Lawrence Summers has served as president of Harvard University, Secretary of the Treasury, and economic adviser to Barack Obama. His Washington Post piece here is a manifestation of the panic that the political and media elites are feeling in the face of the popularity of Donald Trump, although whether he poses a genuine challenge to their hegemony remains an open question.
Summers writes: “A perception that the United States is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is an invitation to terrorism.” This, of course, echoes numerous similar statements made by Barack Obama and others in the past. But there are several problems with it. One is that “the radical elements within Islam” are not easily separable from “Islam.” While Muslim organizations all over the world have issued condemnations of the Islamic State, al Qaeda, and other jihad groups, jihadis and jihad sympathizers move freely in Muslim communities. Few Muslim organizations have pronounced takfir upon, i.e. excommunicated, followers of bin Laden, al-Awlaki, al-Baghdadi, etc. Doctrines of warfare against and subjugation of unbelievers can be found among all mainstream Muslim sects. So how does Larry Summers, or Obama or anyone else, propose to distinguish “the radical elements within Islam” from the rest for the purposes of prosecuting this war properly?
This is the key question regarding Trump’s “suggestion” of a temporary moratorium on Muslim immigration: none of those who are denouncing him for it have come up with any effective alternate plan to keep jihadis out while admitting Muslims.
Also, the idea that “a perception that the United States is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is an invitation to terrorism” rests upon the assumption that Muslims who otherwise would have been “moderate” will join jihad terror groups if they don’t like U.S. policies regarding Muslim immigration. This places the onus of terrorism upon us rather than on the jihadis themselves, and suggests that the way we can stop the jihad is to stop doing everything that Muslims dislike. In other words, it is a call for surrender and submission. No thank you, Dr. Summers.
“Trump is a much worse threat than Brexit,” by Lawrence Summers, Washington Post, June 5, 2016 (thanks to Darcy):
On June 23, Britain will vote on whether to remain in the European Union. On Nov. 8, the United States will vote on whether to elect Donald Trump as president. These elections have much in common. Both could yield outcomes that would have seemed inconceivable not long ago. Both pit angry populists and nationalists against the traditional establishment. And in both cases, polling indicates that the outcome is in doubt, with prediction markets suggesting a probability of between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3 of the radical outcome occurring….
Yet, as great as the risks of Brexit are to the British economy, I believe the risks to the U.S. and global economies of Trump’s election as president of the United States are far greater. Indeed, if he were elected, I would expect a protracted recession to begin within 18 months. The damage would in all likelihood be felt far beyond the United States. Here’s why….
Third, prosperity depends on a secure geopolitical environment. Requiring Japan and Korea to defend themselves and scaling back NATO is a prescription for both emboldening China and Russia and promoting nuclear proliferation as our allies seek to become self-sufficient. A perception that the United States is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is an invitation to terrorism. In such an environment, it is hardly likely that investment and trade would flourish….

jihad3tracker says
The Washington Post is my “hometown paper” — for 50 years, I have lived about 10 miles from where it is published.
Whenever clueless egotistical clowns like Larry Summers writes a Left slanted, privilege guilt item such as this one, reader comments are about 80% derisive, 10% positive (by fellow Leftists) and 10% gibberish by stoned 30 year old trolls still living in their parents’ homes.
Maybe we JW readers here would enjoy diving in to that article-comment swamp of delusion with factual alligators to stir up things a bit ?
Check out the reaction yourself — I always get a hearty horse laugh out of the stubborn agenda of multi-cultural Bezos who is, of course, totally insulated from reality by his oodles of $$$$$..
mortimer says
Who in Obama’s crowd are receiving bribes to defend the Saudi’s against criticism and betray Americans? Or are they all being bribed?
jihad3tracker says
Perhaps answers to your questions will appear when Barry Hussein Soetoro exits the White House, and one or more courageous reporters put into print what they have discovered about a vast network of bribery by the House of Saud — money channeled to offshore accounts of dozens of senators and representatives IN BOTH PARTIES for at least a decade..
