Obama Says US Making “Progress” Against Terrorists, Warns Extremists are “Still Plotting”
EmailABC News' Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report:
President Obama traveled to the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia today to thank the 16 intelligence departments and agencies for their work which – he says – has helped make progress in disrupting and defeating al Qaeda.
"I want every American to know about the difference you've made — especially in recent months and days. Because of you, and all the organizations you represent, we're making real progress in our core mission: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and other extremist networks around the world."
The President mentioned the coordination and the intelligence that they collected which has led to success in the US is the last several weeks, and mentioned specifically the arrests made in Denver, New York, Illinois and Texas to make America safer.
The President called once again for a redoubling of efforts against "resourceful," "determined" and "resilient" extremists who he says – are "still plotting" against the US and allies.
"We need you more than ever. Our troops and our intelligence officers in the field, our diplomats overseas, our law enforcement here at home, they all depend on you — your analysis, your insights, your ability to work together, across divisions and disciplines, turning information into intelligence and sharing it quickly, in real time, with those who need it."
The President did not mentioned Afghanistan – but said that the fight against al Qaeda and its extremist allies threaten the US from different corners of the globe.
"That's why we're applying focused and relentless pressure on al Qaeda — by sharing more intelligence, strengthening the capacity of our partners, disrupting terrorist financing, cutting off supply chains, and inflicting major losses on al Qaeda's leadership."
The President said the message should be clear –"We will target al Qaeda wherever they take root; we will not yield in our pursuit; and we are developing the capacity and the cooperation to deny a safe haven to any who threaten America and its allies."
The primary goal of the President's short speech and briefing at the so called counterterrorism "bat cave" today was to thank the NCTC for the their work.
"You're showing us what focused and integrated counterterrorism really looks like. And the record of your service is written in the attacks that never occur — because you thwarted them; and in the countless Americans who are alive today — because you saved them. For that, America is in your debt."
-Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller
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It’s getting clearer that Mr. Obama would blame Bush, but not give credit to Bush when or where it is due.
Posted by: young_voter | October 6, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
It’s getting clearer that Mr. Obama would blame Bush, but not give credit to Bush when or where it is due.
Posted by: young_voter
question is: why didn’t Bush finish the 2 wars he started…… why didn’t he catch Bin Laden ‘wanted dead or alive’… remember?
left it all for for Obama who has to clean up the mess
Posted by: PO'd | October 6, 2009, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
It’s getting clearer that Obama is eventually going to have to man up, think he has it in him?
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | October 6, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Our President talks. Ad infinitum he talks. We should have known that anyone so talented with the talking, would be totally incompetent in anything else. Perhaps he is an ‘idiot savant’, with his one talent being his gift of gab. Sure he’s been issuing executive orders and talking up Pelosi/Reid designed legislation, but has he produced any results?
Posted by: N'erdowell | October 6, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
If Bush said this he would have been trashed.
Posted by: LongT | October 6, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
If Bush said this he would have been trashed.
Posted by: LongT
after a certain point, what Bush said was completely meaningless… he also had a problem speaking english…
8 years….. look at the devastating cost to america in lives and financial resources
Posted by: PO'd | October 6, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Jees, does this guy ever stay in his office and work? Nothing but photo ops, day after day. On second thought, maybe it’s better he stays OUT of his office!
Posted by: W. Axl Rose | October 6, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Right. We never knew where or when William Ayers or Bernidine Dohrn would strike next. New York City police station? Pentagon? A judge’s home?
No problem.
Then, Obama makes friends with William Ayers and communist gatherings in New York, in the 1980s and follows Ayers to Chicago where Ayers helps Obama and writes a letter of recommendation to Harvard, and later writes Obama’s memoir, Dreams of My Father,
Posted by: Colonel Rebel | October 6, 2009, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Obama makes friends with William Ayers and communist gatherings in New York,
Posted by: Colonel Rebel
and Bush and his father held hands with the Saudis who bleed america and support terrorists who attack america..
Posted by: PO'd | October 6, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Maybe Obama learned something in Copenhagen.
This speech didn’t mention his life story. Must have been difficult to not include it or talk on and on about himself.
