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The White House's official policy of banning the word "Islam" in describing America's terrorist enemies is in direct conflict with the U.S. military's war-fighting doctrine now guiding commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John O. Brennan, President Obama's chief national security adviser for counterterrorism, delivered a major policy address on defining the enemy. He laid out the White House policy of detaching any reference to Islam when referring to terrorists, be it al Qaeda, the Taliban or any other group.
But Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the man tapped by Mr. Obama as the new top commander in Afghanistan, led the production of an extensive counterinsurgency manual in December 2006 that does, in fact, tell commanders of a link between Islam and extremists.
This is a nonstory, completely and utterly. We're talking about public relations on the one hand, and Obama's sound policy of not describing the United States in terms that could be misunderstood to characterize the war as a war against the Islamic religion generally. On the other hand, the Petraeus COIN manual is a document that must talk frankly about the relationship between insurgents and certain radical Islamic groups. These two policies are not at odds. Obama's policy is sound because use of phrases like "Islamic extremists" to describe terrorists or insurgents legitimizes and creates the impression that the United States is somehow at war with Islam. As much as some xenophobes might like that idea, it is antithetical to the COIN goal of winning hearts and minds.
Touchy Feely PR doesn't do diddly squat.
Touchy Feely PR doesn't do diddly squat.
Mr. Brennan on May 26 told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that "describing our enemy in religious terms would lend credence to the lie propagated by al Qaeda and its affiliates to justify terrorism, that the United States is somehow at war against Islam. The reality, of course, is that we have never been and will never be at war with Islam. After all, Islam, like so many faiths, is part of America."
This makes perfect sense to me, from the OP link:
Obama at odds with Petraeus doctrine on 'Islam' - Washington Times
We can clearly see the difference between those that are serious about confronting the enemy, and defeating the enemy, and those that live in an academic bubble of fantasy.
Thing is, conservatives actually see it as a war against Islam. Hence the disgruntlement.
Thing is, conservatives actually see it as a war against Islam. Hence the disgruntlement.
I don't know a SINGLE Conservative that thinks this is a "war against Islam". The only ones that utter such nonsense are leftwingers trying to paint Conservatives as bigots.
Lots of liberals love poker. Especially the race card, the bigot card, the rich card, the white male card, and the green card. (a twofer on that last one)
I don't know a SINGLE Conservative that thinks this is a "war against Islam". The only ones that utter such nonsense are leftwingers trying to paint Conservatives as bigots.
Liberals also love to call a spade a spade.
Conservatives jump all over the chance to talk about how many acts of terrorism muslims commit, how their religion "commands them to make war on infidels," and all sorts of stuff like that. They get incensed when someone dares build a mosque.. well, pretty much anywhere, but within some arbitrary distance from the former WTC site? Outrageous!
You may not have heard people use the term war, but that is the gist of the sentiment. (besides, I have heard the term war used)
I don't know a SINGLE Conservative that thinks this is a "war against Islam". The only ones that utter such nonsense are leftwingers trying to paint Conservatives as bigots.
The fact remains, Islam is at war with us, dude. It is a greater threat to western civilization than communism ever was. Failure to recognize that and treat it as the threat it is will eventually lead to our defeat.
The fact remains, Islam is at war with us, dude. It is a greater threat to western civilization than communism ever was. Failure to recognize that and treat it as the threat it is will eventually lead to our defeat.
Here you go MrVicchio
Glad you're joking.
Look up gallups research on opinion in the islamic world. There are only a few thousand 'islamofascist' warriors according to the US govt. And only a small fraction of muslims are supporters of extremism. A widespread opinion is that the west does not understand or respect islam. Funny that. I cite you as evidence.
Conservatives jump all over the chance to talk about how many acts of terrorism muslims commit, how their religion "commands them to make war on infidels," and all sorts of stuff like that. They get incensed when someone dares build a mosque.. well, pretty much anywhere, but within some arbitrary distance from the former WTC site? Outrageous!
You may not have heard people use the term war, but that is the gist of the sentiment. (besides, I have heard the term war used)
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