President Obama was all smiles this afternoon as he watched an exhibition baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national baseball team - just hours after ISIS terrorists killed at least 34 people in Brussels.
Settling down with wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and Cuban dictator Raul Castro, Obama appeared carefree as he enjoyed the game - ignoring calls to cut short his historic trip to return to Washington and lead the response.
Indeed, despite criticism that he only devoted one minute of his speech earlier in the day to the Belgian atrocities, Obama took the time to give a somewhat surreal 15-minute interview to ESPN about the threat posed by ISIS - keeping his $500 shades on throughout the spot.
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No disruption: The president said that changing our way of lives in response to terror is exactly what ISIS want
Jovial: President Obama was clearly enjoying the historic baseball game which was played between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team
After observing a moment of silence for the hundreds of victims, a relaxed Obama said, 'This is just one more example of why the entire world needs to unite against these terrorists.'
'The notion that any political agenda would justify the killing of innocent people like this is ... is beyond the pale.'
Obama said, 'We are gonna continue with the over 60 nations that are pounding ISIL, and we're going to go after them. In the meantime, obviously our thoughts and prayers are with those who've been lost and hoping for a speedy recovery or those who've been injured.'
When asked by ESPN why he had not returned to Washington, the president said to do so would show the terrorists they have the power to disrupt.
'It's always a challenge when you have a terrorist attack anywhere in the world, particularly in this age of 24/7 news coverage,' said the president. 'You want to be respectful and understand the gravity of the situation, but the whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people's ordinary lives.'
Recalling what he called one of his proudest memories during his time as president, the reaction of Boston Red Sox' David Ortiz after the Boston bombings in April 2013, Obama said he felt the hitter spoke for the nation when he said, 'This is our f**king city and nobody is going to dictate our freedom.'
'Probably the only time America didn't have a problem with somebody cursing on live TV was when he talked about Boston and how strong it was and wasn't gonna be intimidated,' Obama said.
'That is the kind of resilience and the kind of strength that we have to continually show in the face of these terrorists. They cannot defeat America.'
The president then offered his 'thoughts and prayers' to those affected by the terror attacks.
Just after the game ended and Air Force One took off for Argentina for a two-day stint, the president ordered all federal flags to be flown at half mast as a mark of respect for those who were killed in Tuesday morning's attacks.
Prior to his interview with ESPN, Obama had faced calls from Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and John Kasich to leave Cuba and return to the states.
The president did not heed their advice. He dedicated a brief portion of a planned speech to the attacks and went on about his day.
He met Cuban dissidents at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, then made his way to watch the baseball in casual khaki pants, white shirt, no tie, and sunglasses.
The wave: President Obama, Michelle and Raul Castro all get involved at the baseball in Cuba on Tuesday
New buddy: Cuban President Raul Castro, (right), and U.S. President Barack Obama share a joke during the baseball match between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national baseball team in Havana, Cuba
Big fans: Barack Obama and Raul Castro settle down for the historic baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team
Enthusiastic: US First Lady Michelle Obama gestures as her mother Marian Shields Robinson (L) waves next to US President Barack Obama, daughters Malia (2-L) and Sasha (out of sight) and Cuban President Raul Castro
Famous: Cuban President Raul Castro waves as he returns to his seat after greeting Rachel Robinson, the widow of baseball legend, US Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the Major League
Esteemed guest: President Barack Obama talks with Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball hall-of-famer Jackie Robinson, before taking his seat with Cuban President Raul Castro
Happy days: Capping his remarkable visit to Cuba, President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared an end to the 'last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas' and openly urged the Cuban people to pursue a more democratic future for this communist nation 90 miles from Miami
Let's play ball: Barack and Michelle Obama react to a play during the baseball, while Raul Castro sits impassively
Day out: Obama with the First Family and Cuban President Raul Castro attending the historic baseball game in Havana, Cuba
Malia Obama (left) and Sasha Obama (right), U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama all keep themselves amused during the baseball game
Famous friends: President Obama talks with former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter
U.S. Rep Nancy Pelosi, center, attends the exposition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team at the Estado Latinoamericano. To her left is Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
No worries: President Obama later reacted to today's ISIS attack in Brussels during an ESPN interview but at the top of the game he was clearly having a good time
The game kicked off with a moment of silence for the Brussels terrorist attack and a choir sang the national anthems of both countries.
Then, it was time for the festivities. Cuban baseball players delivered individually-wrapped white roses to Mrs. Obama and her daughters before they took the field and attendees - including the U.S. president - went through several rounds of the wave.
More than a hundred pigeons were released from behind the warning track in center field during the pre-game show, as well.
The Obamas stayed for the first two innings of the game and left as the third was about to begin in order to drive back to the Havana airport and take their Argentina flight. In a surprise farewell, Castro showed up at the airport to see them off.
Earlier in the day Obama addressed the terrorist attacks that happened this morning in Brussels at the beginning of his remarks on the United States' complicated history with Cuba.
More at........
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3504209/Obama-pressure-return-home-giving-40-minute-speech-Cuba-addressed-Brussels-terror-attack-just-one-minute.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3504920/Master-bombmaker-posed-migrant-attacked-Paris-year-chief-suspect-Belgian-atrocity-police-swoop-home-district.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3504151/Armed-police-arrest-two-men-hunt-Brussels-terrorists-Security-services-CCTV-airport-suicide-killer-captured-bombs-detonated.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3504874/ISIS-threatens-UK-harder-bitter-attack-Brussels.html
www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/22/four-microaggressions-obama-committed-in-his-speech-to-the-cuban-people/
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