strikes, currently underway do not do the job. the white house has pushed back on that line of thinking, saying there are no plans right now to have ground troops. the president is not even considering that, a the pentagon was simply talking about that has an option because it is their responsibility to plan for every contingency. a fascinating speech expected to come in just a skoup l -- coupl of minutes. had his big speech to the nation last week. he will be talked to the united nations next week. and again, this is the military component, again, where the president is talking specifically to the troops, what the military operation will be, what responsibilities the military will have, and the expectations that the obama

administration has for the pentagon's role in all of this, and you can expect the president to praise the troops for all of their bravery, and all of their efforts. let's listen very quickly to commander justin as he introduces the president and the president will step up next. >> and what happens in those areas, good and bad, can and does have an impact on the security of our homeland and in our interests. and so what you do each and every day matters. indeed your efforts and the sacrifices that you make are incredibly important, and very much appreciated. and you should know that all of our leaders, to include those who work at the most senior levels of our government recognize your hard work, and they are grateful for your service and committed to making sure you have what you need to

get the job done and to get it done well, and to do it as safely as possible. we're all very appreciative of the president's and first's lady support of our trooping serves around the world and their families. this is a testment of how important you are to him and how important you are to our country. and now i know this crowd is ready and able to give our special guest a very warm tampa welcome, and ladies and gentlemen, it is my sincere privilege and honor to introduce the 44th president of the and our commander in chief, president barack obama. [ cheers and applause ] ♪

>> put this in perspective -- and we'll talk more on the other side of the speech about the response from the crowd, a -- let's listen to the president of the united states. >> i want to thank general austin for his introduction. lloyd, for your exceptional leadership -- were you about to sneak off the stage? go ahead. [ laughter ] >> it's a better when lloyd isn't standing next to me, because i don't look small. general lloyd has done an ott standing job. i want to thank someone else for

his own lifetime of service to our country, now as our secretary of defense, chuck hagel. [ applause ] >> give it up for chuck. [ applause ] >> chuck was here a few weeks ago to welcome the new head of operations command, general joe votel, give joe a big round of applause. [ applause ] >> for those of you who don't know, 13 years ago, joe lead his team of army rangers as they jumped into afghanistan to establish our first base there. by jumping out of the plane alongside them, so joe is a tough guy. and he knows what he is doing, and i can't think of somebody who -- who is more qualified to

head up our special forces, so we want to thank skroe -- joe for accepting this assignment. your member of congress, kathy caster is here. give kathy a big round of applause. [ applause ] >> your wing commander, colonel dan thole. [ cheers ] >> your senior enlisted leaders command sergeant leader chris greca, command sar genth leader chris farris, chief sergeant leader matt lusung. and most of all i want to salute all of the spouses and military families on base, because let's be honest, they are the force behind the force. [ applause ] >> i . . . i spent time with some of them last night, and

it's clear why our military is the finest fighting force in the history of the world, and it's because our military families are serving right alongside of you. i know we have got some air force in the house. [ cheers and applause ] >> it's great to be at the home of the 6th air mobility wing. [ applause ] >> 927 air refuelling wing, sentcom, so com, we have got some army, navy, marines, coast guard. [ applause ] [ laughter ] >> we love our coast guard. [ laughter ] >> now, i'm not here to give a long speech. what i really wanted to do is just come down and shake some

hands. i just received a briefing from general austin and met with your commanders. met with representatives from more than 40 nations. it is true team effort here. and i came here to say the same thing i have been saying to troops on bases across this country and around the world, and on behalf of the american people i want to thank all of you for your service, your sacrifice, your commitment to each other and your commitment to our country. as your commander in chief, i could not be more proud of each and every one of you. for nearly 75 years the men and women here have lived a commitment to airmen, mission, and community. you have supported our troops to each generation of challenges.

you have shouldered some of the heaviest responsibilities in dealing with the challenges of this century. for more than a decade, ever since that awful september morning 13 years ago, ever since joe and his rangers took that jump a month later, you all have born the burden of war. some of you are quiet professionals, our special forces were among the first to go. when the decision was made to go into iraq, you were there. when we refocused the fight back to afghanistan you were there. you have served with still, honor, and commitment, and professionalism, and some of you carry the wounds of these wars. i know some of you lost friends. today we remember all who have given their lives in these wars, and we stand with their families who have given more than most

americans can ever imagine, and we honor those sacrifices forever. but here's what i want every single one of you to know. because of you, this 9/11 generation of heros has done everything asked of you, and met every mission tasked to you. we are doing what we set out to do. because ofs you, osama bin laden is no more. because of you, the core al-qaeda leadership in afghanistan and pakistan has been decimated. because of you, afghans are reclaiming their communities. afghan forces have taken the lead for their country's security. in three months because of you, our combat mission will be over in afghanistan and our war in afghanistan will come to a responsible end. that's because of you. you and our counter terrorism

professions have saved terrorist attacks and made our homeland more secure. but we always have known the end of the war in afghanistan doesn't mean the end of threats to america. here you have known this as well as anybody. you played a central role in our combat and counter terrorism operations. you make sure our troops and pilots get what they need in order to get the job done. you train forces around the world so countries can take responsibility for their own security. the sixth air mobility wing is continuously deployed, supporting our humanitarian and combat operations around the world, ready to defending. and your work is as vital as ever. because in an uncertain world, full of breath-taking change, the one constant is american

