Is America at War With Radical Islam?
Critics insist that Obama's reluctance to say so robs the struggle of moral clarity, but such attacks reflect a muddled understanding of the fight.
PETER BEINART

NEW YORK: -- If there’s one thing top Republicans know, it’s that America can’t defeat terrorism unless we call it by its real name. “We are in a religious war with radical Islamists," Lindsey Graham recently told Fox News. “When I hear the President of the United States and his chief spokesperson failing to admit that we’re in a religious war, it really bothers me.”

Rudy Giuliani agrees: “If we can’t use the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism,’ we can’t get rid of them.” So does Ted Cruz. At the Iowa Freedom Summit in January he declared that, “You cannot fight and win a war on radical Islamic terrorism if you’re unwilling to utter the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’”

There are several problems here. Even if one believed that calling the enemy “radical Islam” were a good idea, it would hardly explain how to defeat it. Yet the Republicans slamming Obama for his linguistic failures mostly stop there.

After he chastised the President in Iowa for not saying “radical Islam,” Ted Cruz’s only policy suggestions were that Obama should have attended the anti-terror rally in Paris and that Americans who join ISIS should lose their citizenship. On Fox, Giuliani mentioned the Paris rally too, and then fell back on platitudes like “you know what you do with bullies? You go right in their face!”

Full story: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/02/is-america-at-war-with-radical-islam/385200/

-- The Atlantic 2015-02-06

More to the point is the World at war with radical Islam?

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

This is 100% politics. The GOP cannot provide a reasonable solution to the problem. Because there is no solution. The President wants to get a handle on the radical Muslims without antagonizing the other 1 billion moderate Muslims because frankly, we need them. The Republican party is of no help at the moment in trying to solve this problem.

ISIS is at war with the World... not just the US and its allies.

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Absolutely bang on.

This is 100% politics. The GOP cannot provide a reasonable solution to the problem. Because there is no solution. The President wants to get a handle on the radical Muslims without antagonizing the other 1 billion moderate Muslims because frankly, we need them. The Republican party is of no help at the moment in trying to solve this problem.

Oh yeah? Watch Jordan go after those bastards for burning one of its pilots. THEY know how to deal with these people.

It's the West that believes the lies you believe.

America and the rest of the world may be but you have to wonder about that idiot in the white house:

http://allenbwest.com/2015/02/outrageous-obama-basically-equates-isis-christianity-prayer-breakfast-speech-video/

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Brilliant plan. Cause the problem, then run away from it.

Is America at war with radical Islam?

aaawe who could be stupid enough to think that. stupid! stupid! america only goes to war for one reason; to prop up the oil price and thus maintain the oil financed military dictatorship..

Edited February 6, 201511 yr by rabid old goat

This is 100% politics. The GOP cannot provide a reasonable solution to the problem. Because there is no solution. The President wants to get a handle on the radical Muslims without antagonizing the other 1 billion moderate Muslims because frankly, we need them.

At least the Republicans are addressing the problem as it is today. Obama is trying to draw a moral equivalence to something that happened almost a thousand years ago and ignoring the fact that the crusades were sparked by Islam's own actions: Muslims were invading Christian lands to convert the inhabitants and assume control in the name of Islam. The president's ideology of appeasement is not helping the situation. His weakness is making things worse and worse.

Edited February 6, 201511 yr by Ulysses G.

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Brilliant plan. Cause the problem, then run away from it.

Caused the problem. You don't know much about history, do you?

Oh, I remember. Tony Blair told Parliament and the UK people that Saddam had WMD's. Bush believed him and 21 countries went to war against Iraq including Australia and Thailand.

That UK that started it? I get it.

Edited February 6, 201511 yr by NeverSure

Is America at war with radical Islam?

aaawe who could be stupid enough to think that. stupid! stupid! america only goes to war for one reason; to prop up the oil price and thus maintain the oil financed military dictatorship..

So tell me. What was the UK's and 20 other countries' reasons for going to war in Iraq? Did the US and the UK get oil from Iraq? Even a thimble full?

Well??????

Edited February 6, 201511 yr by NeverSure

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Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Its a story that was generated by US "News" channel Fox News about the republicans wanting to call the war on Terror a religeous war ?, so I don't really get your point

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Its a story that was generated by US "News" channel Fox News about the republicans wanting to call the war on Terror a religeous war ?, so I don't really get your point

It IS a religious war regardless of who said it. My point is that it's always something on this site about the US. Why isn't the article about what is the UK's plan to deal with it? I'll tell you why. It's because the UK can't even deal with what's happening in its own country including the rapes of 1400 children, that's why.