But, as Mark Levin might say, “If we have enough time.”
Budvarakbar says
Somebody’s financing Mark Levin — let me know who – if and when you find out!
Jay Boo says
Mortimer
I can’t believe that you keep insisting on pushing that stupid idea as if to suggest that Westerners are motivated only by financial gain and materialistic concerns. The Jihadis say that very same thing.
Barack Obama’s Leftist crowd are willing accomplices and most of them actually believe in his crap otherwise they would not have been picked. They are all slaves to Politically Correctness.
Sandra Lee Smith says
Bribed or threatened; either way, the reality is Islam declared war on the world and has NOT undeclared it, and the Saudis are Muslims too!
Idania says
This guy is really misrepresenting the reality. Islam has declared war to the Western World. It is not the Islamist “terrorists” it includes all Muslims. If you read the Kur’an you will understand, that they are programmed for supremacy. They get to the host country, and start making demands, and I don’t know why the host country start compromising, and bending to Muslims demands. Now they decided to invade Europe, there are 50 Muslims countries, why they choose Europe? Just because they are pursuing their goal of a World Caliphate. The same way the Ottoman Empire did 100 years ago by the sword, when they killed one million Christian Armenians. They are the ones that are provoking a real war. Beware western world.
gravenimage says
Good to hear most of the Washington Post’s readers don’t uncritically swallow this tripe, jihad3tracker.
WorkingClassPost says
If “prosperity depends on a secure geopolitical environment “, then how has obum’s meddling everywhere that has a US embassy helped anyone?
Michele Fraser says
What Dr, Summers is telling us is that the powerful elite will make sure that money will dry up for Britain and the US should the outcome of elections be different than what why want. ie. there will be disastrous economic consequences. So what! Wouldn’t it be neat if Trump got elected, banished the Fed., took the economy through a painful restructuring, but…with without spending on the militrary/industrial complex, and ceasing to meddle in the affairs of other countries…and the single-minded focus on making the U.S. a great, strong nation – the US will once again find it’s way to the top, becoming a beacon of prosperity. Miracles can happen.
Keys says
“What Dr, Summers is telling us is that the powerful elite will make sure that money will dry up for Britain and the US should the outcome of elections be different than what why want.”
That seems to be more of a threat than a warning.
Janeatte says
It is so disgusting of the US government they fight Donald Trump and ignore the threat of the Islamic terrorist They don’t care what’s happened to people they care about how to control and how becoming the police of the world,besides make countries fight each other’s to cell weapons,they don’t care about humanity actually they don’t care.
Christianblood says
(Larry Summers: “Perception that US is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is invitation to terrorism).
Every day and all around the globe Western political and cultural establishment elites are favoring islam and its fanatical homicidal followers and are openly propagandizing for it while ignoring and ridiculing the true victims of the global islamic jihad.
mortimer says
Janette wrote: “It is so disgusting of the US government they … ignore the threat of the Islamic terrorist ”
And they lie to us that ISIS is Islamic and that they are following the purist form of Islam.
Islam_Macht_Frei says
It’s like saying that we weren’t at war with Nazism or Japanese Imperialism, but just the “radical elements” within those.
Pathetic.
Today is D-Day. Let them not have died in vain.
Champ says
And islam is “radical” to the core …
Jaladhi says
Does Summers know that Islam is at war with us – with entire humanity! Probably he doesn’t or he would not make such stupid statement! The Western elites are getting dumb and dumber by the days.
Wellington says
You beat me to it, Jaladhi.
Wellington says
Message to Larry Summers: Islam is at war with us as it has been with all non-Muslims since Mo’s time. That’s why, duh, Islam divides the world into the dar al-Islam (Land of Islam) and the dar al-harb (Land of War). Learn this, Larry Summers (but you won’t).
mortimer says
DID LARRY SUMMERS READ THE FOLLOWING TEXTS?
