WASHINGTON-
The following are key quotes from US President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday in which he outlined his strategy to “destroy” the jihadist forces of the Islamic State:
ACTION IN SYRIA
“I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”
MORE STRIKES IN IRAQ
“Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.”
DEGRADE AND DESTROY
“Our objective is clear: we will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”
BROAD COALITION
“So tonight, with a new Iraqi government in place, and following consultations with allies abroad and Congress at home, I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat.”
NO GROUND TROOPS
“I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.”
HELP TO SYRIAN OPPOSITION
“Across the border, in Syria, we have ramped up our military assistance to the Syrian opposition. Tonight, I again call on Congress to give us additional authorities and resources to train and equip these fighters.”
MORE ADVISORS IN IRAQ
“We will send an additional 475 service members to Iraq. As I have said before, these American forces will not have a combat mission – we will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq.”
IS — NOT ISLAMIC
“Now let’s make two things clear: ISIL is not Islamic . No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL s victims have been Muslim. And ISIL is certainly not a state. (…) ISIL is a terrorist organization, pure and simple. And it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way.”
UNIQUE IN THEIR BRUTALITY
“In a region that has known so much bloodshed, these terrorists are unique in their brutality. They execute captured prisoners. They kill children. They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage. They threatened a religious minority with genocide. In acts of barbarism, they took the lives of two American journalists — Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff.”
GROWING THREAT
“If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region — including to the United States.”
RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD
“As Americans, we welcome our responsibility to lead. From Europe to Asia – from the far reaches of Africa to war-torn capitals of the Middle East – we stand for freedom, for justice, for dignity. (…) I ask for your support in carrying that leadership forward.