He’s embracing the same establishment advice Bush and Obama did. My latest in PJ Media:
Speaking Friday about President Trump’s trip to the Middle East, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster said that Trump would:
… develop a strong, respectful message that the United States and the entire civilized world expects our Muslim allies to take a strong stance against radical Islamist ideology.
Those who are aware of how badly U.S. foreign policy has run off the rails over the last fifteen years should be deeply disturbed.
The world has been waiting in vain for that decade-and-a-half for “our Muslim allies to take a strong stance against radical Islamist ideology.” McMaster’s words were a disquieting indication that the foreign policy swamp, one in the most dire need of draining, has instead turned the tables on the president.
Trump now appears set to repeat all the mistakes his last two predecessors made in dealing with the global jihad threat.
McMaster added that jihad terrorists were operating according to “an ideology that uses a perverted interpretation of religion to justify crimes against all humanity.” But Trump, on the other hand, “will call for Muslim leaders to promote a peaceful vision of Islam.”
Here we go again.
How many times since 9/11 has one American spokesman or another declared that “the United States and the entire civilized world expects our Muslim allies to take a strong stance against radical Islamist ideology”? And what do we have to show for this expectation? How many years must we expect this before we realize that our “Muslim allies” have vastly different priorities than what mainstream counterterror analysts would wish to believe?
Pakistan’s government sheltered first bin Laden and now Zawahiri, was involved in the Mumbai jihad massacre and other jihad attacks, and has funneled much of the money the U.S. gave it to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban to … al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Turkey has repeatedly refused to strike strongly against the Islamic State (ISIS). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is much more concerned with hitting Assad and the Kurds.
How long do we keep waiting on these “Muslim allies” to do the right thing, and weakly and pusillanimously calling upon them to do so?
And Trump “will call for Muslim leaders to promote a peaceful vision of Islam”? Well, there’s something we’ve never seen tried before!
Where has McMaster been for the last decade-and-a-half? Buried deep in the foreign policy establishment swamp that has been serving up this nonsense all these years. And now he has apparently sold President “Drain The Swamp” on it.
Both Bush and Obama called for Muslim leaders to promote a peaceful vision of Islam; they also both claimed that the jihadis’ version of Islam “uses a perverted interpretation of religion.” Where did it get them? The same place comforting falsehoods always take you: into a maze of blind alleys and failed policies based on incorrect analysis.
Even worse, McMaster said:
[W]ith President Abbas, Trump will express his desire for dignity and self-determination for the Palestinians.
Does no one around Trump understand that a Palestinian state would immediately become a strengthened base for new and more virulent jihad attacks against a weakened Israel? When they met in Washington recently, Abbas lied brazenly to President Trump: he claimed that his government “educates for peace,” and that the Palestinian Authority is “raising our youth, our children, our grandchildren on a culture of peace.” Meanwhile, on the same day, Abbas’ government honored 12 jihad mass murderers who are responsible for the deaths of 95 people.
The foreign policy establishment’s house organ, Foreign Policy, is worried that “in the White House ‘Game of Thrones for morons,’ Steve Bannon is trying to turn the president against his national security advisor.” We can only hope that Bannon succeeds. It’s ironic that Foreign Policy would dub the Trump team “morons” when it is the foremost exponent of the analyses and policies that have failed multiple times, and that McMaster is once again pushing.
Once again, because he has done this before. In February, according to CNN:
[A]t an all-hands meeting of the National Security Council, [McMaster] said jihadist terrorists aren’t true to their professed religion and that the use of the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” doesn’t help the US in working with allies to defeat terrorist groups.
A source who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals has informed me that he was present in August 2014 when McMaster was the featured speaker for the President’s Lecture Series at National Defense University in Washington. In his address, McMaster said flatly:
The Islamic State is not Islamic.
Now, this was during the Obama regime, when that was the official policy of the U.S. government, but President Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor (and his 2016 election opponent) for not being willing to call the problem of jihad terror by its right name. When he first became president, Trump repeatedly stated his determination to eradicate “radical Islamic terrorism.”
But what McMaster has announced represents a giant step backward in the effort to do that….
Read the rest here.
