Obama: US at war with those who have perverted Islam

[webfact]

Obama: US at war with those who have perverted Islam
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Muslims in the U.S. and around the world have a responsibility to fight a misconception that terrorist groups like the Islamic State speak for them, President Barack Obama said Wednesday in his most direct remarks yet about any link between Islam and terrorism.

For weeks, the White House has sidestepped the question of whether deadly terror attacks in Paris and other Western cities amount to "Islamic extremism," wary of offending a major world religion or lending credibility to the "war on terror" that Obama's predecessor waged. But as he hosted a White House summit on countering violent extremism, the president said some in Muslim communities have bought into the notion that Islam is incompatible with tolerance and modern life.

"We are not at war with Islam," Obama said. "We are at war with people who have perverted Islam."

While putting the blame on IS and similar groups — Obama said the militants masquerade as religious leaders but are really terrorists — the president also appealed directly to prominent Muslims to do more to distance themselves from brutal ideologies. He said all have a duty to "speak up very clearly" in opposition to violence against innocent people.

"Just as leaders like myself reject the notion that terrorists like ISIL genuinely represent Islam, Muslim leaders need to do more to discredit the notion that our nations are determined to suppress Islam," Obama said.

Issuing such a direct challenge to Muslims marked a clear departure from the restrained, cautious language Obama and his aides have used to describe the situation in the past.

In the days after last month's shootings at a satirical French newspaper that had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, Obama avoided calling the attack an example of "Islamic extremism," and instead opted for the more generic "violent extremism." Recently, the White House also struggled to explain whether the U.S. believes the Afghan Taliban to be a terrorist organization.

The refusal to directly assess any Islamic role in the terrifying scenes playing out in Europe, the Mideast and Africa has drawn criticism from those who say Obama has prioritized political correctness over a frank acknowledgement of reality. National security hawks, in particular, argued that Obama's counterterrorism strategy couldn't possibly be successful if the president was unable or unwilling to confront the true nature of the threat.

White House aides said they were avoiding associating the attacks with Islam for the sake of "accuracy" and to avoid lending credence to the terrorists' own justification for violence — a strict interpretation of Islam. Frustrated by what they deemed a manufactured controversy, Obama aides have argued that a focus on terminology has distracted from more fruitful conversations about what can actually be done to stop extremist ideologies from spreading.

"These are individuals who carried out an act of terrorism, and they later tried to justify that act of terrorism by invoking the religion of Islam and their own deviant view of it," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at the time.

Yet the argument over terminology has increasingly become a distraction, including this week as Obama gathered law enforcement officials, Muslim leaders and lawmakers for a three-day summit on violent extremism. In his remarks Wednesday, Obama acknowledged it was a touchy subject but insisted it was critical to tackle the issue "head-on."

"We can't shy away from these discussions," he said. "And too often, folks are understandably sensitive about addressing some of these root issues, but we have to talk about them honestly and clearly."

Still, the president took care to differentiate militant groups from the "billion Muslims who reject their ideology." He noted that IS is killing far more Muslims than non-Muslims, and he called for the world community to elevate the voices of those who "saw the truth" after being radicalized temporarily.

Obama acknowledged that many Muslims in the U.S. have a suspicion of government and police, feeling they have been unfairly targeted, that has confounded efforts to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement and Muslim communities. He effusively praised Muslims who have served the U.S. in the military or in other capacities for generations.

"Of course, that's the story extremists and terrorists don't want the world to know: Muslims succeeding and thriving in America," Obama said. "Because when that truth is known, it exposes their propaganda as the lie that it is."

Obama has long tried to shift his administration's terror rhetoric away from what he saw as the hyperbolic terminology used by his predecessor, George W. Bush, particularly Bush's declaration in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that the U.S. was engaged in a "war on terror."

