Ben Rhodes: Obama Not Worried About Taking Syrian Refugees

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Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” the deputy national security adviser for strategic communication for  President Barack Obama Ben Rhodes said the president is not worried about America taking Syrian refugees despite reports that at least one man linked to the Paris attacks registered as refugee in Greece.

Host Chuck Todd said, “If anything, ISIS looks like they’re more ambitious than ever.”

Rhodes replied, “Well clearly, Chuck, they’ll have to be an intensification of our efforts, to look at what has worked in the application of the strategy and what hasn’t. What we see works, getting equipment arms directly to fighters on the ground, like the Kurds. Backed by our air power, and what we’re doing here at the G 20 is seeking to gain additional contributions from some of our partners so we can bring more force to bear on that effort.”

Todd asked, “Does the president now have any more pause about bringing Syrian refugees into the United States?”

Rhodes said, “No, Chuck. We have very extensive screening procedures for all Syrian refugees who come to the United States. There is a very careful vetting process that including our terrorism community, our Department of Homeland Security. Let’s remember, Chuck, we’re also dealing with people who suffer the horrors of war. Women and children, orphans. We can’t just shut our doors to those people. We need to do our part to take refugees in need.”

Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN

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