Monty says
The US long ago sold out to the Middle East. Jimmy Carter was right about one thing when he said that America’s greatest weakness was her dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The Western world has no idea how to deal with Islam. Our leaders do not understand Muslims, neither do they wish to. They have the biggest carpet in the universe and everything to do with Islam gets swept under it. Mr Trump may well have the best of intentions but he is hamstrung. The toothpaste was squeezed out of the tube decades ago. How can you put it back? So he too goes along with the mythical moderate Muslim idea. It is both highly amusing and desperately tragic at the same time. The very lefties who are so in love with Islam will be its victims. Those who oppose Islam and try to warn the rest of the world will have little comfort in saying, “I tried to warn you…………..” If you cosy up to a python, don’t be surprised if it starts to put the squeeze on you. Islam stifles and crushes everything that is not Islam.
Don McKellar says
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE, AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
Trump does this all the time. Countless examples of this in his history. Until an enemy crosses him or says a bad word about him. You will take note that the Saudis have not done that with him — yet. And when they do, game over.
Don McKellar says
I want to draw everyone’s attention to Donald Trump’s favorite poem. He loves to recite it at rallies. Perhaps you’ve heard it? It’s called THE SNAKE http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/04/30/president-trump-read-the-snake-orig-vstan-new.cnn
Don’t you think that maybe, just maybe Donald Trump is pretty wise to the Sunnis and Saudis? And to Islam? Of course he is. But this is a big game that must be played. Just remember: Obama was on the side of Islam and left-fascist fantasies about Islam. Trump is playing the game on the side of America and American interests. Big difference. HUGE difference. Get it straight. There is a lot of money to suck out of the Saudis and their pals to advance US interests if you sell it right. You keep that in mind.
Don McKellar says
We can start with a 110 Billion dollar arms deal for American companies, and go on from there…
So the master salesmen goes over and pays some lip service. SO WHAT? In exchange is a hundred billion dollars for American industry assured and untold billions worth of co-operation in the region in the future that America doesn’t have to spend to counter Iran. You people all need to start using your heads — including Robert Spencer. Ultimately this all about moslem vs. moslem and keeping each other down and in check, with America profiting. Ideal.
gravenimage says
Don, I don’t believe that Trump actually understands much about Islam itself.
Don McKellar says
There isn’t much to have to understand. He’s going there on a sales trip, telling them what they want to hear. It’s all about extracting more billions from them and making them feel empowered about spending more to counter Iran so that the US doesn’t have to spend as much. That’s how Trump works. It’s not about ideology and fantasies about the world like Obama. He’s just there to sell and advance American interests.
Jackie in Califonria says
Mr. McKellar: I’m glad someone commenting on this site still supports our beloved President. You might find the following post interesting, if you haven’t already read it:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/05/19/president-trumps-mid-east-peace-coalition-prepares-for-historic-summit/
Echo says
Trump is not exactly happy in the photo. He certainly does not look warm and friendly to the man on the right. There’s more to trump than headlines. I wouldn’t understestamte him.
Adrian says
Trump could very well be fishing as a negotiator to see what he can get….
At least he is talking about an “ideology”and hopefully the door might open to an honest discussion of islam dogma in this manner…
Michael says
I fear this means it’s the end.
The jihad is over. The Muslims have won. The US has lost.
From now on, it’s nothing more than a mopping-up operation.
Brian Hoff says
Saudi government has brought america by own our bonds and 90 day treausity bills. They invest money in america the dollar isnot back by gold there is than reason it call Petrodollars.
gravenimage says
Brian Hoff–really, “DefenderofIslam”–does not appear to grasp that Saudi Arabia really has no economy besides unearned oil wealth.
Charli Main says
In the not to distant past, another honourable but much maligned man, returned to his homeland, waving a piece of paper and proclaiming ” peace in our time”.
I hope President Trump does not return to his homeland, fooled into believing that he has successfully made a deal with the devil.
Isahiah62 says
I am praying you are wrong and that TRUMP is merely doing as he is well known to do- listen to all sources, then make up his own mind.
McMaster has shown himself to be a NEVERTRUMPER and a leaker , helping the DNC to attempt to impeach the prez.
I am thinking TRUMP may not be fooled as easily. Especially by McMaster who he now knows is an enemy of TRUMP.
HOWEVER, Trump’s past reveals he hasn’t much prior knowledge of the history of the situation and I am not sure he can or will ever be able to get the right view of it.
There is also BIBI who right now many Israelis feel is bending, caving to the moribund peace farce called 2 state.
Israel and USA are helping SAUDIS b/c they feel they must do so to combat ISIS expansion. USA collaborated w/Stalin too. Perhaps a necessary and temporary coalition?
