In a speech at the Brookings Institution on Friday, President Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice said while ISIS is dangerous, it is not a threat of "existential nature" like World War II or the Cold War.



"Too often, what's missing here in Washington is a sense of perspective," Rice said. "Yes, there is a lot going on. Still, while the dangers we face may be more numerous and varied, they are not of the existential nature of what we confronted during World War II or during the Cold War. We cannot afford to be buffeted by alarmism and a nearly instantaneous new cycle."





SUSAN RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: By fortifying our foundational strengths, America is in a better position to confront current crises and seize the opportunities of this new century. Yet, few know better than we the complexity of the challenges America faces. Everyday, I start my morning with a briefing that covers the most sobering threats and the difficult problems that confront us around the world. These include the fallout of the Arab uprisings, Russian aggression, Ebola, cyberattacks, and a more diffuse terrorist threat.



But too often, what's missing here in Washington is a sense of perspective. Yes, there is a lot going on. Still, while the dangers we face may be more numerous and varied, they are not of the existential nature of what we confronted during World War II or during the Cold War. We cannot afford to be buffeted by alarmism and a nearly instantaneous new cycle.