jon: we're back with another hour one hour from now. jenna: and "outnumbered" starts right now. >> this is a fox news alert. we're awaiting a joint news conference from president obama and british prime minister david cameron at the white house today with europe on the edge after another major terror threat stopped dead in its tracks. and scores of arrests in a major sweep yesterday. so much to get to this friday, it's "outnumbered." i'm andrea tantaros, and here with us today, harris faulkner iowans lee earhart, kirsten powers author of the upcoming booking "the silencing," and ceo of concerned veterans for america and fox news contributor and outnumbered fave, pete hegseth. >> you're all of my faves. >> aw, so sweet. thank you. >> well we're glad that you're here because we have a lot of topics about the military terror threats, you're an expert

in all of them. also we have a shared love in pizza hut. >> yes we do. >> did you bring any? >> i failed. next show -- it's on tape -- >> hawaiian, please. >> done. meat lovers hawaiian -- >> and an upcoming press conference at the white house. it's friday, here we go. well as we await the news conference that i just mentioned out of the white house, we begin with a tense situation in europe. heavily-armed police rounding up more than two dozen suspects in belgium, france and germany in searches for suspected terrorists in the wake of the paris attacks. in france reports of at least a dozen arrests and a train station evacuated. listen to this. in a raid in belgium last night, police moved in on a suspected terrorist hideout triggering a wild shootout killing two suspects and foiling what authorities say was an imminent attack on police officers across the country. greg talcott live from paris with the latest. greg? >> reporter: andrea, the word

that we are getting as secretary of state kerry is now wheels up from paris heading back to the states after his make-up visit to paris after that top u.s. official no-show at sunday's big unity march here. he was here at city hall but before he came here he gave a proverbial french hug to the french president hollande, and then he went on to visit the spots of terror from last week. he went to the "charlie hebdo" newspaper offices where we saw the slaughter of 12 and also to the supermarket, the kosher supermarket. that attack was resolved just about one week ago right thousand. and then he came here to city hall amidst the sirens and everything else, and he gave this message. take a listen. >> i wanted to express to you personally the sheer horror and revulsion that all americans felt for the cowardly and despicable act, the assault on

innocent lives and on fundamental values. >> reporter: as you mentioned, andrea the anti-terror forces across europe including here in france have been very busy. twelve suspected terrorists rounded up, eight still detained. it's believed they could have been the support network for amedy call badly, and, me, north of the border here from france in belgium another major anti-terror operation. two people killed one injured in a shootout late yesterday, and 15 rounded up today. it's believed they were going to target police officers across the country there in belgium. that operation against the terrorists ped up because of the situation -- sped up because of the situation here in paris. two more terror suspects rounded up in germany. the common denominator here andrea, is most of these individuals both here and in belgium and germany were going or had come back from syria or

iraq to fight the terror fight over there. they were bringing their battle home. one final note, "charlie hebdo" the newspaper that started this whole thing off, well, another million copies being sold today. we checked in, maybe they'll be sold starting tomorrow in the united states. back to you. >> all right, thanks, greg. so as all this plays out, we're awaiting the president in a joint news conference with british prime minister david cameron, perhaps our closest ally, the u.k. so what do we need to hear from the president today? i'm going to go to you first pete. what would you like president obama to say -- or let me rephrase that, what does he need to say? >> this is a western civilization moment. we're facing an enemy right now that doesn't see borders, that doesn't believe in the current system as it exists, and certainly the united states' role and our beliefs. this is a moment where he should stand up and say -- channel some george w. bush and say you're either with us or against us. and it's not just western countries. it's those countries in the

middle east that have been sitting on the fence for decades playing a duplicative game like pakistan, saudi arabia those who purport to be our friends and fund the bad guys on the side. sign up now, because we're about to get after this. >> it doesn't even have to be george w. bush harris, it could simply be joe biden. follow them to the gates of hell. >> to the gates of hell. >> lift those remarks from the speech that biden gave. >> a couple things are goingen that we haven't talked about -- going on that we haven't talked about. in pakistan they had to use water cannons, and now we're learning that a french photographer was wounded but they shot him in that group. this is by a student wing of an islamist religious party. the party is holding nationwide rallies against the depiction of their prophet, muhammad, by the french satirical weekly. so you're seeing that call from the religious leaders in egypt to do stuff like this, and now it's playing out in other countries. and you're right, these are