In a high-profile national security address in 2013, Obama declared, "We must define our effort not as a boundless 'global war on terror,' but rather as a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America."
___

AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-19

[Publicus]

It is good that at long last a US president has toned down the rhetoric, turned up the heat on Muslim leaders globally and stepped up the attacks on the violent extremists that have emerged from the Islamic world.

Almost all Muslims want the same things others of all religions want, which is peace and prosperity, not perpetual holy war. Know thine enemy for sure but also know who is not your enemy, and the billion Muslims of the world are not the enemy.

[Ulysses G.]

They have only "perverted" Islam in the sense that they take it literally, but hopefully, most Muslims will reject the demand to spread Islam to the whole world using violence that is called for in the Qur'an.

It is time for Obama to finally admit that radical Islam not only exists, but is supported by Islamic scripture. You can't defeat an enemy that you refuse to admit exists.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[klauskunkel]

The war on terror being a war of words, then Obama is using .22 caliber rhetoric.

[JingerBen]

It is good that at long last a US president has toned down the rhetoric, turned up the heat on Muslim leaders globally and stepped up the attacks on the violent extremists that have emerged from the Islamic world.

Almost all Muslims want the same things others of all religions want, which is peace and prosperity, not perpetual holy war. Know thine enemy for sure but also know who is not your enemy, and the billion Muslims of the world are not the enemy.

Good post.

Those who demonize all Muslims almost always have an agenda... and nowhere is it more obvious than on this forum.

[ezzra]

Yes, not ALL Muslims are bad, and yes, only a small number of those are radicalized hard core, bent on sharia laws and new world order according to their perverted views of the Quran, the problem is that the majority of the Muslims so called 'good Muslims' sit there quietly and do nothing, or not enough to show that those terrorist

do not represent the Muslim world ideology, and those good Muslim should call for their ultimate and full

eradication out of their midst and the Islam world....

[JingerBen]

Yes, not ALL Muslims are bad, and yes, only a small number of those are radicalized hard core, bent on sharia laws and new world order according to their perverted views of the Quran, the problem is that the majority of the Muslims so called 'good Muslims' sit there quietly and do nothing, or not enough to show that those terrorist

do not represent the Muslim world ideology, and those good Muslim should call for their ultimate and full

eradication out of their midst and the Islam world....

What are the root causes of the radicalization of Muslims?

Is it inherent evil?

Is it a desire for domination of the world?

Or are there other causes?

[Kiwi1]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_uses_and_abuses_of_history_in_the_middle_east_conflict_20150217

[TSF]

Yes, not ALL Muslims are bad, and yes, only a small number of those are radicalized hard core, bent on sharia laws and new world order according to their perverted views of the Quran, the problem is that the majority of the Muslims so called 'good Muslims' sit there quietly and do nothing, or not enough to show that those terrorist

do not represent the Muslim world ideology, and those good Muslim should call for their ultimate and full

eradication out of their midst and the Islam world....

What are the root causes of the radicalization of Muslims?

Is it inherent evil?

Is it a desire for domination of the world?

Or are there other causes?

Brainwashing. They have had the Quran thumped into them since birth. All the so called radical Muslims are merely following the teachings of the Quran....convert or kill.

[i claudius]

It is good that at long last a US president has toned down the rhetoric, turned up the heat on Muslim leaders globally and stepped up the attacks on the violent extremists that have emerged from the Islamic world.

Almost all Muslims want the same things others of all religions want, which is peace and prosperity, not perpetual holy war. Know thine enemy for sure but also know who is not your enemy, and the billion Muslims of the world are not the enemy.

Good post.

Those who demonize all Muslims almost always have an agenda... and nowhere is it more obvious than on this forum.

and nowhere is it more obvious than on this forum" now there must be a reason for that as we are from all parts of the world on here .

could it be that when ,isis or the like commit an atrocity,there is largly silence from the "good Muslims" but when someone draws a picture or says something about their prophet they march and scream about killing the unbelievers all around the world ? well as that is the case and they seem intent on forcing their practices on us in the west(the Jews for instance have been in the Uk for a hundred years ,never saw them going on that Tesco ect must sell kosher food) then i for one and millions like me will neither trust or want them in our lands.

