Barack Obama: “That is an achievable goal if we pursue a comprehensive plan to press the Iraqis to stand up.”

I’m going to insist that we can do better than we’re doing right now.

I think when we act on that basis, it doesn't always work out, but over time things do get better.

A drift towards extremism was "not inevitable

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say.