I am not happy about strengthening the KSA, b/c they do sponsor JIHADIST of the ugliest sort, have a very repressive regime we should not support just for moral reasons, and our military buildup for SAUDIS may eventually be used against us.
A very dangerous and complex game.
no_one says
Trump may be one term president or may be less. Many of his supporters have been turned off by his politics. He did nothing so far.
Don McKellar says
The stock market and the all the economic indicators prove you wrong. Dead wrong.
gravenimage says
Robert Spencer in PJ Media: On Mideast Policy, the Swamp Drains Trump
………………………..
Grimly spot on, I’m afraid. I was concerned from the beginning that Trump’s ignorance of Islam–despite his refreshing opposition to Jihad terror–would be a problem. And so it has proven…
lebel says
Pakistan and Turkey are your only examples, what about Morocco, Algeria and Uzbekistan? Do you only follow and cite information which confirms your pre-existing beliefs?
Look it up, its not that hard to find, I even sent some info directly to you about Morocco’s efforts to spread its sufi-inspired interpretation of Islam into Africa. Predictably you ignored it. Why not just admit that you don’t care for anything which does not confirm and strengthen your pre-existing beliefs about Islam and Muslims? that would be the honest thing to do rather than take advantage of the gullibility of your readership.
gravenimage says
Apologist for Islam lebel wrote:
Pakistan and Turkey are your only examples, what about Morocco, Algeria and Uzbekistan? Do you only follow and cite information which confirms your pre-existing beliefs?
Look it up, its not that hard to find, I even sent some info directly to you about Morocco’s efforts to spread its sufi-inspired interpretation of Islam into Africa. Predictably you ignored it. Why not just admit that you don’t care for anything which does not confirm and strengthen your pre-existing beliefs about Islam and Muslims? that would be the honest thing to do rather than take advantage of the gullibility of your readership.
………………………..
The idea that Jihad Watch only cites stories from Pakistan and Turkey is just absurd. Just a glance through the archives shows stories from the Mahgreb, sub-Sharan Africa, the Levant, the Middle East, the “Stans” of the former Soviet Union, south Asia, India, south-east Asia, and China, as well–the whole of the Muslim world.
The implication that Muslims in Morocco, Algeria, and Uzbekistan somehow represent a kinder, gentler Islam is utter rot. lebel specifically cites Morocco’s “Sufi-inspired interpretation of Islam”:
“Morocco: Muslims hack tourists with knives at holiday destination”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/11/morocco-muslims-hack-tourists-with-knives-at-holiday-destination
“Morocco: 16-year-old girl kills herself after being forced to marry her rapist”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/11/morocco-16-year-old-girl-kills-herself-after-being-forced-to-marry-her-rapist
Are either of the stories above “moderate”?
And surely lebel understands that Sufi Islam does *not* reject violent Jihad, nor does it reject brutal Shari’ah law–so why would it spreading into Africa be preferable to any other sect of Islam?
And this is not just about Morocco, of course.
The Jihadist who mowed down innocent people with truck in Sweden was a pious Uzbek Muslim. Christians are persecuted there.
“Blasphemy” against Islam is illegal in Algeria. Muslim apostates are particularly targeted. Journalists who reprinted the Danish MoToons were dragged into court. A man who accidentally dropped a Qur’an into a toilet received ten years imprisonment.
Why would anyone consider these some sort of model to be followed?
And, of course, even if it were true that these specific stretches of Dar-al-Islam were “moderate”–which they *are not*–how would this in any way lessen the Jihad threat we face?
lebel has no answer for this.
lebel says
Take a few stories and generalize to the entire country and all its policies. This is the gravenimage way.
Recently, Moroccan courts rules that apostates should not be killed:
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2017/02/207505/moroccos-high-religious-committee-says-apostates-should-not-be-killed/
This is what we ask of Muslim countries, is to work on changing the laws. When they do we either ignore it (Robert Spencer) or get more pissed off (gravenimage) because it spoils our confortable position of “Islam is ALL evil ALL the time and I will only seek information which confirms this position while rejecting any other”
Im surprised you haven’t mentioned Taqqiya yet, its one of the best tool out there
Demsci says
I disagree that Gravenimage method is generalizing to “entire countries and all it’s policies”. Or an entire religion and all it’s tenets.
But yes, she is on the side of the critics and accusers of Islam and it is unreasonable to demand from her total neutrality.