[hawthorne]

Freedom of choice is welcomed but what people do with thier freedoms and how they enforce their wills upon others is criminal and a master slave mentality. The world is evolving and various groups do not want change for the betterment of mankind because people are harder to control when given a choice. Control by group association is a form of brain washing and similar use in a communist society. We must stand up to the root cause of the problem or be swallowed by the beast. You own interpretation of this message serves your believes and self satisfactions for a peace of mind.

[JockPieandBeans]

Yes, not ALL Muslims are bad, and yes, only a small number of those are radicalized hard core, bent on sharia laws and new world order according to their perverted views of the Quran, the problem is that the majority of the Muslims so called 'good Muslims' sit there quietly and do nothing, or not enough to show that those terrorist

do not represent the Muslim world ideology, and those good Muslim should call for their ultimate and full

eradication out of their midst and the Islam world....

What are the root causes of the radicalization of Muslims?

Is it inherent evil?

Is it a desire for domination of the world?

Or are there other causes?

Look no further than the Qu'ran. That is the teaching of Mohammed, that can never be questioned.

For those that follow the teachings of Mohammed in their entirety, then yes it is inherently evil.

as there is currently atrocities being carried out in approx 26 Countries worldwide, domination of the world appears to be the desire. It is also called for in the so called Holy Book.

There are shedloads of other causes. Usually these are invented by Liberals, the PC Brigade and a whole load of others who are very quick at tagging people as racists, bigots and Islamaphobes. This is normally due to a desire to bury their collective heads in the sand and try and hide the truth.

I think Jack Nicholson summed it up nicely.

'' You want the Truth ''

'' You couldn't handle the truth ''

[arjunadawn]

It is good that at long last a US president has toned down the rhetoric, turned up the heat on Muslim leaders globally and stepped up the attacks on the violent extremists that have emerged from the Islamic world.

Almost all Muslims want the same things others of all religions want, which is peace and prosperity, not perpetual holy war. Know thine enemy for sure but also know who is not your enemy, and the billion Muslims of the world are not the enemy.

Good post.

Those who demonize all Muslims almost always have an agenda... and nowhere is it more obvious than on this forum.

The absurdity that because Islam is called out for exactly what it requires of its adherents and the actions of the adherents, this hardly translates into "demoniz[ing]" anything or anyone. These are statements of facts. The endless stream of news reports, terrorist actions, and their citations for their actions is hardly fictitious. The assertion that Islam is not responsible for the current state of jihad throughout the world is never- NEVER- backed up with scriptural references or nary a clerical admonishment. Why? Because they are consistent in following the injunctions of Islam. "Demoniz[ing]?" Hardly.

Perhaps those who assert the wrong headedness of posters like myself would provide us some examples from time to time indicating exactly why these jihad terrorists don't reflect islamic injunctions? Perhaps even a topical argument could be provided rather than just pejoratives or impugning the motives of posters who announce measurable facts? Perhaps some do not want to provide such scriptural arguments for their positions because they inherently object to the notion that islam has anything to do with the terrorism at all; so, they wont be bothered with such research to support their position? This would be akin to an ostrich with its head in the sand because, of course, if, according to Obama, we should consider the islamist grievances we should also consider their scriptural references for their authority; they nearly always provide it.