places that we would want our allies pakistan we would want those friends to shore us up, yet this is happening on their streets. >> you know, kirsten david cameron has also taken a similar tact as president obama he hasn't come out and used harsh rhetoric naming this as islamic radicalism when there was a man wielding the meat cleaver through the streets. he also resisted identifying the enemy as radical islamic jihad. do you expect that to change today at the press conference? >> well, i mean, speaking about the attack in paris, he has used that phrasing. so i think in that instance -- >> but not, he p hasn't -- >> he calls it islamic radical ism. >> but not as harsh of terms as other leaders in egypt, for example. >> yeah. i mean, i think islamic radicalism is as harsh as you need to get. and i don't think with this is something that's going to be won by rhetoric or a speech that's given by david cameron and barack obama. and for all of george bush's you know speeches we still have

the problem of terrorism. i mean, it wasn't created by barack obama. i mean, you can say as many harsh things as you want and i also think that poking allies in the eye isn't downing to help things either -- isn't going to help things either. >> i think they've calmed down a lot over the last decade in terms of even acknowledging -- today more than ever those countries are onboard with -- >> so then the white house is actually then late to the game because, iowans lee, they still have not. so you look at the way other leaders have started to come around, identifying the enemy as radical islam, president obama still has not done that his spokesperson hasn't done that. why? >> critics say that he's appeasing the enemies here. he wants to be on their side, he wants to create world peace and not worry about the beheadings of innocent americans, children being killed in africa and boko haram burning people in their homes. this has got to stop. this is real, these are lives. 2,000 individuals in boko haram.

dozens of people dead in paris and around the country because -- around the world because of these terrorists. but he's trying to appease the enemies, and perfect example. he didn't send anyone -- a top official -- to represent the united states in the rally on sunday. that was such an opportunity for him to say we stand against isis we stand for paris or for france and for oh countries. >> pete can i ask you about the immigration situation? because the demographics are not in the favor of the west or in the father of freedom lovers when you look at countries like francece or like britain or germany where these raids that we just talked about that greg mentioned, are happening. you see, he mentioned, they're going back and forth to these countries, they have dual passports -- >> yes. >> it's a huge problem. and david cameron and others refuse to do anything about the immigration system in their countries. it's almost like it's too late. >> they're going to have to -- it does feel like it's too late,

and that's why i called it a western civilization fight. what you have on the other side is a religion that has been used by many violently that is ultimately, not a religion of peace or violence, it's a religion of submission submission to the quran submission to what it says. some interpret that as violent, some nonviolent. demographics matter. i've spent a lot of time with interpreters in afghanistan. they were peace loving, they'd say, pete, inevitably islam will rule the world because the prophet has foretold it. we're having ten kids you're having two. that's a mindset that may not fight violently, but they inevitably believe that the curve is not toward freedom in the west, it bends towards islam and domination and submission. that's what the president doesn't understand. >> but the idea that it's evil when they think it, but we're the dominant world people -- >> we don't chop off people's heads -- >> i'm not talking about that person you were talking about wasn't a proponent of any of those things. that person was just envisioning

this is their view -- >> but every time -- >> they believe that they're going to come back and someday rule the world again. all cultures think that. we think that. we think we'll always be controlling the -- >> not the way -- [inaudible conversations] >> we always talk about how we are the world leader -- be -- >> that's not ruling the world. >> so you think this guy you are talking to supports beheading, killing -- >> no. >> okay, that's my point. >> look at saudi arabia. >> right. >> inevitably when you practice sharia law and impose it on a population, it goes to radical places because it's in the text. >> it's going to radical places because saudi arabia's ceding it to -- >> spread all across the world, have no doubt. guantanamo bay's a perfect example. they're still trying to shut down guantanamo bay as if that's the reason these people are fighting it. >> that's not why they're trying to shut it down -- >> josh earnest said from the podium yesterday -- >> it's a clear violation of

human rights to to lock people up and throw away the key --? >> hold on, one at a time. [inaudible conversations] >> well, that's right. my point -- >> all right, one at a time. or harris? >> while you guys are talking about this and the reason i brought up pakistan is after this french photographer was hurt many these propest tests -- protests, why didn't the leadership of pakistan stand up? if they say they're with us? you're right the demographics are on their side. it's going to take those moderates, those people -- >> courage yeah. >> -- who stand in the middle between violence and nonviolence. why not stand up and cop dem that? i -- condemn it. >> i disagree just a little bit harris. people keep talking about the moderates. i think that would be slightly helpful. that's not going to fix the problem because it dose back to rhetoric. -- it goes back to rhetoric. the radicals don't care. >> no. >> and the difference between people saying they want to rule the world and the difference between these radical muslims is

they believe that their religion tells them -- >> it's their or birthright. >> and bernard lewis writes if you cannot take them by the carrot to convert, you take them by the sword which means you kill somebody. that's very different than, i think, the united states being a world leader. and by the way, when other countries are in trouble? who do they call? the united states for help. >> hold on. you just totally mischaracterized what i said. you just totally switched everything because i was talking about the person who doesn't believe in doing that. i was talking about the person -- >> that person can be cowed by radicals. >> i wasn't comparing the united states to radical islam. i was saying that it is normal for an average muslim person who was raised being told that we used to dominate the world, we used to be the world leader and now we're not anymore to aspire for that. that was my only point. >> and my point is that they are wielded and utilized by radicals who intimidate them. and that problem is 1 that uses the violence -- 1% that uses the violence uses that 20 or 30 --

