Obama makes 'no apologies' for fighting ISIS within 'American values'

Stressing that his administration has "been at this for a long time," President Obama launched a forceful defense of his strategy against ISIS in a year-end interview with NPR. He makes "no apologies," he said, for wanting to target terror groups "appropriately and in a way that is consistent with American values."

Speaking with Steve Inskeep, host of Morning Edition, Obama also urged Americans to "keep things in perspective" when it comes to ISIS, though he says he understands "why people are worried."

"This is not an organization that can destroy the United States," he said, nor is it a "huge industrial power" that poses great risks to the U.S. "institutionally or in a systemic way. But they can hurt us, and they can hurt our people and our families."

Here's how he explained why remembering "who we are" will lead to ISIS's defeat:

"The most damage they can do ... is if they start changing how we live and what our values are," Obama said in an interview with NPR.

Source: MPR News