Despite conflicts across the globe, President Obama told American troops on Christmas that the world has become safer in recent years.
Speaking to service members at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the president also vowed that as the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan ends, the nation never again will be home to terrorists bent on striking the American homeland.
“Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country. We are safer. It’s not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again,” he said. “We still have folks in Afghanistan helping the Afghan security forces. We have people helping to deal with Ebola in Africa and obviously we have folks stationed all around the world. But the world is better, it’s safer, it’s more peaceful. It’s more prosperous and our homeland is protected because of you and the sacrifices [you make] each and every day.”
Mr. Obama and the first family are vacationing in Hawaii during the holidays and will return to Washington after New Year’s Day.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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