Posted by: hank | October 6, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Didn’t this wimp just back stab the CIA a month ago for doing their job and protecting America? It is just another photo op and speech by the “Boring-One”.
Posted by: Peter Smith | October 6, 2009, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Obama is just keeping the ‘boogieman’ alive. You could change the name Obama in this story to Bush, and the comments would be entirely different.
Posted by: LongT | October 6, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Sec’y Gates suggested U.S. and allied failure to put more troops into Afghanistan in the past, when then-president George W. Bush shifted resources to invade Iraq, gave the Taliban an edge.
However, Obama needs months to decide whether to put more troops in NOW.
What?
Posted by: I'm not a President, but I Play One on TV | October 6, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
>>and Bush and his father held hands with the Saudis<<
Bush is long gone, expert. Find another Demonrat talking point to spew.
Posted by: Ronnie Van Zant | October 6, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
“and Bush and his father held hands with the Saudis who bleed america and support terrorists who attack america..”
Posted by: PO’d | Oct 6, 2009 3:38:10 PM
And Dear Leader bowed subserviently to Saudi King Abdullah.
Posted by: Appeasement Czar | October 6, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE TIE THIS MAN TO HIS DESK AND MAKE HIM WORK??? Photo-op after Photo-Op now that people are tired of seeing him on T.V. Guess what? We are tired of the campaigning too. The election is over! START WORKING!
Posted by: wheresmymoney | October 6, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
In what country is he talking about??
Posted by: Jim Rod | October 6, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
PO D I cannot figure your thought pattern?? Bush’s embrassed the leaders of the terrorists?
Or is this a sarcasim that Obama bowed to Chavez? or Ackmu I am nut job that terrorist in Iran? Do not forget Obama apoligized for some body over there. Sure was not for me cause I am not sorry. I am an American so they can all eat my dust if they do not want to play by the rules.
Posted by: Jim Rod | October 6, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
PO’d: Just two points for you 1.Bush is no longer President Obama is and is terrible. 2. Pelosi, Reed, Dodd, Frank and the Democratic majority in congress since Jan. 07 have a lot to do with how screwed up out situation is. Bush may not have been great but so Far Obama is worse. Letting troops die in Afghanistan because it would hurt him politically to send more troops as the Generals have asked for. Watch something other than MSDNC and Keith Olbermann.
Posted by: batesba74 | October 6, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
It’s sort of like the crusades of days gone past, no matter how many guys you slay in the name of western civilization, there are just a few more generations of willing soldiers to continue the fight (for centuries).. I hope he is realistic about this set of conflicts.. I’ve been squashing gnats in my condo for days.. but they never go away..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | October 6, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
We have a *SEVEN year ignored war in Afghanistan because Bush Ignored The Afghanistan War while allowing the Taliban to regain their hold during the Bush administration. And Bush also made it possible for the rebuilding of terrorists locations when He, Bush the worst president ever, ignored the Afghan War.
To state otherwise is a lie.
Obama on the other hand is the smartest president we have ever had. Putting our resorces back into Afghanistan will correct what Bush and Cheney made wrong.
Posted by: Angie | October 6, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Ultra-liberal columnist Richard Cohen reveals his grave doubts about this president:
“But the ultimate in realism is for the president to gauge himself and who he is: Does he have the stomach and commitment for what is likely to continue to be an unpopular war? Will he send additional troops, but hedge by not sending enough — so that the dying will be in vain? What does he believe, and will he ask Americans to die for it? Only he knows the answers to these questions. But based on his zigzagging so far and the suggestion from the Copenhagen trip that the somber seriousness of the presidency has yet to sink in, we have reason to wonder.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 6, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
This president is a disgrace.
Posted by: JVH | October 6, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
“8 years….. look at the devastating cost to america in lives and financial resources”
And Democrats, including liberals, supported him all the way.
Posted by: Chuck | October 6, 2009, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
It appears that the myth of Barack Obama being an intellectual may be coming to an end.Today William Ayers confirmed what has been suspected for months-that he wrote “Dreams From my Father”.If this is true then the entire basis for his “brilliance” will go down the drain.Why would Mr. Obama say “I REALLY wrote those two books” if he didn’t see this coming?Is the media going to finally look into this 21st century version of “Profiles in Courage”,Theodore Sorensen’s excellent book passed of as JFK’s?
