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September 11, 2014

Obama Claims Authority to Expand Strikes to Syria 
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President Obama has authorized U.S. airstrikes for the first time in
Syria and their expansion in Iraq against the militant group Islamic
State. In a prime-time address, Obama vowed to hunt down Islamic State
militants "wherever they are."

President Obama: "We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country,
wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against
ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my
presidency: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven. ... I
want the American people to understand how this effort will be different
from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American
combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counterterrorism campaign
will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL
wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partners'
forces on the ground."

Obama also announced he is sending 475 more U.S. military troops to
Iraq, bringing the total to 1,600.

 

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