Obama Adresses ISIL

Obama began his address to the nation when he directly stated that the United States will “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL”. He left no question as to whether America is capable of truly eliminating the terrorist group, because he then went on to bolster the country’s military capabilities that in turn provide security for the nation.The president dictated that because the nation’s military has succeeded in providing peace in the past, it is therefore capable of eradicating ISIL and ensuring a continued sense of safety for The United States of America.

Obama’s promise to destroy ISIL and to therefore protect America’s well being was delivered in a determined and reassuring manner. When he first addressed the threat of ISIL and similar terrorist organizations, he contended that The United States “must remain vigilant when these threats emerge”. His phrase, that the country “must remain vigilant”, implies that The United States has consistently been aware of and has actively disbanded sects of terrorist organizations in the past. America’s prior success in eliminating terrorism is why Obama stated that America must “remain” that way, meaning that his administration’s proactive response to ISIL is effective and is currently necessary for the continued prosperity of the nation.

The most effective part of President Obama’s message was his appeal to diminish ISIL as a unified nation. While he declared that he himself has the authority to authorize the destruction of ISIL, he concluded that  “we are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together”. Through this statement, the President advocated the support of congressmen to solidify his plan of intervention. He implied that through the backing of bipartisanship, The United States would be more capable in defeating ISIL as a united and organized front.

Truth Four is most apparent in analyzing Obama’s address to the nation on ISIL. That “Nothing is new: Everything that happens in the past will happen again” applies to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and America’s consistent intervention. American involvement in Iraq previously began (most recently) under president Bush during the Iraq war. While it is eleven years later, The United States still intervenes in foreign affairs, Iraq just being one example, when the subject of national security is concerned.