acronym for Islamic State. The president has since softened his tone. In the public portion of his meeting with Najib, Obama avoided direct mention of the crackdown on press freedoms and opposition groups about which USA officials have warned.

With Brussels in lockdown, cities from Beirut to Bamako reeling from attacks, and Americans jittery that they too may come under assault, Mr Obama said the world must show steel.

“We will not give in to fear or start turning on each other or treating a few people differently because of religion or race or background”, Obama insisted. “Were a nation that cant be cowed by evil-doers.”Obama brought up the 9/11 analogy when he answered questions at a news conference Sunday. He also pointed out that it was important for Americans to gather in large places like Times Square despite terror warnings.