>> look at that, stirred everything up right here. [laughter] meanwhile, as we wait for the president to gather at the news conference with the british prime minister for the first time in five years, terrorism is the top issue of concern for the majority of americans according to a new pew poll. 76% of adults list fighting terrorism as the top policy priority beating out improving the economy by one point. remember, five years it's been the economy. now terrorism, number one. and a new fox news poll finds just 43% of voters say that the obama administration has mostly succeeded at making the country safer. 49% say that it has mostly failed. okay, ainslee, is that because when you look at the united states, we have done a good job of stopping terror attacks? we've foiled a number of them here, to the credit of the nypd? people are starting to get comfortable. they're starting to feel safe. but you look at the pew poll they still think that it can happen here again.

>> see, the people i've talked to and some of my friends, family members they don't feel safe. in fact, i'll give you an example. i was in the post office the other day, and some guy starts screaming out, who's helmet and bag is that on the table over there? who's is that? no one claimed it, everyone starts freaking out in the line we're all turning to each oh thanking him for bringing it to our attention. finally, someone claims it and we were all thinking, oh, my board, were we going to run for the door? >> because we are all living in fear. and i think we want to belief that it's not going to happen here, that evil's not a part of this world buit is, clearly because we're seeing more and more of it. we're seeing beheadings attacks in paris and we can't help but a little more vigilant and look around. >> i hate to say it, harris, but so many people have said to me -- and i kind of agree -- they say it's just a mart of time. >> well, i mean, i'm confused about what cards you guys think we should be looking at. the islamic radicallists have

already -- the radical islamists, i should say, in many videos this past week that they want to kill us and they're planning attacks here. it doesn't take a genius to figure out they're going to target us. but my husband's jewish and we don't live in fear. his family lives aware. they live with knowledge. they know that they are a target, and they live prepared but they live free. >> boy, i've heard that from a lot of jews who have said this is our life in israel. >> we are free in this country. i don't live this fear. >> but, pete is that because -- and you've talked to a number of israelis, and i have as well -- they have tremendous e faith in benjamin netanyahu. he uses profiling, he does everything he possibly can to keep that country safe. >> and i think that's why you see that number ticking up so high, because they don't feel like our president is doing that. while the world seems to be on fire, he wants to talk about domestic issues only here as if

if -- as he leads up to the state of the union. i'd be interested in your sense, kirsten, who does this benefit when you look at 2016? if we're going to have a conversation about foreign policy, how does that cut? >> well, i have to say i feel pretty safe. we haven't had an attack. i mean so i don't know what everybody's so scared about. i think obama's done a very good job keeping us safe. >> i think when we see terror suspects being released from gitmo, an open border immigration rules -- the fight with the nypd i think all of that starts to point to what the heck are we doing -- >> well, i felt much more scared after 9/11 -- >> all right well, let's see what they say. we are expecting to hear from the president. that's upcoming, so that's going to be a big topic of discussion on the next segment. president obama and david cameron are going to be holding a joint news conference. that's coming up at the white house. we'll take you there live at the white house as it happens. it's expected to start any moment. >> and president obama is coming out swinging, reportedly making

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the white house. president obama british prime minister david cameron expected to speak at any minute now, and we'll go to it when it happens. this comes as you may know, on the heels of that massive terror sweep in europe that we've been reporting now since the top of the hour as they are hunting down the terrorists at this point. for more on that, we can expect to hear at this news conference. but let's go first to bret baier, anchor of "special report." bret, bring us up to speed in terms of what you're learning the men are going to talk about. >> well, harris, this is going to be largely about terrorism fighting terrorism, dealing with the threats around the world and the immediate situation in the aftermath of the paris attacks, what we saw in belgium as well as the threats in europe overall because there is a growing jihadist threat, as you know and their going after several cells. there's also going to be a cybersecurity element of this, and the two leaders have talked about that about the expansive data collection that both countries do. and as you know, this is

