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US stands united with Pakistan over school terror victims, says Obama
INP
WASHINGTON – United States President Barack Obama has vowed to relentlessly hunt down “terrorists” from “Pakistan to the streets of Paris,” before calling on the Congress to approve new war powers against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
In his sixth State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama argued that US military leadership in Iraq and Syria is stopping ISIL from advancing, but asked lawmakers “to show the world that we are united in this mission” with a war authorisation vote. Republican lawmakers have said that they are prepared to work with him to pass such a measure, if he sends a proposal up to Capitol Hill. “Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group,” he said. He reaffirmed US solidarity with the victims of the December 16 terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar as he underlined his administration’s determination to fight terrorists. “We stand united with people around the world who’ve been targeted by terrorists from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris,” the US president said that with the lawmakers on the Capitol Hill greeting his anti terror resolve with applause.
“The US will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks and we 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,” he said. At the same time Obama noted that they have learned some costly lessons over the last thirteen years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In this respect he referred to the security transition in Afghanistan. “Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan we’ve trained their security forces who’ve now taken the lead and we’ve honored our troops sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas we are partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America.” “Washington is demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We are upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small by opposing Russian aggression supporting Ukraine’s democracy and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, some suggested that Putin’s aggression was a masterful display of strategy and strength. Well today it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated with its economy in tatters,” said Obama. Sounding upbeat amidst strong American economic upturn Obama said the verdict is clear. Obama also promoted his administration’s efforts to revive relations with Cuba after 50 years of hostility.
“Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people,” he said. “And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo - on Cuba,” he said. The US president also warned Congress in the address that any move to impose new sanctions on Iran could undermine negotiations aimed at reaching a complex nuclear deal. “New sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails,” he said in his address to the Republican-controlled Congress.
“Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear programme and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran.” “That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress,” he said, referring to an interim accord under which Tehran has frozen its uranium enrichment in return for limited sanctions relief.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk