President Addresses Steps Taken to Protect the Safety and Security of the American People
January 2nd, 2010 by CJ
President Obama today spoke about the recent acts of terrorism attempted and perpetrated recently against the United States. Here is the transcript of that speech:
Posted in Military PerspectiveIt has now been more than a week since the attempted act of terrorism aboard that flight to Detroit on Christmas Day. On Thursday, I received the preliminary findings of the reviews that I ordered into our terrorist watchlist system and air travel screening. I've directed my counterterrorism and homeland security advisor at the White House, John Brennan, to lead these reviews going forward and to present the final results and recommendations to me in the days to come.
As I said this week, I will do everything in my power to make sure our hard-working men and women in our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security communities have the tools and resources they need to keep America safe. This includes making sure these communities-and the people in them-are coordinating effectively and are held accountable at every level. And as President, that is what I will do.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the Christmas Day incident continues, and we're learning more about the suspect. We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group-al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America.
This is not the first time this group has targeted us. In recent years, they have bombed Yemeni government facilities and Western hotels, restaurants and embassies-including our embassy in 2008, killing one American. So, as President, I've made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government-training and equipping their security forces, sharing intelligence and working with them to strike al Qaeda terrorists.
And even before Christmas Day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted. And all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know-you too will be held to account.
But these efforts are only part of a wider cause. It's been nearly a year since I stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and took the oath of office as your President. And with that oath came the solemn responsibility that I carry with me every moment of every day-the responsibility to protect the safety and security of the American people.
On that day I also made it very clear-our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred, and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country, even as we uphold the values that have always distinguished America among nations.
And make no mistake, that's exactly what we've been doing. It's why I refocused the fight-bringing to a responsible end the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and dramatically increasing our resources in the region where al Qaeda is actually based, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's why I've set a clear and achievable mission-to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their return to either country.
And it's why we've forged new partnerships, as in Yemen, and put unrelenting pressure on these extremists wherever they plot and train-from East Africa to Southeast Asia, from Europe to the Persian Gulf. And though often out of sight, our progress has been unmistakable. Along with our partners, we've disrupted terrorist financing, cut off recruiting chains, inflicted major losses on al Qaeda's leadership, thwarted plots here in the United States, and saved countless American lives.
Yet as the Christmas Day attempt illustrates, and as we were reminded this week by the sacrifices of more brave Americans in Afghanistan-including those seven dedicated men and women of the CIA-the hard work of protecting our nation is never done. So as our reviews continue, let us ask the questions that need to be asked. Let us make the changes that need to be made. Let us debate the best way to protect the country we all love. That is the right and responsibility of every American and every elected official.
But as we go forward, let us remember this-our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other. Let's never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago.
Instead of giving in to fear and cynicism, let's renew that timeless American spirit of resolve and confidence and optimism. Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let's summon the unity that this moment demands. Let's work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe.
As we begin this New Year, I cannot imagine a more fitting resolution to guide us-as a people and as a nation.
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This president is a giant, walking contradiction like none other! He speaks about working for safety while he talks of destroying NINETY-percent of our nukes, as if the bully nations around us will put down their rocks if we put down ours.
I wish I could respect him, but he isn't trustworthy nor has he earned anything but my suspicion and criticisms.
We, the people will make ourselves safe by being politically active, calm, and having the resolve to vote almost all of congress out because they are supporting and ENABLING this peculiar administration in the white house to "micro-manage" our lives and intrude where they have no business being.
Yes, he's destroying all those nukes. Its called keeping our word. The US has a bad history when it comes to treaties. We sign a treaty, just to end something, and then break it immediately.
We have 200 times the amount of nukes anyone else has. What do we need that many for? To prove we can turn the entire world to glass and asphalt? Everyone already knows we can do that. This is just eliminating the overkill. And alot of these weapons are old and getting unstable. That makes them dangerous just to store. Best to destroy them so they don't go off accidentally somewhere.
What, you think Russia will launch nukes at us? Their nukes don't even work. They bluffed us for 40 years. Every single Cold War incident was bluff and bravado. They had no confidence that any of their missiles would even get off the ground.