controversial whenever we go down this road. but that's going to be part of this, we're told as well. >> you know, can i ask you about something, because i know when the white house was coming under heavy criticism already this past sunday for not attending that march where there were millions of people going against terror arism in the streets of -- terrorism in the streets of paris the white house did come out with a statement through the attorney general eric holder that they're going to have this terrorism summit on february 18th, at least that was the date given. i don't know if that's slid back or forth. i'm curious, what are they going to be talking about in terms of antiterrorism? >> well it's a great question. they're actually calling it an extremist, countering violent extremism summit. and there were all kinds of questions, why isn't this terrorism or radical islamic terrorism -- >> right. >> -- as you look at some in the white house there. i think you may hear a question about that in contrast to what leaders around the world including the french president

and the british prime minister have been talking about. >> bret, you mentioned cybersecurity is going to be something they're going to get into. anything else new i they may announce? as you know, we saw this exchange earlier this week from with a reporter from the state department who asked if u.s. pass portsz would be revoked from suspected terrorists and she said, no. that was her response. any idea be that would change or we're going the change any of our policies on immigration or how we deal with suspected terrorists here at home? >> andrea that's a great question. and, you know, the fbi director, jim comey, has been asked about that too and said, you know we know there are these people who are fighting with isis overseas yet we are not revoking their passports. but he said they are watching them and making sure if they come back to the country they're under surveillance and being monitored. i think there are legitimate questions considering how countries are handling it around

the globe and they're immediately revoking thesese passports, and i think that may come up. >> bret, hey it's pete hegseth. they announced they were sending an additional 40 more thans to syria -- 400 americans outside syria. i know the attacks were purportedly by al-qaeda in yemen, but do you get an indication of more collaboration between the u.k. and the u.s. in that effort there expanding into syria? any indications there'll be a conversation about that as well? >> yeah. i don't think that the administration or the president has changed minds about, their minds inside the administration about boot on the ground or changing their dynamics on the ground. but as far as accepting up attacks against isis in the wake of stories that isis is gaining territory in syria i think that is something they're definitely looking at. you saw the french president hollande on an aircraft carrier, the charles de gaulle, saying they are now deploying this aircraft carrier

to the middle east and stepping up the coalition airstrikes, the french are, in the wake of the terrorist attacks in paris. >> you know, bret real quickly, and andrea touched on this whole idea of immigration with regard to these jihadists who have returned home after fighting afar in iraq or syria or training there. you know, it was interesting, the u.k. home secretary this week said nearly 600 of these people from london, england have traveled to syria and iraq to fight. around half of them have returned home, and there are thousands across europe now that are doing the same thing. you know, with regard to how we're going to deal with them with regard with how they're going to deal with them in the u.k., don't we all kind of have to get on the same page? do you expect the leaders will talk about that today? >> i think so. i don't think they may talk about it publicly, but there is a lot of concern about this training ground in syria. syria is seen as this place where all these terrorists, radical islamic terror itselfs are going. they're getting training and

then going back to their home countries. whether there are cells inside the u.s., you heard the democratic senator dianne feinstein, now the vice chair of the senate intel committee saying there could be cells inside this country that could be activated by somebody like al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula. that's a scary prospect. but syria is a big draw. one more thing you may get a question here about the future of guantanamo bay as we are releasing these terror arists -- >> sure. >> will -- yemenis to to ma -- to oman in the same week training happened with the kouachi brothers. >> bret, this is ainsley. what do you make of president obama and the prime minister of england, david cameron getting together and speaking as a joint -- at a joint press conference? is that sending a strong message that we are strong, we are united two countries together to

these terrorists or do they even care? >> no, i think it sends a signal ainsley. i think that, you know, they did an op-ed together in which they said this was a united front. i think that the message that they're trying to send both with great britain and with france, you had secretary kerry over there bringing in tow james taylor, you've got a friend which was a surreal moment in international diplomacy, but it was an effort to show that the u.s. is on the same page i think, in counterterrorism. and there's a lot to do. they are in the process if you talk to the intel community here in washington, a lot of stuff is popping. >> bret, do you get the sense that the president is still 100% committed no matter what? you see these senators trying to work to get a bill through to stop him are closing gitmo, but have you heard he's still committed to closing gitmo no matter what, and even if this bill passes the house and the senate -- we'd love your thoughts on that if you think

that it can -- do you think he will use executive order to block it? >> andrea, i think that there is a chance that he could veto a bill that forces gitmo to stay open. i think there is a chance that -- i think there's still a commitment in this administration to eventually close guantanamo bay. and the way they're doing it is to get the numbers down to a small figure so that economically it's not feasible to look at how many people are left and what it costs to run the place. i think that's the thinking inside the administration. and they're doing it. i mean slowly but sure luly they are -- surely they are getting rid of a lot of the guys who have been down there for a long time. not trying them, getting them out of there. so i think there is still this effort to close gitmo despite what you hear on capitol hill. i do think you could get something through congress definitely the house. maybe the senate. >> bret baier, we thank you for being with us today and also for standing by as we all await

together now president obama and british prime minister dade cameron. and, bret, you're going to stand by. we're going to take a quick break, and when we come back, we're anticipating that they will step to the lecterns at any moment. stay close.

