In his last scheduled national security address as president, Barack Obama spoke of the importance, as well as the limits, of military power in the fight against violent extremism. In order to counter terrorism most effectively, it's necessary, he said, to take a long view of the terrorist threat, and pursue a smart strategy that can be sustained.
One key component, President Obama said, is"drawing on the strength of our diplomacy". Terrorists, he noted, would love for us to withdraw from building international coalitions, which, over the past few years, have played important roles.
"We've rolled back Iran's nuclear program, and kept the safety of nuclear material around the globe, reducing the risk that they fall into the hands of terrorists. We've eliminated Syria's declared chemical weapons program. All of those activities have helped keep us safe and keep our troops safe. Those are all the results of diplomacy."
