Obama on ISIS: "They’re not an existential threat to us"

[PartySick 172,477]

1 minute ago, Whispering said:

You may feel that way, but millions of people feel differently. They want action, they want someone who is taking seriously as a potential threat, because they feel that it is. 

Well it's like the article says. He's not saying they pose no threat, just that it's foolish to think they can take us down. He also knows that it's better to play it calm and smart rather than run around screaming "ISIS IS GONNA GET US" like some Americans do...(referencing my conservative family, here).

Idk, that's the biggest reason why I've supported Obama. He's a calm guy and a diplomat. Not a war monger and not someone who thinks our only option is out right violence. Even in the face of monsters like this. I understand what you mean, though.

2 minutes ago, YourSweet666 said:

 

Drumpf talked about nukes, closing borders, Cruz talked about carpet bombing and now recently about close surveillance of muslim neighbourhoods. If people are stupid enough to vote for them based on that rhetoric idk what to say.

 

Yeah  I don't really know what to say about them anymore. If people haven't seen that they're bigots (or at least playing off of bigotry) yet then there's really no hope aside from voting Democrat if you can.

[Whispering 18,865]

12 minutes ago, YourSweet666 said:

 

But he's trying to calm everyone down, there's no benefit in panicking.

and this part

"Groups like ISIL can’t destroy us, they can’t defeat us." - is reassuring them.

I don't get how is that seen as weakness? If people expect him to talk about nukes...idk

If he had to make a statement, he couldn't have said it any other way.

 

It isn't reassuring to people to tell them there isn't a threat, when they believe there is one. They will see his statements as weakness or that of ignoring an ever growing threat. They don't want this to be the "new normal". 

Obama had to make a statement, no doubt about that. He didn't make a statement that will be seen by many as acceptable. The statement he made will push many away from the democrats in upcoming elections. 

[lego 44,165]

2 minutes ago, Whispering said:

It isn't reassuring to people to tell them there isn't a threat, when they believe there is one. They will see his statements as weakness of that of ignoring an ever growing issue. They don't want this to be the "new normal". 

He had to make a statement, no doubt about that. He didn't make a statement that will be seen by many as acceptable. The statement he made will push many away from the democrats in upcoming elections. 

 

He didn't say there is no threat tho. 

They're not existential threat and that's true.

People want to see action? Well it's not that easy. They are already being bombed in Syria and Iraq. You can't just know about sleeping cells in Europe, so they need strong intelligence. It's expected that when one main figure dies or is arrested, revenge attacks follow. About travel alert,

"While such a broad advisory would strike some as too vague, security experts said it was appropriate, given the circumstances. "With attacks all across Europe, it would be ill-advised to try and single out a specific country," says Edward Clark, senior security consultant for iJET International. The U.S. doesn’t warn against all travel, necessarily, but instead urges Americans to “exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation.”

...

"The State Department's alert does expire June 20, around the height of tourist season in several European countries; it's also a fairly typical three-month alert, and not as broad as the global alert issued in November following the Paris attacks."

http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-03-23/us-state-department-issues-travel-warning-for-all-of-europe

 

I'm not sure what the Americans, you're talking about, expect from Obama to say. Hillary said nothing new either.

 

[Sister 9,907]

6 hours ago, PartySick said:

As part of his trip to Argentina, President Obama co-hosted a press conference yesterday with President Mauricio Macri, and a reporter asked about the “optics” of Obama continuing with his schedule in the wake of the terrorist attack in Brussels. The American leader’s response raised some eyebrows.

“Groups like ISIL can’t destroy us, they can’t defeat us. They don’t produce anything. They’re not an existential threat to us. They are vicious killers and murderers who perverted one of the world’s great religions.

“And their primary power, in addition to killing innocent lives, is to strike fear in our societies, to disrupt our societies, so that the effect cascades from an explosion or an attack by a semi-automatic rifle.”

ISIS is obviously dangerous and capable of deadly acts of terrorism, but to see these terrorists as an existential threat to our entire country is ridiculous. Not to put too fine a point on this, but the United States is a profoundly strong country, with the largest economy and largest military on the planet. ISIS, meanwhile, is a death cult with guns, suicide vests, and delusions of grandeur packaged in an effective online media operation.

