Obama: US Will Do ‘What’s Necessary’ To Stop Events Like Istanbul Attack

President Barack Obama comments to members of the media on the recent suicide attacks at Istanbul's airport during a bilateral meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Neito at the National Gallery of Canada in Ot... President Barack Obama comments to members of the media on the recent suicide attacks at Istanbul's airport during a bilateral meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Neito at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Canada, Wednesday, June 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS
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President Barack Obama expressed his condolences for the people of Turkey following a terrorist attack in an Instanbul airport Tuesday that killed 41 people.

Obama, speaking Wednesday after a joint meeting with Mexican and Canadian leaders, said he called Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan following the attacks to express his heartbreak and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Turkey.

“We stand with the people of Turkey and we intend to do what’s necessary to make sure that these kind of terrible events are not happening,” Obama said.

He also said the attacks were indicative of the Islamic State terror group’s failings and that they are losing control of the territories they seized. ISIL has yet to claim responsibility for the attack, but the Turkish government has said that it was most likely connected to the terrorist group.

“It’s an indication of them being unable to govern those areas they’ve taken over, that they are going to be defeated in Syria, they’re going to be defeated in Iraq, that had an impact on the entire civilized world,” Obama said. “And I know that view is shared by Mexico, it’s shared by Canada, it’s shared by all the people in this hemisphere and its shared in every region of the world.”

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  1. Erdogan has done more damage to Turkey than ISIS ever could.

  2. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Of all countries, Turkey is uniquely situated geographically to affect Isis’s capabilities in moving people between Syria and the West.

    It’ll be interesting to see how they respond.

  3. That sure is comforting, Barry! I feel better already.

    But I’ll feel even better when you start paying attention to our military leaders and do what is necessary to end the ISIL Caliphate.

    And yeah, I know you were the one to push the button on Ben Laden, but that’s old news. What have you done for us lately?

  4. I assume you refer to “our military leaders” on Fox News.

  5. Almost one-half of territory in Iraq that ISIS seized has been reclaimed. The other day the major city of Falluja was liberated. Mosul is next.

    About one-third of territory in Syria that ISIS seized has been reclaimed.

    Of the 43 original members who established ISIS, 39 have been killed.

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