‘The World Is United,’ Obama Tells 5 Arab Partners Who Joined Attack on ISIS

Photo Credit: AP / Pablo Martinez MonsivaisBy Patrick Goodenough.

President Obama on Tuesday thanked representatives of the five Arab nations that took part in Monday night’s U.S.-led airstrikes against terrorists in Syria “for their participation and commitment to rolling back the violent extremism that has so disrupted Iraq and Syria and threatens the region as a whole.”

“Because of the almost unprecedented effort of this coalition,” he said, “I think we now have an opportunity to send a very clear message that the world is united; that all of us are committed to making sure that we degrade and ultimately destroy not only ISIL, but also the kinds of extremist ideologies that would lead to so much bloodshed.”

Obama was speaking in New York during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, joined by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

“This is not going to be something that is quick, and it is not something that is going to be easy,” he said. “It will take time, and it’s not only a military effort.”

You might also like