Australia can't even deal with it's own Islamic problem and that's another reason.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Its a story that was generated by US "News" channel Fox News about the republicans wanting to call the war on Terror a religeous war ?, so I don't really get your point

It IS a religious war regardless of who said it. My point is that it's always something on this site about the US. Why isn't the article about what is the UK's plan to deal with it? I'll tell you why. It's because the UK can't even deal with what's happening in its own country including the rapes of 1400 children, that's why.

Australia can't even deal with it's own Islamic problem and that's another reason.

Agree it is, but if they call it one , it will probably bring those who were not involved before into the conflict, moderate Muslims ect, Similar to Patriotism where people fight for there country, we'll have people volunteering to fight for their religion. I agree with you about the child Grooming and rape in the Uk , it makes my blood boil that these MPs who don't have to live in these area will not condemn the Muslims for it and the filthy scum who did it , it is a massive problem and needs eliminating

I was out with my 11 year old daughter in Central Pattaya and 3 Arab looking blokes were looking at her and sort of sniggering to each other. I went over and said &lt;deleted&gt; are you looking at you F---- Nonce, they just got up and walked off , My wife was impressed , not

The US is NOT at war with radical islam and will not be as long as the POTUS cannot muster the words, "radical islam"...

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

You then posted " It's the West that believes the lies you believe."

Which is extremely ironic considering your bald-faced, blatant, grossly exaggerated lie that you persist in spreading. In the Rotherham case that you are so fond of referring to, of the 1400 abused children, only a small proportion were raped. With your lie, you are trying to cloud the issue between Muslim criminals that may not be Islamist extremist, and the subject of the OP, actual Islamic extremists.

Funnily enough, I agree with the Republicans here. Call a spade a spade. I agree with the OP, though; here we have the Republicans simply posturing with no better ideas than the government on how to deal with the problem, and in fact, they may be making it worse by inflaming their redneck followers into blaming the whole of Islamdom...which is sort of what you're trying to do, so case in point.

It IS a religious war regardless of who said it. My point is that it's always something on this site about the US. Why isn't the article about what is the UK's plan to deal with it? I'll tell you why. It's because the UK can't even deal with what's happening in its own country including the rapes of 1400 children, that's why.

Australia can't even deal with it's own Islamic problem and that's another reason.

I sympathize with your pain. Raised on a diet of American exceptionalism, patriotism and pretty red, white and blue balloons, it must be painful to learn the rest of the world knows the US is the planet's biggest purveyor of State-sponsored terrorism, installing and propping up Dictators and despots and rolling over country after country, while you are fed a crock about 'freedom and democracy', 'responsibility to protect', 'we've got to get 'em over there before they get us over here', 'humanitarian bombing' and the steady stream of Orwellian BS and faked terror trotted out by the criminal syndicates running your country.

Instead of looking for someone else to blame, to stop your personal house of cards collapsing, why not simply accept the reality and stop voting these <deleted> into power? Your acceptance of their crap keeps the world trapped in pain and misery.

Its a story that was generated by US "News" channel Fox News about the republicans wanting to call the war on Terror a religeous war ?, so I don't really get your point

They want the president to admit that it is religious war from the point of view of radical Islamists, which it very obviously IS. You can't defeat an enemy that you refuse to identify.

We should be at war with Islam. Islam is already at war with us and they will not stop until 1 of 2 things happen; They all die or they kill all of us and gain worldwide Sharia law..

It IS a religious war regardless of who said it. My point is that it's always something on this site about the US. Why isn't the article about what is the UK's plan to deal with it? I'll tell you why. It's because the UK can't even deal with what's happening in its own country including the rapes of 1400 children, that's why.

Australia can't even deal with it's own Islamic problem and that's another reason.

I sympathize with your pain. Raised on a diet of American exceptionalism, patriotism and pretty red, white and blue balloons, it must be painful to learn the rest of the world knows the US is the planet's biggest purveyor of State-sponsored terrorism, installing and propping up Dictators and despots and rolling over country after country, while you are fed a crock about 'freedom and democracy', 'responsibility to protect', 'we've got to get 'em over there before they get us over here', 'humanitarian bombing' and the steady stream of Orwellian BS and faked terror trotted out by the criminal syndicates running your country.

Instead of looking for someone else to blame, to stop your personal house of cards collapsing, why not simply accept the reality and stop voting these <deleted> into power? Your acceptance of their crap keeps the world trapped in pain and misery.

