 |
| © Provided by USA Today |
"As we go into Thanksgiving weekend, I want the American people to know that we are taking every possible step to keep our homeland safe," Obama told reporters after his meeting, adding that U.S. military, intelligence, and law enforcement officials are "working overtime" this Thanksgiving.
As officials bolster security at the nation's borders and airports, Obama urged Americans to go about their Thanksgiving activities as usual, but also to be "vigilant" about unusual activity.
"If you see something suspicious, say something," Obama said. "That's always helpful."
The national security team briefed Obama "on our homeland security posture in the wake of the tragic attacks in Paris and as we enter the holiday season," the White House said in a statement.
After a similar meeting on Tuesday, the White House said that Obama "was briefed that there is currently no specific, credible threat to the homeland" from the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed at least 130 people.
Obama and aides have said that homeland security officials are stepping up their efforts in the wake of the Paris attacks. The Islamic State, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, has made more threats against the United States and its allies.
On Tuesday, Obama met with French President Francois Hollande to discuss a global strategy to counter the Islamic State.
While Republican presidential candidates and other critics say that Obama's strategy is inadequate, the president said he is intensifying the existing plan that stresses airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq and the training of local forces to carry the fight on the ground. Obama has repeatedly said he would not deploy U.S. combat troops to the battle.
Citing that plan in his remarks Wednesday, Obama said the United States and allies have conducted more than 8,000 airstrikes, re-taken land, and worked to cut off the group's financing, all designed to step up the pressure on the Islamic State "where it lives."
As for the United States, Obama said that, "right now, we know of no specific and credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland." He later added: "In the event of a specific, credible threat, the public will be informed."
Obama's national security meeting included Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FBI Director James Comey.
While the threat of terrorism "is a troubling reality of our age," Obama said later, "we are resilient in the face of those who would try to do us harm. And that's something we can all be thankful for."
The president again expressed solidarity with the people of Paris.
"For many of us," he said, "the events there touched a deep chord."
0 Response to "President Obama: No Terror Plot"
Thanks for give comment.