Saturday, November 14, 2015

President Obama calls Paris massacres an attack against 'all of humanity' as leaders around the world pledge to work with France and bring those responsible to justice

  • President Barack Obama condemned the series of deadly attacks across Paris Friday as an 'attack on all of humanity'
  • He promised to do all he could to work with France and bring those responsible to justice
  • Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US Embassy in Paris is doing everything they can to assure the safety of Americans 
  • President Xi Jinping of China said on Saturday that they would work closely to help France 
  • 'I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help,'said David Cameron
  • Iran's Hassan Rouhani branded the Paris attacks 'crimes against humanity' 
  • In the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a telegram to President Hollande offering his condolences 

PUBLISHED: 23:11 GMT, 13 November 2015 | UPDATED: 06:14 GMT, 14 November 2015

President Barack Obama condemned the series of deadly attacks across Paris Friday as an 'attack on all of humanity' and pledged to work with France in order to bring those responsible to justice.

'Whenever these kinds of attacks happen, we've always been able to count on the French people to stand with us,' said President Obama. 

'They have been an extraordinary counterterrorism partner. And we intend to be there with them in that same fashion.'

President Obama also spoke by phone to President Hollande on Friday evening according to the White House. 

Iran's Hassan Rouhani also branded the Paris attacks 'crimes against humanity' and said he had cancelled planned trips to France and Italy according to IRINN TV.

Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US Embassy in Paris is doing everything they can to assure the safety of Americans and that the United States was prepared to offer France whatever support it needs in the coming days.

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday; 'I am shocked by events in Paris tonight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.' 

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US President Barack Obama looks down as he speaks to the press in Washington, DC on November 13, 2015, after being informed about a series of deadly attacks that rocked Paris ©Jim Watson (AFP)




The Empire State Building (left) and Freedom Tower (right) were lit up in red, white and blue on Friday night


New York City police officers stand guard outside the consulate of France in Manhattan Friday night following the attacks in Paris

In the United Arab Emirates, the state-run WAM news agency said Saturday that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a telegram to President Hollande offering his condolences and pledging support for France. WAM said Al Nahyan also supported doing 'what it takes to face terrorism and eliminate it.'

In tiny Kuwait, emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah said in a statement that he offered his condolences, while stressing that "these criminal acts of terrorism ... run counter to all teachings of holy faith and humanitarian values."

In Saudi Arabia, the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry official denouncing Friday's attack.

President Xi Jinping of China said on Saturday morning; 'This is a traumatic time for the French people, and on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in my own personal capacity, I condemn this barbarous action in the strongest possible terms, express my profound grief for the victims, and offer my sincere condolences to the injured and to the bereaving families of victims.

'China has consistently opposed all forms of terrorism, and is willing to work with France and the international community to strengthen security cooperation and to fight terrorism together, safeguarding the lives of people of all countries.'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement; 'I am shocked and saddened that so many people have been killed and injured today in a number of terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and that many others are being held hostage.

'As the situation continues to unfold, Sophie and I join all Canadians in extending our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed. It is our sincere hope that the hostages are freed unharmed as soon as possible. We also wish a speedy recovery to all those who have been injured.

'Canada stands with France at this dark time and offers all possible assistance. We will continue to work closely with the international community to help prevent these terrible, senseless acts.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France and we mourn their loss.'

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York released a statement, saying; 'On behalf of all New Yorkers, I offer my thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by the attacks in Paris earlier today. 

'These were tragic and senseless acts of violence that have claimed innocent lives and torn families apart – and my heart goes out to the loved ones of all who have been lost. 

'As more details emerge, I want the people of Paris to know that just as the world has stood by New York in times of tragedy, today New York stands with you.'

He then added; 'Tonight I have directed New York State law enforcement to remain vigilant in the wake of these senseless attacks. 

'The New York State Police, the New York State Intelligence Center and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are actively monitoring the situation for any implications in New York State and remain in constant communication with their local and federal partners.' 


The landmark CN Tower is lit blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag following Paris attacks, in Toronto


Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is lit red, white and blue after the Paris attacks

Bernie Sanders said in a statement; 'We are all horrified by the cowardly attacks against innocent civilians in Paris. I offer my sympathy to the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with the people of France, the first friend of the United States.' 

