Your preference is noted, sir. Now what do you propose to do to convince Islamic jihad terrorists not to mention Islam “in vain alongside terrorism”? Will you travel to the Islamic State (maybe Pope Francis could go with you) and convince the caliph that he is misunderstanding the religion of peace? Will you confront and refute the terrorists’ understanding of Islam and challenge mosques in Russia not just to condemn that understanding, but to teach actively against it? Or will you, like Obama, just pretend that all this has already been done?
“Putin: No Link Between Islam, Terror,” by Greg Price, International Business Times, December 23, 2016:
At his annual year-end press conference Friday, the Russian president said he preferred the religion not be tied to terrorism.
Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump often directly associated terrorism with Muslims around the world by saying “radical Islamic terrorism,” a phrase he criticized President Barack Obama for failing to use and denying any link between the religion and terrorist attacks.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s thinking appears to fall well in line with Obama’s and not Trump, who he’s been accused of helping win the 2016 presidential election by directing his government to hack the Republican and Democratic National Committees.
Speaking at his annual year-end press conference Friday, Putin said he would prefer not to link Islam with terrorism, Russian state-run site Sputnik International reported.
“I would prefer Islam not to be mentioned in vain alongside terrorism. You are right here,” Putin said when asked if the phrase “Daesh, terrorist organization in Russia” should be banned from use by the media.
Following the assassination of a Russian ambassador in Turkey, allegedly in the name of Syria, the comments may be confusing to some.
But Putin’s comments only strengthen is previous statements on Islam and terror. In May, at an event devoted to discussing Islam and Russia, Putin said Russia will always be a “reliable ally” to the “Islamic World,” Newsweek reported.
“I would like to confirm that in Russia, the Islamic world will always find a reliable ally, prepared to cooperate in resolving pressing problems,” Putin said. “We support the position of Muslim countries to strengthen values such as justice and the rule of law in international relations.”…