From Washington, this is VOA News.
I’m Dave DeForest reporting.
The U.S. president speaks after the G-20 Summit in Turkey.
Barack Obama says it would be a mistake to send American ground troops to the Middle East to fight Islamic State militants.
“We would see a repetition of what we’ve seen before, which is if you do not have local populations that are committed to inclusive governance and who are pushing back against ideological extremes, that they resurface unless we’re prepared to have a permanent occupation of these countries.”
The American leader rejected calls from some of his U.S. political opponents that only Syrian Christians and not Muslims be allowed to enter the U.S. as refugees. He called such a stance "shameful, not American," and said the United States should not, in his words, "feed that dark impulse." At least 10 U.S. governors are balking at letting Syrian refugees settle in their states in the wake of the Paris attacks.
French President Francois Hollande says his government will step up its offensive in Syria, where Friday's terrorist attack had been planned. Mr. Hollande made the remark in an address to both houses of France's parliament.
Also Monday, French authorities detained 23 people in police raids across the country. Authorities said they have identified a Belgian national of Moroccan descent, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, as the mastermind behind the assault.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Paris Monday under heavy security to show solidarity with France.
At least seven people were killed in Somalia's capital in a shootout between soldiers. It happened at a displaced persons camp.
This is VOA News.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This News
summit – n. a meeting or conference
repetition – n. repeat
committed – v. prepared to do something
allowed – v. permitted
stance – n. position
shameful – adj. feeling very bad
impulse – n. a strong desire to do something
balking – v. to show you do not want to do something
wake – n. a result of
step up – n. to intensify or expand
remark – n. comment or statement
address – n. a speech
authorities – n. officials
descent – n. ancestry
mastermind – n. someone who plans and organizes something
assault – n. an attack
solidarity – n. a feeling of unity; an expression of support
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section.