Lastly, it is a bridge to far to assert one knows what all muslims want. What can be known, however, is the product of their collective action or inaction regarding the Third Great Jihad. When considered with regard to the fact that the koran and hadiths actually do call for perpetual holy war what all muslims want becomes a concern. Perpetual holy war is not occasionally mentioned; it is not inferred; it is not poor exegesis. Perpetual holy war is the actual foundation of the entire ideology. You cannot sustain the concept of islam and sharia if you removed the requirement to lesser jihad. There could not ever be a dar al islam unless there is first a dar al harb. Assertions like this combined with leadership like Obama's will seek to redistribute further intellectual, monetary, and military wealth into the hands of islamists under the premise that they need jobs, or opportunity, or equality in outcomes. Normally, IMO, when civilization jihad arrives (and it actually slowly, inexorably arrives everywhere since 632CE because jihad is the actual blueprint) people like me are the last to be whacked, beheaded or burned because we at least know its coming. It is usually the people who greet [them] at the gates that are killed first. Good luck. (Note: My problem is not with muslims, it is with islamic jihad and shar'ia).

[weegee]

Freedom of choice is welcomed but what people do with thier freedoms and how they enforce their wills upon others is criminal and a master slave mentality. The world is evolving and various groups do not want change for the betterment of mankind because people are harder to control when given a choice. Control by group association is a form of brain washing and similar use in a communist society. We must stand up to the root cause of the problem or be swallowed by the beast. You own interpretation of this message serves your believes and self satisfactions for a peace of mind.

We have seen that on TVF as well.... until finally he was banned. But he keeps returning like a virus.....Why support him?

Edited February 19, 2015 by weegee

[Jingthing]

Obama is busy splitting hairs and obsessing about the best PC way to describe radical Islamism, lest he offend.

ISIS is busy chopping heads off of Christians at the beach, throwing gays off buildings to crowds of stoners (the bad kind), genocide against Yazidis, burning people alive in cages, etc.

I think they must be laughing at Obama.

Of course it isn't only ISIS ... they are one of the flavors and they are going for dramatic actions to show that they are the most extreme of the extremists, and guess what, they are.

Radical Islamists have declared war against civilization, including western civilization.

Best wake up and smell the coffee.

Pretty words and talk are not going to stop them.

They aren't interested in negotiating unless you want to talk about joining them.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Jingthing

[PLW]

Obamas speech is designed to unite the good people of the world and exclude the Extremist Muslims. US is working 24/7 to erradicate intolerant religious groups all over the world with their allies. He is talking politely but he still is carrying a big stick. Standby

[Pimay1]

Obamas speech is designed to unite the good people of the world and exclude the Extremist Muslims. US is working 24/7 to erradicate intolerant religious groups all over the world with their allies. He is talking politely but he still is carrying a big stick. Standby

Man oh man. You can fool some of the people all the time................

[connda]

How many times does the US have to get it's ass kicked for not understanding the actual problem. Convential warfare isn't going to work. Reminds me of the US revolution, but the US is now like the Red Coats, using the same ineffiective strategy over and over again. I'm sure the US Army brass is hoping that ISIS fighter will stand in the open and allow Apache helicopters to mow them down in the open, but darn, they just won't fight conventially. Personally I don't think this has anything to do with ISIS as a problem; it's just about destablizing ME/NA and anywhere else that won't play by Western rules and funnelling massive amounts of money into the coffer of defense contractors and those lucky corporations with contacts on Capital Hill who get the cushy sole-source contracts. Read guys like Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski, then you'll get an idea of the CFR et.al. mindset. Or think what you like. At least try to have an informed opinion though.

Now, where's my coffee. Not my worry unless it spills over into our neighborhood. Think we'll see 'radical Buddhism' established before 'radical Islam' get's a toe-hold in Northern Thailand, at least if Nan province is any indication.

Edited February 19, 2015 by connda

[Srikcir]

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

They have only "perverted" Islam in the sense that they take it literally, but hopefully, most Muslims will reject the demand to spread Islam to the whole world using violence that is called for in the Qur'an.

It is time for Obama to finally admit that radical Islam not only exists, but is supported by Islamic scripture. You can't defeat an enemy that you refuse to admit exists.

Obama's administration has killed mpre radical Islamic leaders than any other president. Even the Pakistan government who stopped US drone attacks against Taliban now welcomes them. Islamic peoples rely on Obama to provide intelligence, combat training, weapons, etc. to attack ISIL. I'd say Obama is very aware of radical Islam.