>> fox news alert, we are awaiting, now, the president of the united states to step here with the british prime minister and to speak about antiterrorism. we're understanding that they'll talk about cybersecurity and a whole host of issues following those attacks in france that left more than seven people dead in two days. first, a hit on a newspaper -- as you know -- and then two hostage situations that happened across paris and northern france on friday. so it has been quite a week and a half really of bloodshed in europe. and so now you're going to see our president meet with one of the leaders there, and we don't know exactly what some of the questions will be coming from the press corps, but we can

imagine what they'll be, so we'll keep that split screen some of the time so you'll know as soon as it happens, we'll go to it. you've got dozens of terror suspects being arrested in belgium, france, germany. and, pete, you were saying there's no accident that this is coming after the attacks and there are certain countries that really work together, and we need to do a good job of shoring up -- >> so right now they're probably acting on actionable intelligence, and they're trying to wrap up with cells or networks that they're involved with. australia, canada, new zealand and the u.k. we share intelligence incredibly robustly. one of the things they might be discussing is how does intelligence get shared amongst a broader set of countries? the enemy counts on stove pipes within countries that don't share information. john kerry was standing there with john taylor, we need less james taylor and more james bond right now. that's what we need and you could see from david cameron -- >> i agree.

we respond with a mix tape? >> we hug and we bring james taylor? come on, it's time to lock shields. >> this has to be a policy decision. we spend a lot of time talking about the rhetoric and what president obama's going to say but it's about action. harris, when you look at david cameron, he simply refuses to do anything about the immigration issue. and the u.k. and france and germany and europe and the united states' ability to control terrorism depends on how it responds with immigration because as pete mentioned earlier, the demographics simply are not in the favor of the french, of the british. you point out the muslim populations have grown to large in these countries that leaders like david cameron and leaders like the leader of france simply refuse to acknowledge that these acts are being committed by muslims because they're scared. and the terrorists are banking on that fear that they're going to kowtow and not acknowledge because there are broad swaths and pockets, as we know of these no-go zones that have

sharia law, and they're only going to get larger because of the fear to acknowledge it and fight it with policies that will stop these immigration tactics of going back and forth, getting the training and that type of thing. >> it isn't just that the population of muslims is growing, because that's not what we're looking at. we're looking at the population of the people who want to do us harm. and using that religion as their sort of platform -- >> it's all about assimilation. why is america's muslim population more moderate than anywhere else in the world? they believe in the separation of mosque and state that our constitution is king here in this country. and you are free to worship as you please. not trying to impose your religion on anyone else and they're not doing that in western europe. >> how do you do that? i was listening to jack keane earlier on fox, and he was saying we need to establish no-fly zones to keep assad's air force on the ground, stopping assad from pounding the syrian army that we're trying to

assist. that was what his plan was. we haven't heard a detailed plan from the president except for send these 400 troops into syria which is they're saying, the pentagon is saying that's not going to be enough. i know we're getting a warning. >> well, before you answer, and we may have time for that. we're inside of a minute. >> oh, we are? there's two aspects. there's the military side and what isis and aqap, they're a pulsing heart of radicalism that sends this poisonous blood throughout the world where the at no time cls of jihadists utilize that. and you've got to call the enemy what it is and be willing to call out moderates or certain elements within those societies to have that reformation moment within radical islam. >> you know i'm curious from kirsten if we have the kinds of relationships within the muslim world now, the arab world that would foster that -- okay. i'm going to cut myself off. the president of the united states british prime minister david cameron stepping to the lecterns now, and we'll watch. >> good afternoon everybody.

