WASHINGTON — Five times, President Barack Obama has come before the American people to reckon with the legacy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the anniversary of that awful day. Each time, he has tailored his message to the moment, at different points stressing themes of service, resilience, tolerance, reconciliation.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stand for a moment of silence on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, as they mark the 12th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in 2013. Five times, Obama has come before the American people to reckon with the legacy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the anniversary of that awful day. Each time, he has tailored his message to the moment, at different points stressing themes of service, resilience, tolerance, reconciliation
CHARLES DHARAPAK — AP
This year, with the threat of the Islamic State militant group looming, Obama’s rhetoric of remembrance is circling back to earlier days and striking a less triumphant tone.
In an address to the nation about the terrorist threat, a day ahead of Thursday’s 9/11 anniversary, Obama said, “We cannot erase every trace of evil from the world, and small groups of killers have the capacity to do great harm. That was the case before 9/11, and that remains true today.”
He was speaking to a public that is increasingly worried about Islamic extremism. Six in 10 Americans now are very concerned about the rise of Islamic extremism around the world, the largest share since 2007, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center
“The picture of the United States winding down the war on terror has become harder to sell in the last couple of years,” says Peter Feaver, a Duke University expert on war and public opinion. “The old rhetoric that we are just about to win the war on terror can’t be sustained.”
