US stands by terror victims from 'Pakistan to Paris': Obama
PHOTO: US President Barack Obama delivering the State of The Union address.
Washington (AFP) - Washington stands side-by-side with victims of terror around the world, President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday, asking lawmakers to give him updated war powers to defeat Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
"We stand united with people around the world who ve been targeted by terrorists, from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris," Obama said in the country s annual State of the Union address. "We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks."
Obama also asked US lawmakers to give him updated war powers to use American military might to go after the Islamic State (IS) group, saying it would give his administration the authority it needs.
"This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed," he vowed. The US has already unleashed dozens of airstrikes against the militants since September, using the powers enshrined in legislation adopted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to hunt down Al-Qaeda. But US officials have argued that a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) is needed.
"Tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL," Obama said. But he stressed US officials "reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we ve done relentlessly since I took office, to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies."
Obama also stressed “we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims – the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace.”
Promising to stand up for and respect human dignity, Obama added: “That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.”
“We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us safer.”