[Pimay1]

How many times does the US have to get it's ass kicked for not understanding the actual problem. Convential warfare isn't going to work. Reminds me of the US revolution, but the US is now like the Red Coats, using the same ineffiective strategy over and over again. I'm sure the US Army brass is hoping that ISIS fighter will stand in the open and allow Apache helicopters to mow them down in the open, but darn, they just won't fight conventially. Personally I don't think this has anything to do with ISIS as a problem; it's just about destablizing ME/NA and anywhere else that won't play by Western rules and funnelling massive amounts of money into the coffer of defense contractors and those lucky corporations with contacts on Capital Hill who get the cushy sole-source contracts. Read guys like Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski, then you'll get an idea of the CFR et.al. mindset. Or think what you like. At least try to have an informed opinion though.

Now, where's my coffee. Not my worry unless it spills over into our neighborhood. Think we'll see 'radical Buddhism' established before 'radical Islam' get's a toe-hold in Northern Thailand, at least if Nan province is any indication.

After reading your post a couple of time the shackles have fallen from my eyes. I can see so much clearer now. These naughty little boys of ISIS from Syria are just bored with with nothing else to do. So why not get some AK47s, rocket launchers. cigarette lighters, sharp knives and have some fun. So what if they round up Christians, Jews and anyone else they see fit and chop their heads off or burn them alive? They're just having a little innocent fun. So what if they want to take over Iraq? Not my worry. So what that they have moved into and want to take over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, North Africa? Not my worry. So what if they move into Europe, Australia and Asia? So what if they raise their flag over the White House as they have proclaimed they would? Not my worry. I can have a delicious plate of khao mon gai and a cold Leo any time I want. Life is great. Let those naughty boys decapitate or burn alive all the infidels worldwide that won't convert to Islam. That is except Isaan of course.

While these misunderstood fellows are doing all the above fun things, we should insure all the defense contractors and those lucky corporations are brought to justice before they are beheaded or burned alive. They should all be locked up awaiting their judgement from Allah.

Connda I trust you realize sarcasm when you read it. I also trust that you know little or nothing about the ISIS organization itself. How it is growing by over ten thousand a day world wide, their recruitment campaign on Twitter in more than seven languages and on two websites which can easily be found by using Google. For your reading pleasure and enlightenment of this nasty bunch you can go to the link below if you so choose.

I'm not worried at the moment about these barbarians invading Isaan but I am concerned and sorrowful for all the innocent people that are being slaughtered by them.

http://news.yahoo.com/terror-inc---how-the-islamic-state-became-a-branding-behemoth-034732792.html

Edited February 19, 2015 by Pimay1

[Steely Dan]

The war on terror being a war of words, then Obama is using .22 caliber rhetoric.

Thus far the main casualties from this war have been the truth and the English language. I think it timely to yet again cite an opinion poll of Saudi citizens where over 90% of respondents believed ISIS were following Islamic law and being true to its values.

P.s I think the word 'perverted' can be added to the growing list of words sacrificed in the defense of PC dogma.

[Publicus]

Prez Obama going on tv to call on Muslim leaders globally to get their billion people off their to oppose radical jihad (my words) is just one stark indicator of how serious the problem is of ISIL and that the immediate future looks like a lot of wildfires spreading fast into populated and dense areas.

We're possibly looking at a global insurgency of fierce dimensions, disruptions, disorder.

[zydeco]

Imam Obama has spoken. Islam is not a threat. Don't trust your lying eyes.

[JockPieandBeans]

Prez Obama going on tv to call on Muslim leaders globally to get their billion people off their to oppose radical jihad (my words) is just one stark indicator of how serious the problem is of ISIL and that the immediate future looks like a lot of wildfires spreading fast into populated and dense areas.

We're possibly looking at a global insurgency of fierce dimensions, disruptions, disorder.

Did I just read that ?

