Face-to-face interview data of 11,452 Syrian participants from 2008 to 2015 show that Syrians’ physical (e.g., access to shelter), mental (e.g., life satisfaction), and social (e.g., social support) well-being decline substantially. We adopted a global perspective in examining the impact of the Syrian conflict on Syrians’ physical, mental, and social well-being using the Gallup World Poll. She will also cite "chaotic unrest in many of our cities" and "the most dangerous terrorist threat our nation has seen since September 11th.The United Nations described the Syrian conflict as the worst man-made disaster since World War II. "As he enters his final year in office, many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels." South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is expected to say in her rebuttal of Obama's address that "the president's record has often fallen far short of his soaring words."
"There's no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office." "It's one of the few regrets of my presidency - that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better," he said in a moment of personal candor. In an unorthodox speech that tried to lift the country's gaze beyond the next year, and beyond his presidency, Obama also tackled the country's broken politics. Senior US officials said they had received assurances the crews would sail onwards come first light, but Republicans have held the crisis up as evidence that Obama was naive to engage with Tehran. Tuesday's primetime address was perhaps Obama's last big opportunity to sway a national audience and frame the 2016 election race.Īround 30 million viewers are expected to watch live, a nationwide audience that may only be matched in political terms during the Democratic nominating convention later this year.īut it risked being overshadowed by news that 10 US Navy personnel have been taken to an Iranian naval base in the Gulf.
That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn't pass muster on the world stage." "Our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. He also lashed out at rhetoric over the rise of the Islamic State group, which he admitted poses an "enormous danger."īut he emphasized: "They do not threaten our national existence." "Over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands," he said. With less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses - the first votes cast in the process to replace him, Obama berated talking points used by Republican candidates, saying "anyone claiming that America's economy is in decline is peddling fiction."
"Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. While vowing to work to find a cure for cancer, accelerate the shift away from "dirty energy" and end the last remnants of the Cold War by engaging with Cuba, Obama said "America has been through big changes before." In an election-year marquee event, President Obama hailed a period of "extraordinary change" laden with both opportunity and the risk of wider inequality.Ī confident President Obama sought to cast himself as an optimistic foil to foes who warn the country is going in the wrong direction after his seven years in office. President Barack Obama today told Americans nervous about terror and the changing economy that they should not fear the future, in a farewell State of the Union address that drew sharp contrast with Republicans.