Was There Anything New In President Obama's Oval Office Terrorism Speech?

Chris Hannas, VOA: What's New in Obama's Terror Speech?

President Barack Obama's speech Sunday on confronting the threat of terrorism was met by analysts and lawmakers with questions of what is new about his strategy.

The president laid out a four-part plan to destroy the Islamic State group that included the airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, training fighters on the ground in those countries, working with allies to disrupt financing and recruiting, and seeking an end to Syria's civil war. Those elements are largely what the president announced when launching the airstrike campaign in August 2014.

Max Abrahms, a professor of political science at Northeastern University and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA that there is "widespread anxiety" about terrorism in the United States and that the president's speech was weak.

Update: Obama in speech to nation vows to defeat 'new phase' of terrorist threat -- Reuters

WNU Editor: People are asking me on what is my take on the President's speech .... so here it is. The speech was a disappointment .... there was really nothing new in what he said .... and it is also clear that there is no desire in President Obama's White House to focus on what the real problem is which is the growing number of devout Muslims who are now supporting groups like the Islamic State .... and who are even willing to use jihad to promote their faith. And while the "Islamic civil war" continues to rage in the Middle East ... the San Bernardino terror attack in California last week and the terror attacks in Paris last month are a clear indication to me that this conflict has now arrived within our borders .... we are no longer confronting them or fighting them over-there .... they are now here.

One more note .... President Obama used the word "was" in describing Al Qaeda .... there is no "was" with Al Qaeda .... they are still here and they are still very active.