leadership. in a world where technology provides a small group of killers with the ability to do terrible harm, it is america that has the capacity and the will to mobilize the world against terrorists including the group in syria and iraq known as isil. our intelligence community, as i said last week, has not yet detected specific plots, but its heards have repeatedly threatened america and our allies, and right now these terrorists pose a threat to the people of iraq, syria, the broader middle east, including our personal, embassies, console lates, and facilities there. and if left unchecked they could pose a growing threat to the united states. so last month i gave the order for our military to begin taking targeted action against isil. and since then our brief pilots

and crews with your help have conducted more than 160 air strikes against these terrorists. we have been able to protect our personal and facilities, and kill isil fighters, and give space for iraqi and kurdish forces to reclaim key territory. they have partners on the ground help break isil sieges. help save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. that's what you have done. now going forward, as i announced last week, we are going to degrade and ultimately destroy isil through a sustained counter terrorism strategy. and whether in iraq or syria, these terrorists will learn the same thing the leaders of al-qaeda already know. we mean what we say. our reach is long. if you threaten america, you

will find no safe haven. we will find you eventually. [ cheers and applause ] >> but, and this is what i want to emphasize, this is not and will not be america's fight alone. one of the things we have learned over this last decade is america can make a decisive difference, but i want to be clear, the american forces that have been deployed to iraq do not and will not have a combat mission. they will support iraqi forces on the ground, as they fight for their own country against these terrorists. as your commander in chief, i will not commit you and the rest of our armed forces to fighting another ground war in iraq. after a decade of massive ground

deployments, it is more effective to use our unique capabilities in support of partners on the ground so they can secure their own country's futures, and that's the only solution that will succeed over the long term. we will use our air power. we will train and equip our partners. we will advice and assist them. we will lead a brood coalition of countries who have a stake in this fight. because this is the people of the region against isil, this is the world rejecting the brutality of isil, in favor of a better future for our children and our children's children. but we're not going to do it alone. when we do things alone and the countries -- the people of those countries aren't doing it for themselves, as soon as we leave, we start getting into the same

problems, so we have got to do things differently. now this is why we have spent the past several weeks building a coalition to aid in these efforts, and because we're leading in the right way, more nations are joining us. overall more than 40 countries have offered assistance to the brood campaign against isil. some nations will assist from the air. and already france and the united kingdom are flying with us over iraq with other committed to join the effort. some nations will help us support the forces fighting these terrorists on the groungd. and saudi arabia has agreed to host our efforts to train opposition forces. german paratroopers will offer training. other nations have helped resupply arms and equipment to forces in iraq including the

kurdish peshmerga. other nations have agreed to do their part in all of the aspects of the fight against isil. and our partners will help to cut off isil funding, and gather intelligence, and stem the flow of fighters into and out of the middle east. and meanwhile nearly 30 nations have helped with humanitarian relief to help innocent civilians who have been driven from their homes. and yesterday at the white house i met with an outstanding american heard john allen. he worked with iraqi tribal leaders, and he is going to serve as america's special envoy to build and coordinate this incredible coalition. and i have called on congress to make sure you have all of the resources that you need to get the job done. but the point is, we cannot do

for the iraqis what they must do for themselves. we can't take the place of our partners in securing their own region. and a better future for their own people. we can't do it for them, but this is an effort that calls on america's unique abilities and responsibilities to lead. in a world that's more crowded and more connected, it is america that has the unique capability to mobilize against an organization like isil. in a world full of broader social challenges, it is america that has the unique capability and no how to help combat a threat like ebola, the epidemic in africa. and yesterday on top of all that we're already doing to help, i

announced a major boost to our help. and major general daryle williams arrived yesterday in africa, and our arms forces will bring their unique, unrivalled expertise in command and control and logistics and engineering, including creating an air bridge to get supplies and personnel in to africa faster. in the nation of liberia one person who heard this news yesterday was reported as saying we have been praying to get the disease wiped out of our country, so if the coming of u.s. troops gets that done, we will be happy. and that's the story about cross the board. if there is a crisis, if there is an earthquake, if there is a need for a rescue mission, when the world is threatened, when

the world needs help, it calls on america. even the countries that complain about america. [ laughter ] >> when they need help, who do they call? they call us. and then america calls on you. to all of the service men and women here and around the world, we ask a lot of you. and any mission involves risk. and any mission separates you from your families. and sending our service members into harm's way is not a decision i ever take lightly, it's the hardest decision i make as president, nothing else comes close. i do it only when i know the mission is vital to the security of this country that i love.