this month marks a notable an v.ly 200 years -- anniversary, 200 years since the battle of new orleans. here in america we call the great victory over a mighty united kingdom our british friends call it a technicality. the treaty ending war was signed weeks before. either way, we've long since made up. on this 200th anniversary of a great american victory we count the united kingdom as one of our greatest friends and strongest allies, and today it's a great pleasure to welcome prime minister david cameron back to the white house. now, as many of you know, david recently noted how comfortable the two of us are working together. this sent some commentators into a tizzy. some explored the linguistic origins of the word "bro," others debated its definition, several analyzed how this term

has evolved over time. some seemed confused and asked what does obama mean? and so let me put the speculation to rest. put simply david is a great friend. he's one of my closest and most trusted partners in the world on many of the most pressing challenges that we face. we see the world the same way. we recognize that, as i've said before, when the united states and the united kingdom stand together, our nations are more sesecure, and our people are more prosperous, and the world is safer and more just. great britain is our indispensable partner, and david has been personally an outstanding partner, and i thank you for your friendship. with both of our economies growing and unemployment falling, we used our working dinner last night to discuss how we can help create more jobs for our people. we believe that needs to be the year when the united states and

the european union make real progress toward the transatlantic trade and investment pickup and we -- partnership, and we share the view that boosting demand in europe can also keep our economies growing. as innovative economies in this information age we're expanding our collaboration on digital technologies to improve how our governments serve our citizens and businesses. given the urgent and growing danger of cyber threats we decided to expand our cooperation on cybersecurity to protect our critical infrastructure, our businesses and the privacy of our people. and as leaders in the global fight against climate change we believe that a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse gases will be an essential element of any ambitious climate agreement that we seek in paris this year and that this actually will help spur the creation of more clean energy jobs on both sides of the atlantic. with regard to security, american/british unity is enabling us to meet challenges

in europe and beyond. we agree on the need to maintain strong sanctions against russia until its ends its aggression in ukraine and on the need to support ukraine as it implements important economic and democratic reforms. we agree that the international community needs to remain united as we seek a comprehensive diplomatic solution to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. and i'd add that additional sanctions on iran at this tomb would undermine -- at this time would undermine that international unity and set our chances back for a diplomatic solution. and as the two leading contributors to the global response to ebola in west africa, we urge the world to continue stepping up with resources that are required so that we don't simply stop this disease, we do more to prevent future epidemics. now, much of our discussion, obviously, focused on the continuing threat of terrorism. and in the walk of the -- in the wake of the vicious attacks in

paris as well as the news surfacing out of belgium today, we continue to stand unequivocally not only with our february. friends and allies -- french friends and allies, but with also all of our partners who are dealing with this scourge. i know david joins me when i say that we will continue to do everything in our power to help france seek the justice that is needed and that all our countries are working together seamlessly to prevent attacks and defeat these terrorist networks. with our combat mission in afghanistan over, we're also focused with our nato allies on advising assisting and equipping afghan forces to secure their own country and to deny al-qaeda any safe haven there. we'll continue to count on our british allies as one of our strongest counterterrorism partners whether it's helping countries fight back against al-qaeda affiliates or bow coe boko haram in nigeria. we reviewed our coalition's progress against isil.

we are systematically taking out their fighters, we're destroying their infrastructure, we are putting them on the defensive and helping local forces in iraq push these terrorists back. and david and i agree we need to keep stepping up the training of iraqi forces and that we're not going to relent until this terrorist organization is destroyed. the paris attacks also underscored again how terrorist groups like al-qaeda and isil are actively trying to inspire and support people within our own countries to engage in terrorism. i led a special session of the united nations security council last fall to rally against terrorist fighters. david and the united kingdom continue to be strong parters in this work -- partners in this work. at the same time, we both recognize that intelligence and military force alone is not going to solve this problem so we're also going to keep working together on strategies to counter violent ec too

manyism -- extremism that radicalizes, recruits and mobilizes people especially young people to engage in terrorism. and local communities, families neighbors, faith leaders have a vital role to play in that effort. we also look forward to welcoming our british friends to our summit next month on countering violent terrorism because whether in europe or in america, a critical weapon against terrorism is our adherence to our freedoms and values at home. including the pluralism and the respect and tolerance that defines us as diverse and democratic societies. and finally, i want to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate david on last month's agreement, it's a tribute to the courage and determination of everyone involved, especially the leaders of northern ireland as well as the governments of ireland and the united kingdom. the united states was pleased the play a small role in -- to

play a small role in achieving this agreement, and we're going to keep doing what we need to do to support the peace process and a better future for the people of northern ireland. so with that let me turn it over to my good friend, david cameron. >> thank you very much barack and thank you again for welcoming me to the white house. you are a great friend to britain and to me personally. as leaders, we share the same values, and as you said on so many issues we see the world in the same way. and most of the time we speak the same language. [laughter] in the last six years since you became president and in the nearly five since i've been prime minister, we've faced some big issues on our watch. and those challenges have boiled could be to one -- boiled down to one word: security. economic security, the jobs and the living standards of our citizens, and national security the ability of our peoples to live safely and in peace. at the heart of both issues are the values that our countries