And when the US has as many Muslims by % of population on their soil as does the UK and Europe they won't be able to deal with it either. That is unless the US differs from the UK and EU and does not pussy foot around with them giving them anything they ask for thinking kindness will endear them to us.

“When I hear the President of the United States and his chief spokesperson failing to admit that we’re in a religious war, it really bothers me.”

It's really hard for me to call what these people believe in religious. To me it's something they chose to believe in so they can murder innocent people and oppress women. Maybe that's why Obama is reluctant. Otherwise, I'd agree.

This is 100% politics. The GOP cannot provide a reasonable solution to the problem. Because there is no solution. The President wants to get a handle on the radical Muslims without antagonizing the other 1 billion moderate Muslims because frankly, we need them.

At least the Republicans are addressing the problem as it is today. Obama is trying to draw a moral equivalence to something that happened almost a thousand years ago and ignoring the fact that the crusades were sparked by Islam's own actions: Muslims were invading Christian lands to convert the inhabitants and assume control in the name of Islam. The president's ideology of appeasement is not helping the situation. His weakness is making things worse and worse.

And 8 Muslim Brotherhood supporters as advisors in the white house doesn't help a lot.

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

Brilliant plan. Cause the problem, then run away from it.

"Cause the problem"? Are you from this planet"

It seems to me that the only people not at war with radical Islam is the so called moderate Islam.

When you are on top, people are always trying to beat you down. Sigh

The following words by Obama are a good description of radical Islam. An example of Obama's description "those who have embraced a nihilistic, violent, almost medieval interpretation of Islam."

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/01/politics/obama-radical-islam-terrorism-war/

I am not a follower of US politics, but calls for the current conflict with ISIS (radical Islam) to be defined as a religious war IMO would be a mistake & agree with the points raised in the article below.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/02/is-america-at-war-with-radical-islam/385200/

I am unclear why NeverSure claims Australia is unable to address issues with Islamic radicalism. The Oz government is making good progress in updating relevant legislation, funding the programs for recently enacted new anti terrorism laws and border control. In addition Oz government is currently militarily engaged in Iraq working in synch with overall US led coalition efforts. I understand the same progress is being made by the UK.

Beleive it or not hysterical people suggesting spraying Muslims with pigs blood, civilians walking the streets of European cities with weapons, throwing pigs head into the grounds of mosques and so on is counter productive.

This is 100% politics. The GOP cannot provide a reasonable solution to the problem. Because there is no solution. The President wants to get a handle on the radical Muslims without antagonizing the other 1 billion moderate Muslims because frankly, we need them.

At least the Republicans are addressing the problem as it is today. Obama is trying to draw a moral equivalence to something that happened almost a thousand years ago and ignoring the fact that the crusades were sparked by Islam's own actions: Muslims were invading Christian lands to convert the inhabitants and assume control in the name of Islam. The president's ideology of appeasement is not helping the situation. His weakness is making things worse and worse.

And 8 Muslim Brotherhood supporters as advisors in the white house doesn't help a lot.

Sorry it is 6 advisors not 8.

Oh, another story about the World's Police. Funny how when the big problems arise everyone looks to the USA.

Why isn't the OP about how the wonderful UK isn't defeating "radical Islam" on its own soil, including doing something about the rapes of 1400 children?

Why isn't the OP about how Australia can't handle them on its own soil?

Why is the topic all about a hand-wringing "what's the US going to do about it"? What's the USA's "plan?"

The US has a plan to keep them from dominating the US, so why don't we just let them move on into Europe and take over?

What is the purpose of this OP other than to stir the pot about the US? As an American I don't give a damn what happens to other countries so a good plan would be to stay home and let others rot.

You then posted " It's the West that believes the lies you believe."

Which is extremely ironic considering your bald-faced, blatant, grossly exaggerated lie that you persist in spreading. In the Rotherham case that you are so fond of referring to, of the 1400 abused children, only a small proportion were raped.

With your lie, you are trying to cloud the issue between Muslim criminals that may not be Islamist extremist, and the subject of the OP, actual Islamic extremists.

Funnily enough, I agree with the Republicans here. Call a spade a spade.

I agree with the OP, though; here we have the Republicans simply posturing with no better ideas than the government on how to deal with the problem, and in fact, they may be making it worse by inflaming their redneck followers into blaming the whole of Islamdom...which is sort of what you're trying to do, so case in point.

I do blame all of Islam. I blame those who commit acts of terror and I blame those who do nothing. I will never believe there are "moderate" muslims. I wouldn't trust a one of them.

Now I'd like to start calling them names and telling what I'd like to do to them, but it's against forum rules.