Ishaq:587 “Our onslaught will not be a weak faltering affair. We shall fight as long as we live. We will fight until you turn to Islam, humbly seeking refuge. We will fight not care whom we meet. We will fight whether we destroy ancient holdings or newly gotten gains. We have mutilated every opponent. We have driven them violently before us AT THE COMMAND OF ALLAH and Islam. WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL OUR RELGION IS ESTABLISHED. We will plunder them, for they must suffer disgrace.”
Ishaq:587 “Our onslaught will not be a weak faltering affair. We shall fight as long as we live. We will fight until you turn to Islam, humbly seeking refuge. We will fight not care whom we meet. We will fight whether we destroy ancient holdings or newly gotten gains. We have mutilated every opponent. We have driven them violently before us at the command of Allah and Islam. We will fight until our religion is established. And we will plunder them, for they must suffer disgrace.”
I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah. – Mohammed)
Commentary of Ibn Kafthir
Allah’s statement:
[فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَنَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّـلِمِينَ]
(But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against the wrongdoers.) indicates that, `If they stop their Shirk and fighting the believers, then cease warfare against them. Whoever fights them afterwards will be committing an injustice. Verily aggression can only be started against the unjust.’ This is the meaning of Mujahid’s statement that only combatants should be fought. Or, the meaning of the Ayah indicates that, `If they abandon their injustice, which is Shirk in this case, then do not start aggression against them afterwards.’ The aggression here means retaliating and fighting them, just as Allah said:
[فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ]
(Then whoever transgresses against you, you transgress likewise against him.) (2:194)
Conclusion: according to the Islamic texts we must surrender to Islam and Muslims will stop fighting us. We will then be their slaves. Is that Larry Summers’ plan?
Wellington says
Summers doesn’t really have a plan, mortimer. He may think he does but he doesn’t. And one thing is for certain and that is that Summers is deeply ignorant about Islam.
I mean just imagine what he could tell someone off the cuff about the Koran, the hadiths and the sira. Also about what the terms taqiyya, kitman and daskh mean. And who Aisha was. Or Kinana. Or Asma bint Marwan and Abu Afak. I highly doubt he could name one major school of Islamic theology, for instance the Hanafi or Shafi school.
Summers is drowning in ignorance about Islam and has made the colossal mistake of assuming, as so many in the West have, that no major religion can be rotten to the core. But you and I know better, now don’t we? But Summers doesn’t.
Jay Boo says
I ran that Arabic through a translator
It does not say what you claim mort.
It says,
“Muhammad committed shirk”
… and
“All Muslims are the worst”
Westman says
Isn’t this the University president who listened to disputes between Mark Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins but wasn’t smart enough to invest in Facebook? The one who was drummed out of Harvard by feminists for his ideas about women?
Certainly with such an illustrious history of correct conclusions, he could only be right about Brexit and the generally benign attitude of Islam toward infidels? I suppose that he came to the conclusion of peaceful Islam through intensive study of the Quran and Sunnah. Uh-huh.
We can be certain that higher education is in jepardy when college presidents refuse to study.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Summers harmed the economy, and a lot of people’s lives, with his Ivy League Moron genius thinking, so why not move his resource over to delivering bad thinking on Islam? He should go out to dinner with Petraeus, Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham. They’d get along great. Everything’s so obvious.
Crusaderess says
This is the same man who believes women are mathematically challenged because his daughter flunked algebra. Yet Summers sees identifying active threats as broad brushing. Ivy League schools and the governance of this nation have been devastatingly damaged by idiots like this and their false credentials.
Voytek Gagalka says
If such elitist POS as Larry Summers expresses anything, one can be absolutely sure that just opposite what he says would be not a calamity but the greatest good possible. “Damage” to whom? Country or those said elites? In the latter case, they fully deserve and one must feel deep satisfaction of such an outcome. The country is not equal to those “elites” in similar way as elites of the time of the French or American revolutions did not represent the best interest of their country.
Face_The_Truth says
Professor Lawrence H. Summers has been so WRONG on so many things, including his most favorite subject, which is — by the way — Economics!!!