Did someone slip a hallucinogenic in my coffee ?

What a difference a day makes !!

[Steely Dan]

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

They have only "perverted" Islam in the sense that they take it literally, but hopefully, most Muslims will reject the demand to spread Islam to the whole world using violence that is called for in the Qur'an.

It is time for Obama to finally admit that radical Islam not only exists, but is supported by Islamic scripture. You can't defeat an enemy that you refuse to admit exists.

Obama's administration has killed mpre radical Islamic leaders than any other president. Even the Pakistan government who stopped US drone attacks against Taliban now welcomes them. Islamic peoples rely on Obama to provide intelligence, combat training, weapons, etc. to attack ISIL. I'd say Obama is very aware of radical Islam.

The Obama administration has left Iraq and parts of Syria, Libya in the hands of his Junior Varsity team. Meanwhile AQIP cut a swathe through Mali as a by-product of the Libya misadventure (shame about the ambassador). He made a point of insisting the Muslim brotherhood were present at his Cairo speech and was largely instrumental in putting them in power. During their reign Christians were slaughtered there and Sinai was left to be infiltrated by every terrorist group in the region. In Nigeria Boko Haram murdered thousands before Washington finally put them on the designated terrorist list and furthermore refused to supply arms to the Nigerian military with which to fight them.

The retreat from Afghanistan was glossed over as job done by an administration who now call the Taliban insurgents instead of terrorists. This paved the way for the release of prisoners from Gitmo, one of whom it is believed took part in an insurgency into a Pakistani school where 140 children were murdered.

Apart from completely misunderstanding and underestimating ISIS the Obama regime has an evident policy of empowering the Muslim brotherhood. In other words appeasement to a crocodile with better table manners.

[Steely Dan]

Ok Mr President, do you condone and support the military action taken by Egypt against ISIS as a result of 21 Egyptian Christians being beheaded? A simple 'yes' or 'no' will suffice.

http://pamelageller.com/2015/02/obama-administration-wont-back-egypt-isis-attacks-we-are-neither-condemning-nor-condoning.html/

[klauskunkel]

Yes, not ALL Muslims are bad, and yes, only a small number of those are radicalized hard core, bent on sharia laws and new world order according to their perverted views of the Quran, the problem is that the majority of the Muslims so called 'good Muslims' sit there quietly and do nothing, or not enough to show that those terrorist

do not represent the Muslim world ideology, and those good Muslim should call for their ultimate and full

eradication out of their midst and the Islam world....

What are the root causes of the radicalization of Muslims?

Is it inherent evil?

Is it a desire for domination of the world?

Or are there other causes?

root causes:

1) corrupt leaders who pervert a religion to further their goal for power

2) brainwashed, ignorant followers who have not learned to think for themselves and who believe everything told by 1)

3) a passive mass of ordinary folk who have their heads in the sand, hoping this will go away without affecting them

[notmyself]

Obama: US at war with those who have perverted Islam

Some people follow the words of the Qur'an.

Some people pick and choose the bits they like, a la carte.

Who exactly have perverted Islam?

[Publicus]

Prez Obama going on tv to call on Muslim leaders globally to get their billion people off their to oppose radical jihad (my words) is just one stark indicator of how serious the problem is of ISIL and that the immediate future looks like a lot of wildfires spreading fast into populated and dense areas.

We're possibly looking at a global insurgency of fierce dimensions, disruptions, disorder.

Did I just read that ?

Did someone slip a hallucinogenic in my coffee ?

What a difference a day makes !!

live 'n learn eh....

It's every day.

Read my lips....the 99.9% of Muslims in the world are not the enemy.

Take the 1% that are 100% the enemy and annihilate 'em...obliterate 'em swiftly and decisively.

Rinse and repeat.

This is not the clash of civilizations. The 99% of Muslims globally want peace and prosperity, that's all....there's a buck to be made in this too.

[Jingthing]

99 percent is an exaggeration.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app