NEW YORK – President Barack Obama spoke to the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday – as a parade of leaders did the same – and outlined where the United States stood on the Syrian chemical weapons issue and its Middle East policy in general.
“So let me take this opportunity to outline what has been U.S. policy towards the Middle East and North Africa, and what will be my policy during the remainder of my presidency,” Mr. Obama said.
“The United States of America is prepared to use all elements of our power, including military force, to secure our core interests in the region.
“We will confront external aggression against our allies and partners, as we did in the Gulf War.
“We will ensure the free flow of energy from the region to the world. Although America is steadily reducing our own dependence on imported oil, the world still depends on the region’s energy supply, and a severe disruption could destabilize the entire global economy.”
Even as the U.S. threatened a military strike on Syria in recent days, the President said that America is “shifting away from a perpetual war footing.”
“As a result of this work, and cooperation with allies and partners, the world is more stable than it was five years ago. But even a glance at today’s headlines indicates that dangers remain,” the President said, pointing to recent events in Kenya and Pakistan and saying that al Qaeda is still poised to strike.
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