President Obama Meets With Military Advisors

TAMPA, Fla. — Underscoring the multiple challenges facing his administration, President Barack Obama consulted with military officials today about the U.S. counterterrorism campaign against Islamic State militants, just a day after boosting the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Obama met with top officers at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, which oversees U.S. military efforts in the Middle East. Accompanying him were his national security adviser, Susan Rice, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Obama will address Central Command troops, providing him another opportunity to make a case for the air strike campaign he wants to carry out against the Islamic State.

Obama was spending two days away from Washington to meet with the generals and the scientists charged with carrying out missions against two distinct national security threats, both of which are costing lives and threatening regional stability.

He then returns to Washington for a meeting Thursday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, drawing attention to ongoing tensions with Russia.

NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson to discuss Obama's strategy.