‘At the Federal Reserve annual Jackson Hole conference in 2005, Prof. Raghuram Govind Rajan warned about the growing risks in the financial system and proposed policies that would reduce such risks.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers called the warnings “misguided” and Prof. Rajan himself a “luddite”.
However, following the 2008 economic crisis, Professor Rajan’s views came to be seen as prescient and he was extensively interviewed for the Oscar-winning documentary Inside Job (2010).’
LINK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007%E2%80%9308
I have a question to all of you here: Why do people of high offices in Europe and America still listen to failed economists like Lawrence Summers or Alan Greenspan???
Havoc says
But, we are at war with Islam ! (Or, at least, we should be …)
mortimer says
Muslims have declared war against the world.
Michael O'Neill says
I really hope Trump wins, just to see the outraged reaction of the idiot left.
He’s not perfect by any means, but if the US can survive eight years of the Obamanation of Desolation, Trump will do no lasting harm.
Face_The_Truth says
I’ve heard there are many Americans now who are planing to move to Saudi Arabia and live there happily ever after when businessman Trump takes the oath of office in 2017.
CogitoErgoSum says
Are they all Muslims?
Face_The_Truth says
(LOL)…Just kidding…
I actually read somewhere…there are Americans who have pledged to move north to Canada if businessman Trump becomes the president; because, to them Canada is more Islam-friendly than America has become due to too much Islamophobia in America under businessman Trump’s presidential campaign.
CogitoErgoSum says
They would probably be happier in Saudi Arabia. There are more Islam-friendly Muslims there than in Canada. No kidding.
Champ says
“They would probably be happier in Saudi Arabia.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That would make me happier, too …
Vyx says
Future U.S. Government statement:
“No matter what we do or what we say, we will offend and enrage Muslims. So best to cower in fear, and, if you want to be completely safe, convert to Islam”
Sam says
I swear humanity is really losing it with all that trying to protect evil Islam by all these blatantly ignorant idiots. These idiots would not fight that hard to save their own skin if they were threatened directly by evil.
What is so special about this evil cult that people want to protect with all the evidence showing that it needs to be eliminated RIGHT NOW FOR HUMANITY SAKE. NUTS!!!!!
Champ says
This is the key question regarding Trump’s “suggestion” of a temporary moratorium on Muslim immigration: none of those who are denouncing him for it have come up with any effective alternate plan to keep jihadis out while admitting Muslims.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bravo!!
somehistory says
If the baby is crying, it does no good for the mother and father to say there is nothing wrong. The baby is the one deciding whether there is something wrong. The parents would need to look at the facts.
Facts:
While the moslims are attacking, threatening to attack, celebrating an attack, claiming backlash after they attack, and, alternately whining and gloating concerning their power over everyone else, it does no good tor idiots to make proclamations about the *reasons* why moslims are doing those things
Look at the facts or don’t give advice to others who might just have taken a look at the facts and are thinking correctly.
Champ says
The Truth would be a refreshing change …how about islam *is* radical.
Instead they dance around the Truth and engage in semantics and mind games, and make statements like this:
“Perception that US is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is invitation to terrorism”
Hoekom Jy My Haat says
We may pretend that we are not at war with Islam, but it is obvious by its on-going attacks on The West that International Islam considers itself at war with us. Until such time as we can tell the so called “good moslems” from the regular, rank-and-file terroristically inclined moslems, I’m afraid all must be considered a suspect class.
Ali Bey says
It is not that U.S. is at war with Islam, it is that Islam is at war wits US, Europe, Israel, Christianity, non believers -kufar-, accordin to the prescrption s of the quran about the obligation of yihad for the muslims
marble says
I believe Summer’s concern is about slowing the plan to create chaos with the introduction of millions of army service age men who hate our country, then attack a disarmed public to hasten the “march towards a world government” ruled by “an intellectual elite and world bankers,” for that would be “surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries.” The quote is from David Rockefeller at the Bilderberg meeting in 1991. Here is more, a giving of thanks to an an obedient press that failed in its obligation to inform the public: “We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years [starting in 1951?]. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries.”