Consider the opposite position, almost invariably taken by Muslims and other Islam-defenders; that Islam is ALL GOOD ALL THE TIME. And so many Muslims and Political Correct People only seeking and admitting information which confirms this position while rejecting any other.
This is happening on a massive scale in the Islamic world and also among leftist political correct circles, and media dominated by them.
You reject the one sided ness of Jihad Watch, but as far as I know, NEVER EVER do Muslims and Political Corrects admit any of Jihad Watch’s very true observations and of the logical conclusions Jihad Watch dares to draw from
authentic texts, interpretation and practice thereof by Islamic Scholars and hundreds of millions of Muslims.
It is gross that while not one report or assertion of Jihad Watch is ever validated, even if it is abundantly corroborated and logically unassailable, that you still focus on accusing Jihad Watch of prejudice. The bulk of Muslims and Political Corrects the bulk of the time are so much more prejudiced.
When have YOU ever admitted that Jihad Watch was right about anything?
Painting the whole picture and seeing the good in the other side’s actions, assertions and arguments is a two-way-street!!!
But it seems to millions of us that Muslims and Political Corrects never ever GIVE IN on anything. Precisely because admitting one’s own faults and good arguments from opponents is a typical Western attitude and almost totally alien to Muslims.
lebel says
by the way, the knife incident in Morocco was linked to Criminality. You know like when criminals do bad things and not just because of the Quran? yes it happens in Muslim countries as well. Even your link provides no evidence, just robert spencer commentary. How typical, Gravenimage.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/11/morocco-muslims-hack-tourists-with-knives-at-holiday-destination
By the way,, can you tell how this incident somehow encapsulates an entire culture? would you accept to define your own country through a few selective incidents? of course not. I know you despite Muslims and Islam. I get that, it seeps right through all your posts. Try and see your own biases when you look at this issue, it will help clarify things rather than confort you in your pre-established position.
Demsci says
//”By the way,, can you tell how this incident somehow encapsulates an entire culture? would you accept to define your own country through a few selective incidents? of course not”//
Jihad Watch is always at pains to point out the connection between the Islamic Holy texts, the teachings of the Islamic Schools of thought and the violent actions of Muslims.
Thus JW is in a pretty good position to tell about a very important characteristic of an entire culture. Or at the very least of the likelihood that “an entire culture” has something to do with acts of violence of it’s members. And the best evidence it shows comes from the mouth of the members themselves! Over and over again.
Consider the complete opposite, that there is no connection at all, at no time, between the holy texts of Islam, the teaching of it’s Scholars and leaders and violent actions of Muslims.
Isn’t that almost impossible? And remember; when there is a danger, a threat, it simply will not be good enough to wait until conclusive evidence is in. In case of danger, when responsible people do not warn, they are guilty of negligence of duty.
You cannot criticize Jihad Watch on reporting on a threat to democratic society, simply on the grounds that it is not yet sure Beyond any doubt, that all reported misdeeds are indeed linked to Islamic texts and teachings of Islamic Scholars.
Demsci says
I agree with GravenImage. And I think that the position, the role, of Robert Spencer is that of “prosecutor”.
In the big scheme the situation is as if Islam and Muslims stand on trial. On a charge of being anti-Democratic in many of it’s tenets and much of the attitudes and actions of Muslims. In defense of Democratic laws, tenets, culture.
Islam and Muslims do have plenty of defenders, Robert is a prosecutor. The defenders are supposed to hightlight the innocence and the prosecutors the guilt of Islam and Muslims as charged.
The judge and jury are we, the readers, who are supposed to hear and weigh both sides of the argument. It is not up to Robert Spencer to present both sides of the argument.
Sam says
This is really sad news!!!!
Don McKellar says
Sad how? That the master salesman is traveling to pay some lip service and secure a 110 billion dollar deal for American companies and paving the way for many billions of dollars that the Saudis will spend to counter Iran that the US doesn’t have to spend — moslem vs moslem keeping each other down? How is that sad? This is a game that must be played. Obama played it for Islam and left-fascist fantasies about Islam. Trump is playing it for American interests and profit. There is a gigantic difference. Obama gave moslems billions of dollars, Trump is extracting billions of dollars from moslems.
common sense says
Good way to see the positives in Trump as our Prez. Hillary would have kept our borders wide open, would make shitty deals everywhere, hated on Isreal, destroyed our infrastructure to feed refugees and illegals, let Obamacare ride out its miserable existence and no mention of jihad would be made. I hope Trump can start bringing global jihad back to the front of the agenda again, there has been too much distraction.