X

~~~~~

I put this in the society tag because I feel terrorism is more of a human issue than a political one. It's about how we react to violence and fear mongering and whether we let ourselves become irrational, hateful, and cold towards our Muslim brothers and sisters based on the actions of a few people who're trying to disrupt our lives through meaningless violence. Obama is right, for obvious reasons, but more so, he's not feeding ISIS like some others are. He's not trying to ban Islam or close our borders because he knows those things will only feed ISIS' message. They want to convince the impoverished to fight for them. They want you to turn away refugees because that makes them bitter and easier to radicalize. They want you to call for violence against Muslim people because that gives their propaganda the evidence it needs.

The only way to fight them is to love and be accepting. Offer a hand to the people they're trying to make pick up guns. That's how we beat them.

Excellent post~

[Whispering 18,865]

@YourSweet666 

The travel warning is unusual, especially one for all of Europe, for that length of time. A three month warning from the State Department is something that people will pay attention to and that concerns them. The State Dept. might rescind the travel warning early...or they might extend it. No one knows and only time will tell. 

You can bring over hundreds of articles, but that won't change the fact that people are concerned about these threats and that people always put their personal and family's safety first, before any political issue, when they feel it is threatened. That's what has the potential of pushing more people to certain types of leaders. You may personally disagree with their thinking, but that won't stop people from thinking that way. 

 

[PaperIz 7,354]

That sounds weak and like he's ignoring the problem imo

[PartySick 172,477]

1 hour ago, Sister said:

Excellent post~

Why thank you

1 hour ago, PaperIz said:

That sounds weak and like he's ignoring the problem imo

*unsubscribes from your channel* 

Spoiler

Kidding

Spoiler

Or am I?

Spoiler

No, I am

 

 

But I don't think it sounds weak. It sounds sensible. If we flip out and act like the sky is falling, that's not going to get us anywhere. If we take a deep breath, mourn the lost, and approach this with patience, caution, but also a steely resolve, there's absolutely no way we'll be beaten.

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

3 hours ago, YourSweet666 said:

 

 

What exactly is wrong/incorrect with what he said?

Was he suppose to incite more fear like Republicans do?

No but I'm just saying this will push more people towards Trump. There's nothing wrong with what he said but I know people will say he's not "taking it seriously" and say we need a "strong leader" aka Trump  

[PaperIz 7,354]

55 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Why thank you

*unsubscribes from your channel* 

  Hide contents

Kidding

  Hide contents

Or am I?

  Hide contents

No, I am

 

 

But I don't think it sounds weak. It sounds sensible. If we flip out and act like the sky is falling, that's not going to get us anywhere. If we take a deep breath, mourn the lost, and approach this with patience, caution, but also a steely resolve, there's absolutely no way we'll be beaten.

I don't think he's weak or ignoring it but it sounds thst way. I don't think we should be up in arms and threatening wwiii but to say they're not a threat doesn't sound like a real thing. I know they won't win in the end but they still seem threatening 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

He's right. They're not a threat to the USA. They're a threat to other countries though, and the USA is actively working to assist in more ways than one.

What's with all the fuss here? How does this make him "weak" or something... If anything it reaffirms the strength of the USA in dealing with them as they deserve.

Lack of reading comprehension and biased pereceptions are on full display in this thread.

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

You're all approaching this from a logical viewpoint. 

A lot of Americans don't..... think logically  

These people are driven by fear and want a leader that will "take action" 

What Obama said is true. But in this election cycle I can assure you people would've preferred him to incite slight fear  

I know it's stupid. Welcome to America, bitches. 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

7 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

You're all approaching this from a logical viewpoint. 

A lot of Americans don't..... think logically  

These people are driven by fear and want a leader that will "take action" 

What Obama said is true. But in this election cycle I can assure you people would've preferred him to incite slight fear  

I know it's stupid. Welcome to America, bitches. 

... 

True...

[Melech 9,900]

6 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

You're all approaching this from a logical viewpoint. 

A lot of Americans don't..... think logically  

These people are driven by fear and want a leader that will "take action" 

What Obama said is true. But in this election cycle I can assure you people would've preferred him to incite slight fear  

I know it's stupid. Welcome to America, bitches. 

Don't blame Americans only. Almost every in European countries the far right is growing. Ignorance is not an American only thing. The Afd in Germany, Golden Dawn in Greece or Front National in France are some prime examples. 

The one in Germany actually suggested to shoot children, woman and man who try to come to germany illegally. 

Spoiler

i never saw myself defending the US  

 

[politicqxs 358]

obama hates europe and russia and white america its so obvious

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

10 minutes ago, Simon said:

Don't blame Americans only. Almost every in European countries the far right is growing. Ignorance is not an American only thing. The Afd in Germany, Golden Dawn in Greece or Front National in France are some prime examples. 

The one in Germany actually suggested to shoot children, woman and man who try to come to germany illegally. 

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i never saw myself defending the US  

 

2016, the year of the impossible. 

Trump becomes president, Simon defends the US.