By JOSH LEDERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is trying to ease public jitters ahead of the holidays. He will use visits to the Pentagon and the National Counterterrorism Center this week to try to explain his strategy for stopping the Islamic State group abroad and its sympathizers at home.
Obama’s high-profile visits to agencies charged with keeping the U.S. safe follow an Oval Office address Dec. 6 that aimed to reassure the public. But critics said it failed to do the job.
Obama is also hoping to draw a contrast with Donald Trump and his inflammatory remarks about Muslims. The Obama administration has warned that Trump’s rhetoric helps extremists’ recruiting efforts.
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