The following year, Kissinger gave to the Bilderberg Cabal a talk dealing with the benefit of terrorizing the people of the world so that they would cry out for United Nations troops to protect them, even at the price of relinquishing their freedoms to new world rulers.
Senthil Kumar says
The question is how many radical elements are there within Islam?
KnowThyEnemy says
Enough to keep infidels terrorized, and enough to keep the non-radicals in line. Exact numbers (or percentage) is not important. What is important is to know that wherever there is Islam, there are enough radical elements to cause adverse change sooner or later.
In 1947, in the Muslim areas of British India, there were enough radical elements within Islam to not only cause a breakup of the country, but also cause riots, murders, and suffering of millions. The people who were murdered and the women who were raped, probably never had a clue that there were enough radicals in their towns to turn their lives upside down.
In 1960s-70s, Afghanistan and Iran were fairly open societies. But there were enough radicals there to make those countries poisonously Islamic, within days in Iran and within a decade in Afghanistan.
In 2012-14, there were enough radicals in Nigeria’s Muslim areas to bomb Christian churches almost every other day. We do not hear about Nigeria’s churches getting bombed anymore most likely because there AREN’T any churches left to bomb.
There are enough radicals in Bangladesh today to cause Atheist bloggers to either flee the country or take their blogs down (or forget about starting new blogs). Chances are that none of those bloggers know how many radical elements there are in Bangladesh. Chances are they only know there are enough.
There are enough radical elements among western Muslims that our ‘leaders’ think it important to tell us to behave respectfully toward Islam and Muslims lest they become violent.
Hence it is wise to learn from history and from the goings on currently, and realize that it is unimportant to know “how many radical elements”. All we need to know is that there are enough, and that we should be making decisions accordingly.
Angemon says
Stand aside Larry David, there’s a new Larry in town…
gravenimage says
Larry Summers: “Perception that US is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is invitation to terrorism”
………………………..
Let’s follow this “logic”–this means that “moderate” Muslims can become “radicals” with the flip of a switch. In that case, perhaps they weren’t so “moderate” after all…
Edward says
The word “PERCEPTION” that I know of, Larry Summers, is a learned attribute that magicians make use often to create an illusion.
“NOW YOU SEE IT – NOW YOU DON’T”
Larry, I’m beginning to think that you have been tutored by muslim’s recently. For muslims are born magicians. They make you have forced cognizance of point (A) while they are finagling with you at point (B).I give them credit for their mind control expertise is all I can say about them! They have long being using this technique for over 1400 years. That’s why they have a penchant to win, that’s why they don’t lose and if they do lose they have the patience to go and win the next cycle. They are much regimented about this technique…that’s where they are NOW, BTW!
As an antidote, we have to learn more about this illusive and destructive perceptive attribute and strengthen our affirmed capabilities to deter their efforts. To end win WWII the Atom Bomb power was introduced and for the current war that is here (NOW) and is coming from all corners of the world we’ll have to harness our mind power. TO OUT-THINK THEM TO WIN OUR WAR AGAINST OUR ILLUSIVE NEMESIS!
jewdog says
Okay, so where are some of those peaceful Muslims who became terrorists because they were angered by tactless infidels? Where’s the evidence? I have yet to hear from one of them. This is nothing but PC fantasy talking. One moonbat says it, then they all echo it like a bunch of honking geese. It’s not about Muslims or Islam, it’s about people who want to feel good about themselves and not have to say anything negative, even if true.
Jay Boo says
Obama anti-Terrorism budget:
90 % spent on pandering to Muslims and rooting out those who criticize Islam.
10 % spent on criticizing terrorism.
0.0 % spent fighting terrorism.
sidney penny says
“This places the onus of terrorism upon us rather than on the jihadis themselves, and suggests that the way we can stop the jihad is to stop doing everything that Muslims dislike. In other words, it is a call for surrender and submission.”
Why can’t everyone else see it this way?
