. >> frankly approving this project would have undercut that groabl leadershiglobal leadersh. glj this pipeline would have connected appliance within alberta with those in united states, despite opposition from environmental groups obama hinted he might approve the plan back in 2012. >> today i'm directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the diplomatic hurdles and get job done. >> but the state department got involved and decided the pipeline does not meet the country's purpose. >> today misplaced symbolism was chosen over merit and science. rhetoric won out over reason. >> we've helped him stop arctic drilling, we're going to help him stop atlantic drilling, keeping fossil fuels underground. this is not what the president is done in a vacuum, what he's pushed to do. >> looking ahead to whoever replaces him in the white house. rosiland jordan, al jazeera, washington. >> that's the end of our bulletin. still more on the address, aljazeera.com. aljazeera.com. >> it's still months before college football season kicks off, but the team at northwestern