Obama vows to dismantle ‘network of death’

Declaring the world at a crossroads between war and peace, President Barack Obama vowed at the UN to lead a coalition to dismantle an Islamic State "network of death" that has wreaked havoc in the Middle East and drawn the US back into military action.

Speaking to the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly, Obama said the US would be a “respectful and constructive partner” in confronting the militants through force. But he also implored Muslims in the Middle East to reject the ideology that has spawned groups like the Islamic State and to cut off funding that has allowed that terror group and others to thrive.

“Ultimately, the task of rejecting sectarianism and extremism is a generational task — a task for the people of the Middle East themselves,” Obama said in a 38-minute address.