Neville J. Angove says
The “traditional establishment” has not served the US well since WWII. The world has changed, and he need for commercial empire builders should have died with the railways. A movie quite from decades ago sums it up well: “If the wine is bad, throw it out.” The current establishment, where we expected glossy politicians arguing with everything except the facts, really has become cliched in the worst way.
You can’t separate radical Islam from moderate Islam. They are just different ends of the same spectrum, and neither allow the survival of what we like to call “Western Civilisation.” Summers is also wrong in arguing that “… A perception that the United States is at war with Islam rather than with radical elements within Islam is an invitation to terrorism. In such an environment, it is hardly likely that investment and trade would flourish…..” Summers is arguing the reverse case, when it is in fact a climate of war that will foster trade and investment. As it did in all previous wars.
Fostering Islamic migration and acceptance of this inimical culture is seen as a viable means by most of those in power (political and financial) to ensure growth of political and financial opportunities for those with unwelcome agendas. Merkel with wanting a unified Europe (with a war against Islam being the means to an end); George Soros wanting more Muslim migration to Europe in spite of being a Jew who suffered under anti-Semitism, so he can strengthen a financial position he will have to leave to his heirs; and Barack Obama, supporting the culture in which he was brainwashed as a youth, because he sees the intermediate step of a unified Islamic control as preferable, but ignores that the final step will be the bloodiest the human race has ever seen; and Zuckerberg, who wants to control all comment, and thinks he can out-think Islamic theocrats.
Bring on Brexit, President Trump, and a nuclear escalation of the Hindu-Muslim sturrles, and the Wesy may survive with a lower casualty rate.
Neville J. Angove says
“Hindu-Muslim sturrles” should read “Hindu-Muslim struggles.” Oops!
Wanker says
Fatwa’s issued by imams are always against people peacefully challenging Islam in literature or other places of public information arenas. They never issue them against leaders of Isis, known terrorists or other so called “radical elements of Islam”. That’s one indication that it is more likely that we are at war with Islam. We just don’t know it yet.
JUSTICEFORALL says
It’s not the U.S. that is at War with Islam; IT IS ISLAM THAT IS AT WAR WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT IS NOT ISLAMIC – AND THEIR MOVEMENT IS KNOWN AS JIHAD (TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND FORCE THEM TO CONVERT TO ISLAM. Don’t believe me, just read the Koran! It’s not that long and it is very clear what they plan to do and what they tell their followers.
Carmel says
Last night , I had a nightmare too. Reza Aslan was now president of the United States. First thing he did , he issued new coins and paper money . No more In God we Trust on it . The new motto ? No god but Alllah !
JawsV says
I had a nightmare a few months ago in which I was surrounded by a crowd of Muslimas in hijabs. Muslims had achieved world hegemony. It was horrible.
WorkingClassPost says
In that lead photo, is it his dick or his IQ that he’s demonstrating?
Florida Jim says
Harvard, Columbia, The Ivy League and most of all American colleges have been taken over by marxists like Summers, and Obama, who now hate America but won’t leave to a safe place who wants them like Saudi Arabia or Iran.This book describes it and it was written in 1987 so do you think it has gotten better 30 years later or are we dying as a nation because of these fools?
“The Closing Of The American Mind” By Allen Bloom was written in 1987 was written against the ideas and conceptions that animate the contemporary universities.The subtitle says it all “How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished then Souls of today’s Students”. In the 1960’s educators took pride in how the degree to, which they had reformed the American university in the direction of democracy,equality and openness. They wanted to create an academic environment in which students might explore various ways of thinking and living in order to find their “authentic self’s”
Face_The_Truth says
Professor Lawrence H. Summers is not Marxist.
b.c.terry says
Submission continues, muslims laugh their asses off at our weakness.
The beat goes on,
steve brown says
Larry Summers is a lying traitor. History has proven that Islam will attack until it is conquered. Unreality is the true source of powerlessness, ”Henry Ford”.
Guest says
I’m surrounded by idiots
Manuele says
That’s Larry Summers shitting from the mouth
Robert Eckert says
The world is at war with salafist wahhabism.