Ciudadano says
Oil and petrodollars driven geopolitics trump everything else, once more.
common sense says
Robert is spot on about McMaster being sideways and dragging Trump into the Council on Foreign Relations swamp. The republicans let Flynn fall on his sword and booted Bannon from his National security advisory role. I don’t blame any of this on the left, only the pre existing policy of kicking the ROP tin can down the road. I do blame the cheese grater brains in DC for not hiring Robert Spencer. That says a lot, I like Gorka there just is not enough pull and good luck getting Phil Haney back after the way he was treated. Trump has huge nuts I under estimated many times and was wrong, this business with Islam and the PC cry baby view of it is a big, giant, toxic booger. It’s not Trump so much as it is the sub tropical climate of the swamp and the creatures that inhabit it.
TRUMP let this happen to, it was a huge mistake. Flynn was stupid in his mistakes as well, he was our guy and the establishment wonks were glad to let him go.
I got my Exxon stocks when oil was $26 a barrel I hope you all did. Does that make me as bad as Hillary? Here just hold my beer a minute and I’ll take care of all of this mess (sarc).
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Selling 110 billion dollar worth of arms to the Saudis = Aiding and abetting the enemy.
He fought the swamp … and the swamp won. (Sung to the tune of “I fought the law”)
Cruz in 2020.
jayell says
“How long do we wait for these muslim allies to do the right thing?”
1. Muslims will never be our allies because their ‘faith’ forbids it.
2. The ‘right thing’ for us is probably not the ‘right thing’ for them because of the evil inherent in their ‘faith’.
Milo says
I’ve stated this since the campaigns for the primaries, Trump may have appeared to be a non-politician but he was merely copying the Bernie Sanders playbook. Just because he’d never held a public office, it didn’t mean he wasn’t controlled by their same God, Mammon (money). Bernie Sanders on the other hand, may have been a politician but he did not server the corporate interest.
Trump fooled the populace, and once in office, his true nature was revealed. Trump is no less evil than Hillary.
duh swami says
A peaceful vision of Islam…what is that? No one seems to know…But asking a Muslim to alter an already ‘perfect religion, is asking them to commi6t blasphemy and apostasy. That approach is domed to failure, ad no good will come of it…
Abu Al-Dente says
Trump is a business man first and president second, so business always goes first. Nevermind that Saudi Arabia is the world’s first provider of jihad. Who could let all that sweet saudi oil go to waste?
And some people browsing this site are still gullible enough to see him as the next iteration of Charles Martel.
lebel says
@demsci
You are right tha the other position of “Islam is ALL GOOD ALL THE TIME” is wrong. Both ISLAM IS ALWAYS EVIL and ISLAM IS ALWAYS GOOD are wrong in fact, how many jihadwatchers do you think agree with this?
underbed cat says
Trump voters should impeach Trump, he is betraying us, Trump please explain this …. this .is insane selling weapons to Saudi Arabia….who flew those planes Mr. Trump?
Saudi Arabia will use those weapons on our soldiers, Israel…so now they own you and the U.S. just so you know Islam is isis, isil boko harem and al queda….Saudi Arabia is the heart of Islam. You know nothing about Islam and it’s deception. I am in disbelief and shocked. They will never keep a treaty it is against sharia law.
I hope Netanyahu closes the door on you.
Isahiah62 says
“Saudi Arabia will use those weapons on our soldiers, Israel”” well actually ISRAEL is, and has been fighting WITH The Saudis against ISIS, AND arming like USA is doing…. but don’t let that disturb your fantasies… the hijackers who did 9-11 were from KSA, they were also deemed CRIMINALS, wanted men, marked for DEATH criminal terrorists.. by those Saudis.
No one can predict if these weapons will eventually be turned on us in the future, but right now the pragmatic and perhaps ONLY way to destroy ISIS is to align with SAUDIS and Russians..
Lydia says
That’s because nothing has changed, only the puppet on the strings.
The shadow government hasn’t changed, their agenda hasn’t changed,
the situation in the world hasn’t changed. Only their mouthpiece.
It is either out of ignorance or handshakes behind closed doors that
these people ‘win’ the election as president. But the agenda
marches on regardless and if they don’t know it yet, they will
soon find out like a deer in the headlights.