• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Bush: “I’ve got to do a better job of making it clear when I talk about Islam, I talk about a peaceful religion, which I talk about a lot”

May 17, 2008 9:16 am By Robert Spencer

Does anyone really not know that George W. Bush believes Islam is a peaceful religion? Apparently some don’t: yesterday “a young Palestinian Christian woman, Henriette Charcar” scolded the President for this, telling him: “I think it comes out that you don’t like Muslims because in most of your speeches you do tend to relate extremism to Muslims.”

Oh, the mind reels. Yet the sentiments of this “young Palestinian Christian woman, Henriette Charcar,” are not all that different from the assumptions of the mainstream media, both liberal and conservative, in America today. Two of these assumptions are:

1. If you take note of the fact that Islamic jihadists justify their actions by referring to Islam texts and teachings that — at very least by the account of the jihadists themselves — justify violence and supremacism, it must mean that you hate Muslims.

But do Islamic texts and teachings actually contain elements that justify violence and supremacism? If they do, would it really mean that one necessarily dislikes Muslims if one points it out? Wouldn’t that be rather like saying that if you point out that the Sun is hot, you must hate eskimos?

2. Those who “relate extremism to Muslims” are people like (preposterously enough, since he has bent over backwards to deny any such link) the President and other non-Muslims. There is no notice taken of the fact that the people who are really expending all their time energy to “relate extremism to Muslims” are Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and their ilk.

And also: if Islam really isn’t a peaceful religion, as it manifestly isn’t, as it is the only religion that contains doctrines and traditions mandating warfare against unbelievers, then what exactly will George W. Bush gain by pretending that it is? Will he convince peaceful Muslims not to support the jihad? Unlikely — his status, and the status of any non-Muslim, as a teacher of Islam is not all that exalted. Will he prevent Muslim countries that are our nominal allies from supporting the jihadists? Well, it hasn’t worked so far in Egypt and Pakistan, where despite ostensibly pro-Western governments there is significant support for the jihad at the highest levels.

“U.S. not at war with Islam faith, Bush says,” by Jon Ward for the Washington Times, May 17 (thanks to Cindy):

President Bush yesterday told students in Israel he hasn’t done enough to dispel the idea that the United States is at war with Islam, but also blamed the “poisonous” state-run TV stations in the Middle East for mischaracterizing him.

During an extended conversation with about 12 college and high school students under an olive tree in Jerusalem, the issue of diplomacy arose, and Mr. Bush launched into a defense of his attitude toward Muslims.

“Somebody said to me, ‘Well, how come you dislike Muslims?'” Mr. Bush said. “I don’t.”

But then a young Palestinian Christian woman, Henriette Charcar, spoke up.

“I think it comes out that you don’t like Muslims because in most of your speeches you do tend to relate extremism to Muslims,” said Miss Charcar, who attends the Tabitha school in Jaffa.

Mr. Bush responded: “Actually what I say is you’re not a religious person if you’re a murderer. But you’re right. I’ve got to do a better job of making it clear when I talk about Islam, I talk about a peaceful religion, which I talk about a lot.”…

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Uncategorized


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • James Lincoln on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship
  • revereridesagain on Audio: Robert Spencer on Muslim Brotherhood influence in a Biden/Harris administration
  • SKA on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Eva on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic
  • Eva on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.