Lindsey Graham said; 'This is not just an attack on the French people, it is an attack on human decency and all things that we hold dear. My heart breaks for the families of those killed, the hostages, and the injured.

'There is a sickness in the world that has to be dealt with and the civilized world must come together to confront it. America should lead that unity.'

On Twitter, Carly Fiorina wrote; 'I mourn with you. I pray with you. I stand with you. America must lead in the world. We must wage & win this fight against Islamic terrorism.' 

Ted Cruz meanwhile used the tragedy to discuss the current refuge crisis, writing in a statement; 'We must now face the facts. Between the downing of the Russian jet over Egypt and this massive coordinated attack on Paris, we are seeing an unmistakable escalation of ISIS’ ambitions and the scale of their terrorist attacks outside Syria and Iraq. 

'Even as chaos rages in Paris, we need to take immediate, commonsense steps to preserve our own safety. We need to consult closely with our NATO allies who may be targeted for additional attacks. 

'We need to immediately declare a halt to any plans to bring refugees that may have been infiltrated by ISIS to the United States. We need to redouble our efforts to prevent ISIS agents from penetrating our nation by other means.'

The Calgary Tower in Alberta was lit up red, white and blue on Friday night


San Francisco City Hall is lit up with blue, white and red, the colors of the French flag

'There are those out there who have a thirst for innocent blood, in an attempt to spread their philosophy and their will across this globe,' Carson said during a brief press conference.

'And we must redouble our efforts and our resolve to resist them, not only to contain them but to eliminate that kind of hatred in the world.' 

Newt Gingrich also posted to Twitter after the attacks, writing; 'Maybe scale of the Paris attack following Russian airline bombing and California terrorist attack will convince our leaders this is real war.

'We need a national debate on the scale of the war, the seriousness of the enemy and the changes that will be necessary to win.

'Now can we have a serious debate about millions of Syrian refugees and how many terrorists will be in the crowd.

'Imagine a theater with 10 or 15 citizens with concealed carry permits. We live in an age when evil men have to be killed by good people.

'The Democratic Party debate tomorrow night should focus on the long war with Islamic Supremacists and the scale of change needed to win.' 

Buzzfeed reports that French journalist Marl Owen said after learning of Gingrich's tweet; 'So he’s using this atrocity to make his point that people should be able to carry guns basically. It’s funny how people will very distastefully use this kind of situation to express their own particular political (inaudible).

'Newt Gingrich, shame on you.'





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PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH ON PARIS TERROR ATTACKS

'Good evening, everybody. I just want to make a few brief comments about the attacks across Paris tonight. Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.We stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance that the government and the people of France need to respond. France is our oldest ally. The French people have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States time and again. And we want to be very clear that we stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

'Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité are not only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share. And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening.

'We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.

'We don’t yet know all the details of what has happened. We have been in contact with French officials to communicate our deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, to offer our prayers and thoughts to those who have been wounded. We have offered our full support to them. The situation is still unfolding. I’ve chosen not to call President Hollande at this time, because my expectation is that he’s very busy at the moment. I actually, by coincidence, was talking to him earlier today in preparation for the G20 meeting. But I am confident that I’ll be in direct communications with him in the next few days, and we’ll be coordinating in any ways that they think are helpful in the investigation of what’s happened.

'This is a heartbreaking situation. And obviously those of us here in the United States know what it’s like. We’ve gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves. And whenever these kinds of attacks happened, we’ve always been able to count on the French people to stand with us. They have been an extraordinary counterterrorism partner, and we intend to be there with them in that same fashion.

'I’m sure that in the days ahead we’ll learn more about exactly what happened, and my teams will make sure that we are in communication with the press to provide you accurate information. I don’t want to speculate at this point in terms of who was responsible for this. It appears that there may still be live activity and dangers that are taking place as we speak. And so until we know from French officials that the situation is under control, and we have for more information about it, I don’t want to speculate.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3317946/Obama-says-Paris-attacks-humanity.html#ixzz3rS5QIP42

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