President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron recommitted their two countries to what they called “our enduring mission” — which includes fighting growing terror threats — in an opinion piece published Thursday in a British newspaper.
The two heads of state pledged to continue what they defined as a three-pronged mission: Standing up to Russian aggression against Ukraine and, in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris, defending freedom and confronting terrorists around the world, as well as promoting more economic growth “on both sides of the Atlantic.” The two are set to meet at the White House later on Thursday.
“Whether we are facing lone fanatics or terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda, Islamic State (Isil) or Boko Haram we will not be cowed by extremists,” the pair wrote. “We will defeat these barbaric killers and their distorted ideology, which tries to justify the murder of innocents, whether children attending school in Peshawar, or girls forced to become suicide bombers in northern Nigeria.”
Obama and Cameron also pledged to “work closely with all those who believe in peace and tolerance,” asserting that the “vast majority” of Muslims are “sickened” by the acts of terrorists who justify violence through Islam.
The two leaders said they would “continue to stand up to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.” A failure to do so could lead to instability as Russia continues to flout international law, they wrote.
“By confronting the terrorists who threaten us, standing together against Russia’s aggressive acts and continuing our efforts to advance our economic growth, we will continue to advance the security and prosperity that our people deserve,” Obama and Cameron said.