i do it because i know you are the best at what you do, and frankly there just aren't a lot of other folks who can perform in the same ways, in fact there are none. and there are some things only we can do. there are some capabilities only we have. that's because of you. your dedication, your skill, your work, your families supporting you, your training, your command structure. our armed forces are unparalleled and unique. and so when we got a big problem somewhere around the world, it falls on our shoulders, and sometimes that's tough, but that's what sets us apart. that's why we're america. that's what the stars and stripes are all about, and in between war and recession, this

has been a challenging start to this new century. we have been busy. this has not been an easy 14 years. and many of you came of age in these years. i want you to know as i stand here with you today, i'm as confident as i have ever been, that this century, just like the last century will be lead by america. it is and will be an american century. at home we're bouncing back. overseas we're moving forward, answering the call to lead, and even when it seems like our politics is just dividing us, i want you to remember when it comes to supporting you and your families, the american people standing united. we support you. we are proud of you. we are in awe of your skill and your service. only 1% of americans may wear

the uniform and shoulder the weight of special responsibilities that you do, but 100% of americans need to support you and your families, 100%. this is a moment of american leadership, and thanks to you, it is a moment we're going to meet. and i will keep standing up for your interests and our security and the human rights and dignity of people wherever they live. and we're going to keep working with our allies and partners to take out the terrorists wherever they hide. and like the generations before us, we're willing to defending this country we love. we're willing to help others on this planet that we share. we're protected by patriots like you, and for all of those

reasons the united states of america will remain the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known. thank you everybody, i'm proud of you. god bless you. >> president obama in tampa, florida. the president talked about the u.s. plans for dealing with isil. this was a speech largely giving thanks to the troops. he said thanks to you it is a moment that we are going to meet. the president also said -- a few things he said before, there are some things that only the united states can do, that only america has the capability to take on some of the world's threats. he has also said in the past we mean what we say, the united states has a long reach and when you threaten america, you will find no safe haven. the headline is likely to be a line the president said about the use of ground troops.

and while the speech was aimed at speaking to the people in the room, just yesterday a top military commander said he might recommendi recommendi recommendi recommending -- recommend the use of ground troops. the president said i will not commit you and the rest of the american forces to fighting a ground war in iraq. that does not preclude the possibility of u.s. troops on the ground guiding in air strikes, providing intelligence, but again, the president trying to make a very clear distinction between that effort as opposed to a full-scale ground operation in which u.s. troops will be leading the fight on the ground. the president is also trying to cheer up the troops, give thanks. posing with some of the troops

there, taking photographs and selfies. now let's bring in libby casey. she joins us from washington. libby what is your take away? >> the president certainly sounding like a wartime president. some of the young men and women were just coming of age when 9/11 happened, so even though he is talking about not sending in combat troops, some of the special forces are the people that could be sent in to advice iraqis, and we also talked about past victories, giving them credit for killing osama bin laden, for killing leaders of al-qaeda, in places like pakistan, and as he gives them credit of course he gives his administration credit, because those things happened on his watch. but also give assurance that he

does have a strategy and plan moving forward and he is taking very seriously the lives of these men and women in the room. >> christopher swift joins us from washington. christopher, on libby'sing point sort of a duel tracking here, thanking the folks in the room, but also the more political message that this will not be another ground war. what is your reaction to that? >> libby is exactly right. he is also underscoring some of the successes his administration has had. but it's more effective to support local partners in places like iraq and syria over the long term, than it is for the united states to get involved. i think that's a reasonable conclusion to reach.

it's clear we can't solve these problems for them, but we can solve them with them. the question is what kind of coalition can we build? and do our partners on the ground in places like iraq and syria have what they need to really take the fight to isis and the associates. >> i wonder if the president glossed over the support of the allies and how much this is really on the shoulders of the united states. >> that's right. look, every country involved in this coalition has a different agenda in the region. they have different capabilities and different restraints depending on their own domestic political situation, and marshalling all of that and putting all of that together is going to be very complicated.

it's not just the coalition members we need to be worried about in terms of support, it's also the united states congress. today is constitution day a day that we're supposed to look at the framework that has been put together. and we have a congress that's very loud in terms of press releases and tweets and other things about the war, but still hasn't taken any steps towards authorization. >> christopher swift professor at georgetown university, thank you. there has been a little bit of news on capitol hill today. and the president said this morning in tampa that there has been no detection of direct threats by islamic state against the united states homeland. but the new york police commissioner says that isil is using special media to recruit

fighters. lisa stark joins us with the latest on that. lisa. >> david this was a report of the house homeland security, we heard from officials in the administration, including the fbi director, and he and the department of homeland security secretary said they are very concerned about this recruitment. on the internet. they are concerned about what they colon wolf attacks here in the united states. here is the fbi director talking about that this morning. >> it's no longer necessary to meet someone in al-qaeda to get training and inspiration to attack here in the united states. these are the home grown violent extremists that we worry about who can get all of the poison and training they need to kill americans in a way that is very hard for us to spot between the time that they emerge from their basement and maybe kill ne

kill -- innocent americans. >> they also talked about to become the number 1 global jihad group that choirs attacking america. >> lisa stark reporting from washington. thank you very much. today at 2:30 pm eastern, john kerry will be testifying on the u.s. strategy against isil and also on the ally's effort to help the united states. we'll bring you his live testimony at 2:30 eastern, 11:30 am pacific. and we'll have special coverage on friday night, we will cover how isil became so powerful, the tactics in recruiting, and the thousands of people that are now refugees because of