Obama on ISIL-Janette Ream

Janette Ream

Comm 255

Professor Elie

18 September 2014

First off, I would like to note that I have viewed two of the videos from ISIL that involve the be-headings of the American journalist James Foley and the American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff and they are rather uncomfortable to watch and I am glad that Obama is doing what he believes to be best in response to these killings.

In regards to the speech that Obama gave on Wednesday, I think that it was given really well, and that Obama is a really good public speaker regardless. I would like to mention that it is commendable that he mentions right away that the group ISIL is not "Islamic" and that "no religion condones the killing of innocents". This is important for the American people to hear because many Americans are still blaming a religion as the cause for all the hate toward America, it simply is not true and we need to end this assumption.

I find it very agreeable that the action that Obama is taking is in the interest of not creating another ground war in the Middle East and instead trying to focus more on distanced strikes and helping the newly formed government in regards to humanitarian efforts. As for the fact that these "precision" strikes are hitting exactly what they should be (the enemy), is taken for granted by the American people. American media will always try to do what it does best, that is put America on a "we can do no wrong" pedestal.

In the end, I think that Obama did his best with the speech by making it simple and outlining the steps that he plans to take, also by appealing to America's heroic leadership, and ending very optimistic approach about the future.