Hoping to quiet the distress among Americans since last week’s terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, President Obama addressed the nation earlier tonight from the Oval Office, promising to defeat ISIS, reports NBC News.
“The terrorist threat has evolved into a new phase,” President Obama said. “I know that after so much war, many Americans are asking whether we are confronted by a cancer that has no immediate cure…The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it.”
President Obama Calls the Lack of Gun Control Laws ‘Distressing’
He urged Americans to have faith in the government, who, he said, would continue to foil any terrorism plots while providing weapons and resources to Iraqi and Syrian officials who are devoted to fighting ISIS. President Obama went on to issue another plea for tighter gun control laws, saying that terrorists—such as the couple who killed 13 people in last week’s California shooting—should not have access to high-powered assault rifles.
He closed the speech by reminding Americans that fear is what the ISIS terrorists wanted, but that the United States would remain strong.
“Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear, that we have always met challenges—whether war or depression, natural disasters or terrorist attacks—by coming together around our common ideals as one nation, as one people,” he said. “So long as we stay true to that tradition, I have no doubt America will prevail.”