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Obama Addresses Nation on Security Issues

© AP Photo / Saul LOEBUS President Barack Obama speaks during an announcement of nearly $600 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
US President Barack Obama speaks during an announcement of nearly $600 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Sputnik International
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US President Barack Obama delivered on Sunday an address to the nation on “keeping the American people safe”.

US President Barack Obama delivered on Sunday an address to the nation from the Oval Office on “keeping the American people safe”. The White House announced earlier that he would provide an update on San Bernardino shooting attack investigation and also discuss broader terrorism issues.

French President Francois Hollande (left) and US President Barack Obama - Sputnik International
Hollande, Obama Reiterate Cooperation in Fight Against Terrorism
In his speech Obama said that there is no evidence so far that San Bernardino attackers were part of a terrorist cell from abroad or inside the United States. He called the event a terrorist attack though.

“FBI is still gathering the facts about what happened in San Bernardino, but here’s what we know…so far we have no evidence that the killers were directed by a terrorist organization overseas or that they were part of a broader conspiracy here at home,” Obama said.

“The two of them had gone down a dark path of radicalization, embracing a perverted interpretation of Islam that calls for war against America and the West. This was an act of terrorism, designed to kill innocent people,” Obama said in an address to his nation.

According to Obama, threat from terrorism for the US people “is real, but we will overcome it.”

“We will destroy ISIL [Islamic State or Daesh, an organization banned in many countries including Russia and the United states] and any other organization that tries to harm us,” the president said.

He noted that the US military will continue to "hunt down" terrorists in any country that's "necessary".

He reiterated his support to forces fighting against terrorism, adding that Washington continues training of "tens of thousands" Iraqis and Syrians fighting Daesh.

“We will continue to provide training and equipment to tens of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian forces, fighting ISIL [Daesh] on the ground,” Obama said.

He also stressed the importance of stopping terrorists' financial flow. He said that the Washington is working with Turkey on sealing border with Syria.

“We’re working with Turkey to seal its border with Syria,” the president stated.

He noted that the settlement of Syrian conflict will allow US, its allies and countries including Russia to focus on common goal of fighting Daesh.

“The international community has begun to establish a process and timeline to pursue ceasefires and a political resolution to the Syrian war. Doing so will allow the Syrian people and every country, including our allies, but also countries like Russia to focus on the common goal of destroying ISIL [Daesh],” Obama said.

The president said that US will continue to use airstrikes, deploy additional special forces and work with local forces against Daesh terrorists. He noted however, that US should not be involved in "costly ground war" against terrorism in Iraq or Syria.

"We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq or Syria; that’s what groups like ISIL [Daesh] want,” Obama said.

U.S. President Barack Obama holds a news conference with reporters at the end of the G20 summit at the Kaya Palazzo Resort in Antalya, Turkey, November 16, 2015 - Sputnik International
Obama Urges Not to Equate Refugees to Terrorists After Paris Attacks
As for measures to curb terrorism threat inside the United States, Obama called for congressional action for placing a ban on gun purchases by people from TSA "no-fly list" and stricter restrictions on assault weapons. He also said that stronger screening procedures should be imposed on those who come to the United States without a visa.

"The US Congress should act to make sure that no one on a no-flight list is able to buy a gun,” Obama said.

“We should put in place a stronger screening for those who come to America without a visa, so that we could take a hard look on whether they’ve travelled to war zones,” the president added.

Obama in his address also urged to reject discrimination.

“It is our responsibility to reject religious tests on who we admit into this country,” the US president said.

On Wednesday, a shooting at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California claimed lives of 14 people and injured 21 others. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said Friday it had found indications that the two perpetrators had been under the influence of radical ideas.

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