cherish; freedom of expression the rule of law and our democratic institutions. those are the things that make both our countries strong and which give us confidence that even in the midst of the most violent storms with strong leadership, we will come through to safer, to calmer and to brighter days. during your presidency you've had to deal with the aftermath of a massive banking crisis and a deep recession. when i became prime minister, britain had the highest budget deficit in its peacetime history, our economy was in grave peril. five years ago we had 110,000 troops serving together in afghanistan. thanks to their efforts today it is afghan forces taking responsibility for security in their country. but we continue to face difficult times for the world. first and foremost, we have to deal with the warning lights flashing in the global economy. weak growth in the eurozone, a slowdown in emerging markets,

that is why it is vital for our shared prosperity that we both stick to the long-term economic plans that we set out. we agreed that 2015 should be a pivotal year for an ambitious and comprehensive e.u./u.s. trade deal which could benefit the average household many britain by 400 pounds a year. the u.k. is now the top destination for american and foreign investment with 500 projects last year providing 32,000 jobs. and america is the u.k.'s biggest trade partner with exports worth nearly 90 billion pounds. we want to build on this. so our message on the economy today is simple, we are going to stick to the course. because seeing through our economic plans is the only sustainable way the create jobs -- to create jobs, to raise living standards and to secure a better future for hard working people. now, britain and america both face threats to our national security from people who hate what our countries stand for and

who are determined to do us harp. harm. in recent weeks we've seen appalling attacks in paris in peshawar, in nigeria. the world is sickened by this terrorism, so we will not be standing alone in this fight. we know what we're up against, and we know how we will win. we face a poisonous and fanatical ideology that wants to pervert one of the world's major religions, islam, and create conflict, terror and death. with our allies we will confront it wherever it appears; in iraq the u.k. is the second largest contributor to the anti-isil coalition. our raf aircraft have conducted over 100 strikes and will continue to play a leading role. we will deploy additional intelligence and surveillance assets to help iraqi forces on the ground, and we will insure they are better trained and equipped to counter explosive devices. but most important of all we must also fight this poisonous

ideology starting at home. in the u.k. we're passing a law so that every public body must combat extremism and this morning we have agreed to establish a joint group to identify what more we can do to counter the rise of dmetsic violent extremism and to learn from one another. in europe russia has chosen to tear up the international rulebook and trample over the affairs of a sovereign state. this threat arens our stability -- threatens our stability and our prosperity. it is important that every country understands that and that no one in europe forgets our history. we cannot walk on by. so we will continue to put pressure on russia to resolve this crisis diplomatically, and at the same time we'll continue our efforts to support ukraine on the path of reform including with financial assistance. we also reaffirmed our obligations as nato partners to stand by our allies, and we'll be contributing an additional thousand troops for exercises in eastern europe this year.

on iran we remain absolutely committed to insuring that iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. the best way to achievement and that now -- achieve that now is to create the space for negotiations to succeed. we should not impose further sanctions now. that would be counterproductive, and it could put at risk the valuable international unity that has been so crucial to our approach. we also have to keep pace with new threats such as cyber attacks. we've discussed that in the last two days and we've today agreed the deepen our cybersecurity cooperation to better protect ourselves. finally, we face the entire world faces a threat from diseases. today our fight is against ebola. in the future it could be against a global flu pandemic. through our action in sierra e leone, the u.s. action in liberia, france in guinea, we are beginning to turn the corner. but we must get better at responding to these global

health emergencies and make sure we can master them before they master us. so reforming the who, the world health organization, establishing a team of experts to be on standby to deploy anywhere in the world, a new international platform to tim late the design and development of new drugs all of these things are needed. and let 2015 be the year we must crack ebola also be the year we tackle extreme poverty and climate change. on poverty we must set new, clear goals to eradicate extreme poverty to, to fight corruption and to build strong institutions. and on climate change we want an outcome in paris that keeps our goal of limiting 2050 to two degrees within reach. these two things -- and they go together -- have the potential the give security to future generations to come. for almost two centuries after those little difficulties we were discussing earlier america

and britain have stood as kindred spirits in defending our freedoms and advancing our shared prosperity. today as we survey a world in flux, our alliance stands strong rooted in its long history and reinvigorated by the challenges we face today. if our forebears could join us here in the white house today, they might find the challenges that we're facing from isil to ebola, from cyber terrorism to banking crisis, they might find those hard to comprehend but they would surely recognize the ties that bind us across the atlantic and the values that our peoples hold so dear. we've stood together so often not just because we've faced common threats but because we fundamentally believe in the same things. that is as true today as it has always been, and it hugely benefits our countries and the people that we're here to serve. thank you very much. >> thank you, david.

