Could you imagine FDR saying, 'We were attacked yesterday on Pearl Harbor. I really don't want to talk about who did it': Republicans rip into Obama's terrorism speech

President Barack Obama's refusal to mention Islamic terrorism as he made his Oval Office address last night was condemned by leading Republicans today.

They seized on the timing of the address - on the eve of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day - to slam Obama for what one described as a 'partisan speech'.

In the address the Commander in Chief promised that the country would 'overcome' the threat of terrorism and it would destroy the 'thugs and killers', 'and any other organization that tries to harm us.'

His pointed refusal to acknowledge the religion of the radicals had Republicans competing to replace him up in arms once again.

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Tale of two presidents: President Barack Obama sought to soothe terror fears on Sunday during a prime-time address that coincided with the anniversary of second largest attack on U.S. soil in the nation's history - without mentioning Islamic terrorism. In contrast President Roosevelt addressed Congress 74 years ago and hammered home that Japan were the enemy

On the eve of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the Commander in Chief promised that the country would 'overcome' the threat of terrorism and 'destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us'. The attack was devastating and saw ships including the USS West Virginia (left) and the USS Tennessee (right) hit

'Could you imagine FDR going before Congress and saying, 'We were attacked yesterday on Pearl Harbor. I really don't want to talk about who did it, but you know, we just want to say that they were terrible people and they were thugs,' ' said Mike Huckabee (pictured) this morning

'Could you imagine FDR going before Congress and saying, "We were attacked yesterday on Pearl Harbor. I really don't want to talk about who did it, but you know, we just want to say that they were terrible people and they were thugs",' said Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, this morning on Fox and Friends.

Huckabee envisioned a scenario in which then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt hedged when asked to name the culprits of the December 7, 1941 attack.

'Well who was it, Mr. President? Well, we don't want to get into it, because I don't want you to have any bad feelings toward the Japanese,' he said, according to Politico.

Ted Cruz also invoked Pearl Harbor in his response to Obama's address and proclaimed that afterward 'FDR did not give a partisan speech, rather he called on Americans to unite and "win through to absolute victory".

'If I am elected President, I will direct the Department of Defense to destroy ISIS. And I will shut down the broken immigration system that is letting jihadists into our country,' the Texas senator said.

And he charged, 'Nothing President Obama said tonight will assist in either case.'

At the end of the president's 13-minute update Donald Trump tweeted: 'Is that all there is? We need a new President - FAST!'

Later he said, 'Well, Obama refused to say (he just can't say it), that we are at WAR with RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISTS.' 

In his remarks Obama pleaded with Americans to treat Muslims with respect and said, 'If we're to succeed in defeating terrorism we must enlist Muslim communities as some of our strongest allies, rather than push them away through suspicion and hate.'

'I am confident we will succeed in this mission because we are on the right side of history,' he said as he closed out his remarks.

He then added: 'Even in this political season, even as we properly debate what steps I and future Presidents must take to keep our country safe, let's make sure we never forget what makes us exceptional.

'Let's not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear; that we have always met challenges -- whether war or depression, natural disasters or terrorist attacks -- by coming together around our common ideals as one nation, as one people. So long as we stay true to that tradition, I have no doubt America will prevail.'

Top-polling Democratic contender and Obama's former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said nothing after the president's speech. 

Earlier that day on ABC News' This Week program, though, she sided with Obama on use of the term 'radical Islam,' though and said it 'sounds like we are declaring war against a religion.'

'Even though the qualifier'radical' is there?' said the show's host, George Stephanopoulos.

Clinton said it's not enough because 'there are radicals, people who believe all kinds of things, in every religion in the world.' 

In an official statement on his Senate site second-place candidate Bernie Sanders said, 'President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers.

'Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.' 

At the end of the president's 13-minute update Donald Trump tweeted: 'Is that all there is? We need a new President - FAST!' He later sent the above tweet

Ted Cruz, seen here Friday giving a speech, also invoked Pearl Harbor in his response to Obama's address and proclaimed that afterward 'FDR did not give a partisan speech, rather he called on Americans to unite and 'win through to absolute victory'

Appearing on Fox News after the president's speech, Florida Senator Marco Rubio said Obama may have added to the current unrest with his remarks.

'People are really scared and worried,' Rubio told the network's Bret Baier.

He said 'last night I ran into a couple who often travels abroad or to other parts of the country for New Year's Eve. For the first time in over a decade, they're not traveling anywhere this year because they're so scared.

'Ran into someone else today who said they're avoiding stadiums and malls during the holiday season because they're scared. And people are scared not just because of these attacks but because a growing sense that we have a president that's completely overwhelmed by them.'

This morning New Jersey Governor Chris Christie brought up the San Bernardino shooting, which the FBI is now investigating as an act of terrorism, and said it's a 'shame' that Obama spent so much time talking about gun control measures 'when we're hit the with the worst terrorist attack on our soil since September 11th, 2001.

'And there's no new strategy. The president is basically saying, 'I've done nothing. The philosophy of my administration is don't do stupid stuff.' And he thinks that by continuing that, that he's going to somehow defeat ISIS, which is not going to happen.'

Christie referenced Clinton's remarks on ABC and said, 'Well listen, the bottom line is that right now what we're fighting, Mrs. Clinton, is not radical Catholicism, it's not radical Protestantism, it's radical Islamic jihadism.'

'She may not want to say it and the president might not want to say it, but that is what we're fighting. We don't have Catholics, we don't have Jews running around the world radicalized and killing people.'

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are seen here arriving at the Kennedy Center Honors reception in the East Room of the White House prior to the president's terrorism speech. After it was over they made the trip across town to the ceremony

Top-polling Democratic contender and Obama's former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said nothing after the president's speech. Bernie Sanders said he agreed with Obama

Obama admitted Sunday that 'the terrorist threat has evolved into a new phase' during his presidency.

'As we've become better at preventing complex, multifaceted attacks like 9/11, terrorists turned to less complicated acts of violence like the mass shootings that are all too common in our society,' he said.

With the spread of the Internet, 'we see growing efforts by terrorists to poison the minds of people like the Boston Marathon bombers and the San Bernardino killers,' he said.

'Well, here's what I want you to know: The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it,' Obama said. 'Our success won't depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values, or giving into fear. That's what groups like ISIL are hoping for.'

'Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless, and by drawing upon every aspect of American power.'

The president said he would not commit American troops to combat, though.

'We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq or Syria,' he said. 'That's what groups like ISIL want. They know they can't defeat us on the battlefield.'

The terrorist groups knows 'that if we occupy foreign lands, they can maintain insurgencies for years, killing thousands of our troops, draining our resources, and using our presence to draw new recruits,' Obama said.

Ohio Governor John Kasich rejected Obama's approach and said 'without taking the fight to ISIS on the ground, ISIS won't be defeated.'

'We must stop delaying and do it. We delayed in helping the Syrian rebels and look where it got us, and when we decided to act it was too little,' he said.

Taking Obama to task over his proposition in the speech to ban assault-style weapons, Kasich said, 'when terrorists threaten us, our response can't be to target our own constitutional rights. Our rights aren't the problem, our unwillingness to act to defeat extremists is the problem.'

'We need to decisively and aggressively protect our nation and our ideals. We can't delay.'

HOW FDR MENTIONED THE ENEMY NOT ONCE BUT FIFTEEN TIMES

No doubt who the enemy is: President Roosevelt named Japan in the first and last sentences of his address - and 13 times in between

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives.

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. 

And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. 

During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. 

The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. 

Joint session: Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war the day after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor

But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.