"He" is an appeaser to those that hate us, and yet a bully to we True Americans. Did you miss the reports, yes true and confirmed about how Rahm was sent a letter by a congressional leader, Issa was the guy's name, telling Rahm to knock it off, it being the bullying tactics. The letter said "this isn't Chicago" and that bullying Congress AND some governors of some states would not be acceptable.
BO is "strong before the weak and yet weak before the strong." This man is peculiar. WHY does he want a "Civilian Security Force" AS strong, big and as well-funded as our military?!" Indeed Hitler had his SS and they answered only to him.
Dontcha think our military will suffer from not being as funded as it should be if BO gets his Security force?
Bullies understand nothing but strength. They don't talk nice and then keep their own agreements. NINETY PERCENT is a huge amount and we should never say we'll disarm even partially. It's as stupid as putting a sign on the front of your home that by golly, you'll get rid of four guns and only keep one.
We are less safe with this peculiar man in the oval office. He is determined to "fundamentally change" our nation and he will "micro manage" our lives. He wants to be mama to us all, and mama can be a wytch when she gives us everything we need, cradle to grave, as the cliche goes.
Govt. needs to get OUT of our way and we will live our lives. BO wants to be IN between us and everything in our lives because THAT is what communist leaders do, and his mentor was an admitted Communist, reportedly a man named Frank Davis.
This president needs to be indicted for already having betrayed his oath of office, to defend the constitution instead of destroying it, nullifying it. (have not not heard recording of him on Chicago, Pulic radion in 2001, I think the date was and he was saying what was wrong with our Constitution? It didn't go far enough in aiding "redistribution," yada yada.
Nothing is wrong with our constitution and the folks that voted this man in were FOOLED by that mantra, "change." They rightly thought it meant CHANGE in their lives in a good way, but we now can see he meant CHANGE in the foundations of this nation.
Karen:
Cry me a river and then get real. We are all "true Americans," and your inference otherwise evidences just how truly ill-informed you have become in your hatred for a black president.
Yes, let's keep drinking the grape Kool-Aide, shall we?
This is why I want to eliminate political parties. Let's drown out the Republican mantra, shall we? SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST, BIRTHER!
At current count we have 5735 nuclear warheads active and immediately useable of various yields. Over 5000 of these are "strategic" weapons. We have another 4225 stockpiled, and could be made active quickly. Under the SORT treaty, SIGNED BY BUSH AND RATIFIED BY A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS, we need to drop below the 2200 level by 2012. Who's going to be throwing nukes at us? Russia? They couldn't find the button to push with a road map, compass and a GPS, if they figured how to work it. China has 105, India 30-35, Pakistan 3-5, and N. Korea 1-3. Of these, N. Korea is the only real threat, and they don't have a missile that can hit the US yet. They tried, but it failed miserably.
The only real nuke threat these days are a rogue state or group. That is the threat. Not some country throwing nukes at us. Not anymore.
(Sources are wikipedia.com and fas.org)
The sad fact is that we have to have our guard up 24/7. Those that wish to do us harm only have to be right once.
The other sad fact that the above responses indicate that partisan politics rule above solutions. Here's hoping that 2010 will show a change. "Voting the bums out" doesn't always work, only brings in new bums.
The Constitution wasn't perfect, that's why we have "amendments".
Happy New Year, All!
NY-David
Critical, you gotta be kidding me! Is THAT all you supporters of the white house can come up with?? Playing "the race card" when you encounter facts you cannot prove false?
WE are a bi-racial family! Even were we not, liberal talking-heads on tv like Maddow, etc. that call we conservatives racists ARE the racists. See this link about the book of the year that exposes the racists in the liberal party.
politics.thea...cy_stuff.php
I have a really cool suggestion! You and BobtheLiberal both go to the thread at this blog titled "Reform Congress" and read or reread my several posts and explain my points that prove the Communism in the liberal party.
Then, watch Glenn Beck to disprove him and get back to me. You can't disprove him because his team of researchers have so much information now that they have built a good argument for impeachments in DC.
Holy ShEET
did you see his latest executive order (today)
freerepublic....426271/posts