Obama's Oval Office address: president resists pressure for 'ground war' on Isis

Barack Obama called for cool heads in the fight against terrorism on Sunday in a live address that resisted pressure for more military intervention but nonetheless sought to reassure a rattled American public following last week’s deadly shooting in San Bernardino.

Declaring the attack was carried out by those who had “gone down the dark path of radicalisation”, the US president launched a passionate defence of his existing strategy for tackling Islamic extremism rather than announcing the major new policy response that many critics were hoping for.

“Our success won’t depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values or giving into fear,” said the president. “That’s what groups like [Islamic State] are hoping for. Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless.”