President Obama's UN General Assembly speech Tuesday morning comes in the wake of turmoil abroad that has caused many to question the effectiveness of America's foreign policy. With the threat of a nuclear capable Iran looming and the Libya tragedy still fresh in the minds of the international community, expectations for Mr. Obama's speech are understandably high.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the deceased U.S. Ambassador Stevens, a victim of the tragic Benghazi attack, will be a centerpiece of the President's speech. An excerpt of Obama's speech reads, "The attacks of the last two weeks are not simply an assault on America. They are also an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded." The site notes that viewers should expect Obama to portray Stevens as a beacon of American values.
"If we are serious about those ideals, we must speak about the deeper causes of this crisis," the excerpt continues. "Because we face a choice between the forces that would drive us apart, and the hopes we hold in common."
On Iran, Obama will state, "Make no mistake: a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained."
White House press secretary Jay Carney expressed that Obama's UN speech is "a real moment for the United States to assert its values and its leadership role, to make clear where we stand in the midst of this remarkable period of transformation in the Arab world."
President Barack Obama's speech begins shortly after 10 a.m. and can be watched on the live stream below.
President Obama UN Speech
UN Conference Live Streaming
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