President Obama addresses ISIL

Obama’s message on Wednesday night addressed what the United States’ objective is as far as how to proceed with ICIL: “we will degrade, and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”

Obama states many clear methods on how this will all occur: Primarily, the US plans to conduct airstrikes and eliminate terrorists that currently pose any kind of threat to the country. Obama emphasized that anyone who threatens America “will find no safe haven.” Obama also stated that the US will increase the amount of service members in Iraq and help educate and train Iraqi and Kurdish forces. The US will eventually help Iraq renew their freedom over ISIL control. Along with these goals, Obama also plans to perform several acts of counterterrorism: strengthen defense systems, educate our forces and further prevent ISIL attacks. Obama also aspires to continue to assist innocent civilians who have become affected by the terrors of ISIL.

President Obama delivered this menage with determination and confidence. His tone throughout the speech made it seem that there is no alternative to this plan. He describes the true barbarism of ISIL by addressing acts of rape, murder and violent bloodshed. He discusses the danger ISIL poses to innocent civilians and promises that “America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat.”

The most effective part of Obama’s speech is his sense of patriotism. Granted, Obama address very gruesome instances of murder and bloodshed, however he instills a sense of domestic security toward the end of his speech that cause Americans to gain his trust. Obama states his plan to eliminate ISIL, then he ensures that we will “do whatever it takes to defend this nation.”

In this speech, media truth #4: “nothing is new” is very prevalent. ISIL is a terrorist group like any other. We have seen so many races, religions and innocent civilians targeted in events such as the Holocaust, 9/11 and multiple genocides. As terrible as it is, terrorism is nothing new. We have seen this before, and unfortunately, we will continue to see terroristic acts throughout the rest of our lives.