Obama addresses US inequity, Iran, militants in annual speech

Covering predominantly domestic issues and highlighting his administration's credentials, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered the annual State of the Union speech late Tuesday, underscoring his belief that "this can be a breakthrough year for America" if he and Congress find common ground.His remarks largely focused on inequities in the country, ranging from raising the minimum wage, to women's rights to equal pay, and easier access to education and healthcare - all of which received standing ovations from Democrats and supporters in the room, but have been contentious issues for Republicans."What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity," said Obama."In the coming weeks, I will issue an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally-funded employees a fair wage of at least USD 10.10 an hour - because if you cook our troops' meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn't have to live in poverty," he announced, also asking every state governor to consider doing the same for minimum wage employees, who currently receive USD 7.25 an hour before taxes."Women make up about half our workforce," continued Obama. "But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong, and in 2014, it's an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work. She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job." On post-secondary education, Obama said his administration is "offering millions the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to ten percent of their income," and declared he is ready to work with Congress to help students who "feel trapped" by the financial burden. Student debt currently amounts to USD one trillion across the country, and one in five students are unable to pay it back at all.When it came to his signature healthcare law, Obama challenged his opponents to provide a better response than what his program - active since January 1 - has achieved. "Because of the Affordable Care Act, more than three million Americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parents' plans," he stated. "More than nine million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage." "Because of this law, no American can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma, back pain, or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she's a woman," he added.Noting the need for energy independence and economic growth, Obama called for less dependence on foreign oil, suggesting the "safe" extraction of natural gas to power cars instead, leading to job creation."If we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement - and fix our broken immigration system," he stressed, underlining one of the key platforms of his presidential campaign. "When people come here to fulfill their dreams - to study, invent, and contribute to our culture - they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone."In a speech that lasted a little over an hour, only a few minutes were dedicated to Obama's foreign policy objectives, including tactics in the fight against terrorism, rolling back Iran's nuclear program, and the future of American troops in Afghanistan. He made no new announcements, but affirmed his position on actions already underway."As we gather here tonight, Iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium," said Obama. "These negotiations will be difficult. They may not succeed. We are clear-eyed about Iran's support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, which threaten our allies; and the mistrust between our nations cannot be wished away. But these negotiations do not rely on trust; any long-term deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action." "Let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it," he added. "For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed. If Iran's leaders do not seize this opportunity, then I will be the first to call for more sanctions." On fighting terror, Obama pointed to the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with Afghanistan, explaining that if it is signed by President Hamid Karzai, "a small force of Americans could remain in Afghanistan with NATO allies to carry out two narrow missions: training and assisting Afghan forces, and counterterrorism operations to pursue any remnants of Al-Qaeda." U.S. troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan at the end of the year, rounding out a combat mission there that has lasted 12 years. "Al-Qaeda's threat has evolved," he continued. "In Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable these networks. In Syria, we'll support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks." The president also reiterated his commitment to closing the prison in Guantanamo Bay this year, something he has promised and failed to do since his first day in office, which attracted an onslaught of criticism from activists, human rights organizations and foreign leaders. However, he did address the increasing drone attacks used by his administration to target suspected terrorists in places like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen - a tactic that remains highly controversial, alongside the surveillance programs that are said to deter such attacks on U.S. soil. "America must move off a permanent war footing," stated Obama. "That's why I've imposed prudent limits on the use of drones - for we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence. That's why, working with this Congress, I will reform our surveillance programs - because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence, here and abroad, that the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated." No mentions were made of Egypt or North Korea in the speech, despite both making headlines recently for arresting American citizens and suppressing dissent."Let's remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats, but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe - to forge greater cooperation, to expand new markets, to free people from fear and want," concluded Obama. "And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than America."