we're going to take a few questions. we're going to start with jonathan carl of abc. >> mr. president, you mentioned your -- wrong mic. you mentioned your opposition to the sanctions bill on iran and this is, obviously a bipartisan bill supported by some very senior top members of your own party in congress. why do you oppose a bill that would only impose sanctions if you fail to reach an agreement and if iranians fail to agree to take steps to curtail their nuclear program would you go so far as to veto a bill supported by top democrats in congress on this issue? and to mr. prime minister, i understand you've been making phone calls to senators on this issue of the iran sanctions bill. is that correct? are you actually lobbying the u.s. congress on this? and if i may, mr. president i'd really like to hear your

reaction to the news that mitt romney is thinking about running for president again. [laughter] >> on your last question -- [laughter] i have no comment. [laughter] >> none at all? >> on your first question, when i came into office, i made a commitment that iran would not obtain a nuclear weapon, that we would do everything that we could to prevent that. and that is important for our security, and it's important for the world's security. if iran obtained a nuclear weapon then it would trigger an arms race in the middle east, make our job in terms of preeventing the proliferation -- preventing the proliferation of nuclear materials much more difficult. given their missile

capabilities, it would threaten directly our closest allies including israel. and, ultimately could threaten us. and so what we did was systematically -- with the help of congress -- construct the most forceful most effective sanctions regime in modern history. and what was remarkable was that when i came into office, the world was divided around this issue, and iran was united. and through some very strong diplomatic work, we united the world and isolated iran. and it's because of that work that we brought them to the negotiating table not for posturing, not for meetings that lead nowhere but to a very hard-nosed nuts and bolt discussion of their nuclear

program. now, the interim teal that we entered into -- deal that we entered into also froze progress on their nuclear program rolled back in some cases the stockpiles of material that they had already accumulated and provided us insight into their program that was unprecedented. we have people on the ground who are able to verify and inspect and tell us what exactly is going on. that's not just our assessment, that's the assessment of intelligence services around the world including the israelis. so the agreement has held, and negotiations have been serious. we have not lost ground iran has not accelerated its program during the time these negotiations have taken place. in fact, iran's program has made gains in rolling back system of the stockpiles that they had. now, we have on the table

currently a series of negotiations over the next several months to determine whether or not iran can get to yes. and what's been remarkable is the unity that we have maintained with the world this isolating iran and forcing them to negotiate in a serious way. the p5+1 includes not only china, but also includes russia, and they have continued to cooperate with us in setting forth positions that would give us assurances that iran was not developing a nuclear weapon. now, i've always said that the chances that we can actually get a diplomatic deal are probably less than 50/50. iran is a regime that, you know is deeply suspicious of the west deeply suspicious of of us. in the past they have

surreptitiously and secretly advanced aspects of this program. we have huge differences with them on a whole range of issues. but if, in fact, we still have an opportunity to get a diplomatic deal that provides us verifiable assurances that they are not developing a nuclear weapon, that is the best possible outcome that we can arrive at right now. and the question i had for members of congress, including those folks in my own party is, why is it that we would have to take actions that might jeopardize the possibility of getting a deal over the next 60-90 days? what is it precisely that is going to be accomplished? i can tell you what the risks are, and i think david shares my assessment here. under the interim deal that

brought iran to the table, we were not supposed to initiate new sanctions. now, you'll hear arguments that well these technically aren't new sanctions, they're simply laws putting in place the possibility of additional sanctions. i assure you, that is not how iran would interpret it or our partners would interpret it. so the likelihood of the entire negotiations collapsing is very high. and if that happens, there is no constraint on iran at that point going back and doing exactly what it had been doing before they came to the table developing a heavy water reactor that once built is extraordinarily difficult to dismantle and very difficult to hit militarily going back at underground facilities that are very hard to reach militarily

accelerating advanced centrifuges that shorten the time span in which they can achieve breakout capacity, and they would be able to maintain that the reason that they ended negotiations was because the united states was operating in pad faith and blew up the deal -- in bad faith and blew up the deal. and there would be some sympathy to that view around the world which means that the sanctions some sympathy to that view around the world and that means the sanctions that we have in place now would potentially fray, because imposing the sanctions are a hardship to the countries around the world. they would love to buy iranian oil. and the reason they have hung in there despite economic interests, we have shown we are trying to solve the problem and avert a military show down. in that