Posted by: Nephron | October 6, 2009, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
You guys on here with your negative comments are such losers.You Republicans from the base or extreme right are pathetic. No matter what Obama does you knock him.And America is catching on to how Un-American you are.as evidenced by the Presidents approval rating going up today no matter how much you knock him.You are so blinded by your hate for Obama you can’t see love for your country.Not for one minute can you sit back and be thankful that the terrorist attacks failed and no American lives were lost.Just think if they had suceeded the headlines about Obama not being able to protect America would be off the charts.But when we suceed he gets no credit.You guys are a disgrace. You proberly still celebrating that America lost the olympics.
Posted by: kenneth | October 7, 2009, 12:29 am 12:29 am
Bush is long gone,
Posted by: Ronnie Van Zant
‘ the evil that men do live long after them’
Posted by: 007 | October 7, 2009, 1:16 am 1:16 am
And Democrats, including liberals, supported him all the way.
Posted by: Chuck
will any republican/ neo-con/ conservative/tea party/ fringe/ right winger/ freeper/ evangelical isolationist/ birther/ deather/ 10th-er/ etc.
ever admit
that Bush’s policies, [he was president] devastated America……….
Posted by: BooHoo | October 7, 2009, 1:22 am 1:22 am
Notice, not a word about the IDEOLOGY that motivates these terrorists. What a disconnect from reality. Terrorism is a tactic, this is definitely NOT ”a small minority of extremists” it’s an integral part of mainstream belief & it has a name: JIHAD.
Of course, we’re all so politically correct, we’re not supposed to mention the name of this totalitarian ideology.
But, I’ll give you a clue, they’re not Buddhists.
Posted by: Terry | October 7, 2009, 8:08 am 8:08 am
In the meantime, nothing much is being done about Iran. Talk about a terrorist threat! Blah, blah, blah from Obama – his legacy will be a nuclear-armed Iran, possibly a nuclear war in the Middle-East, & a guarantee of nuclear proliferation around the world.
Posted by: Terry | October 7, 2009, 8:15 am 8:15 am
Iran is making progress on their nuclear bombs while all Obama wants to do is talk,mainly about himself.Israel will have to take care of Iran by itself and the sooner the better.
Posted by: Johnny L | October 7, 2009, 9:35 am 9:35 am
But, I thought the war on terror was over???????
Posted by: sammy | October 7, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Idiot 007 said: ‘ the evil that men do live long after them’
Yeah, keeping us safe from another 9-11 was evil.
Posted by: Ronnie Van Zant | October 7, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
will any republican/ neo-con/ conservative/tea party/ fringe/ right winger/ freeper/ evangelical isolationist/ birther/ deather/ 10th-er/ etc. ever admit that Bush’s policies, [he was president] devastated America……….
Posted by: BooHoo | Oct 7, 2009 1:22:01 AM
Oh, puh-lease. THAT would require reflection, honesty and self-awareness. Good lord, it’s much easier to diss the President for thanking the NCTC for the their work.
Posted by: Alyson | October 7, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
OBAMA FOOLS AROUND WITH AFGHANISTAN AS PRES JOHNSON DID WITH VIETNAM = DISASTER!!!!! ALSO, PAKISTAN GOES DOWN AND THE BAD GUYS WILL OWN THE NUKES – WONDERFUL.
Posted by: Jimbo | October 7, 2009, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
BUSH WON IN IRAQ AFTER A POOR START AND AFTER OBAMA, REID AND PELOSI PROCLAIMED WE HAVE LOST! LET’S SEE HOW OBAMA DOES IN AFGHANISTAN. OBAMA NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, JUST IT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT IRAQ.
Posted by: Jimbo | October 7, 2009, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
I can only hope that Obama has the for-with-all to realize his inexperience and ignorance in dealing with military operations and pull out our remaining forces in Afghanistan, if he insist on ignoring his Generals recommendations, thus saving lives…He is totally clueless in International Affairs…Just don’t touch anything else Obama, and play leader until 2012…..
Posted by: Parallex View | October 8, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm