“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.”
That is certainly true. There are decent Muslims who seek to protect human life. In 2014 in Iraq, jihadis gunned down an imam, Sheikh Abdullah al-Hassan, for standing against terrorism. Similarly, in 2013 in Morocco, a human rights activist, Ahmed Assid, said: “To call [upon people] to follow Islam by the use of violence and constraint is an act of terrorism.” For that, Muslim clerics condemned him and declared him a non-Muslim, and threatened him with death.
The salient question here, however, is whether in saying this, Trump will continue the Bush/Obama policy of ignoring and denying the motivating ideology behind the global jihad threat. If he does continue that policy, the U.S. will continue to implement policies based on false analyses, and continue to fail to counter the jihad threat adequately.
“This is a battle between good and evil.”
That it is.
“Read excerpts from Trump’s speech at Islamic Summit in Riyadh,” Al Arabiya, May 21, 2017:
The Arab-Islamic-American Summit will be held in Riyadh on Sunday, in which US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to give a speech on terrorism in a bid to appeal to Muslims worldwide.
Trump’s speech, the centerpiece of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, will address the leaders of 50 Muslim-majority countries to cast the challenge of extremism as a “battle between good and evil.”
Here are the excerpts from his speech released by the White House:“We are adopting a principled realism, rooted in common values and shared interests….
——–
“Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God.
———
“America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture—we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.“Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith….
“Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land.
America is prepared to stand with you – in pursuit of shared interests and common security.“But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.
———
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.“This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.
“This is a battle between good and evil.
———
“That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.“Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”
Islam_Macht_Frei says
It would have been nice if he had mentioned the barbarism and sadistic crimes against humanity committed by Islam’s self-declared “prophet” and whose damnable actions need to be condemned.
mortimer says
Trump is using a practical approach, since about 85% of Muslims do not support terrorist groups, but would rather build a prosperous business, get an education, etc.
The 85% of lax Muslims are simply uninterested to conduct military jihad, but most of them conduct VERBAL JIHAD by lying about jihad and denying that warfare against disbelievers is preached in 51% of the foundational, primary texts of Islam that they PRETEND to endorse.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, even in the United States over half of Muslims want to see the imposition of brutal Shari’ah law.
With all respect, I think you are *much* overestimating Muslims’ opposition to Islam.
Voytek Gagalka says
In current “diplomatic” (and not only diplomatic) climate that is impossible. It would be the same as declaration of war on all Mohammedans. For that the west is simply not ready. My only hope it that cunning diplomatic language is used here to lure them first before we’ll be ready. But, slippery-slope. They (not “we”) are masters of taqiyya and it should always be remembered. “War is deceit.” But even “we” can learn something from Mo.
Moshe says
This has all the hallmarks of a brilliant speech at a critical moment in world history. President Trump has inherited a Middle East profoundly destabilized by former President Obama’s disastrous empowerment Iran — or more precisely, of radical governing factions in Iran at the expense of the talented and cultured Iranian people.
The West stands poised at the edge of a precipice. This is not the time for a blunt American President to publicly insult the Saudi King and Royal Family, who are facing their own strategic Catch-22s. We need allies and so does the Sunni world. President Trump must walk a fine line between candor and grace.
The many brilliant journalists and erudite editorial voices at the NYT, WP, CNN and MSNBC — distinguished graduates of our finest educational institutions — are unlikely to connect the dots between the unfortunate policies of former President Obama and a pending maelstrom of war in the Middle East.
LH says
Speaking to Muslim Leaders:
Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”
Trumps NOT stupid or ignorant!
JawsV says
Muslims will laugh at Trump’s above idiocy. And the Jihads will continue a-coming.
vlparker says
Yup.
Magali Marc says
Totally agree with you. Given the game and the cards he has been dealt, Trump says what he has to say. Priority to fighting ISIS, to end terrorism everywhere and to contain Iran.
gravenimage says
We need allies and so does the Sunni world.
…………………
The “Sunni world” has ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al Shebaab. Surely these are fine allies?
Oliver says
Moshe–I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
Magali Marc– I think- and would hope- the first priority is destabilizing Iran, ( and wrecking their nuclear program) and destroying Hezbollah. A perfect fitting would be if we/the Saudis, anyone-could get ISIS & Al Queida ( and perhaps the 100+ other ‘fighting entities” to get together and attack Hezbollah and its strongholds and Iran, and demolish them. And, if they get killed in the meantime- great.
mortimer says
Agree with Moshe: This speech is a delicate act of diplomacy and negotiation, things for which Trump has a brilliant track record.
The Leftards underestimate Trumps ability to charm and schmooze.
Diane Harvey says
Trump is losing me. He’s becoming a part of the e-swamp.
M says
He bowed down too during the chain being put on… so much for locking Hillary up and stuff
Oliver says
As someone else pointed out-in another JW post- it was Pres Trump bow to have the medal put on, or a step ladder be brought out.
It seems that ANYTHING that Pres Trump or mamber so fhis family do or do not do, they are criticized. In another JW post, Mrs. trump was criticized for wearing a black outfit, not a white one; wearing a necklace (or whatever), not a cross or crucifix.
Ane Pres. Trump was criticized HE HAD KETCHUP WITH A STEAK, AND –HORROR OF HORROS- DIPPED HIS STEAK IN IT. (This was actually, where I live, Tampa Bay, FL area, on the news on a radio station–),
Effing sick. AND UNTRA PETTY. My view
Custos Custodum says
Trump should FIRE the person who allowed this ghastly “award” to happen.
A U.S. president should NEVER accept such decorations from foreign princes.
(Incidentally, it’s also prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, but this prohibition has been ignored at least since JFK met the Queen.)
Adrian says
This was actually well stated by Trump: he said “honestly confronting”the crisis and that “If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.” This statement should logically lead to an analysis of sacred texts that state otherwise…
He also said : But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land.
America is prepared to stand with you – in pursuit of shared interests and common security…But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.”
This is a diplomatic 360 reversal from Obama’s “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam” spoken at the U.N.
No cause to slit one’s wrists quite yet…
billybob says
In other word “You are either with us, or against us”.
Pal says
Adrian,
Good that you point that out!
Only 360 should be 180.
360 is a 0 deviation (from Obama’s). I.e., the same again.
JawsV says
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.” — Trump
That’s just completely wrong.
vlparker says
Yup. The Saudi government was up to their necks in 9-11. They are funding most of the mosques in the US and these mosques are preaching violent jihad and the overthrow of the US government. Dealing with these murderers is beyond stupid.
gravenimage says
All grimly true. The barbaric Saudis are not our allies.
billybob says
Yea but let the Saudis (and all Muslims) explain that. Do you see where I’m coming from? It goes back to what I said above “You are either with us, or you are against us”. It is a battle between good and evil, independent of labels. I don’t see a problem with that.
Michael Copeland says
“That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism”.
Yes. When that is done it will be found that the “Islamist extremists” are, in fact, ordinary observant muslims performing jihad, “doing exactly what this book says” (per Allen West).
Roll on the honest confrontation.
lebel says
jwatchers who want the President to insult Islam and Muslims in his speech should ask themselves “what kind of speech would AQ/ISIS like Trump to make”?
We all know the answer and that should tell you something.
Demsci says
This is so relative. I agree giving a speech right now right there, is something that is difficult. Perhaps outright bluntness is indeed not called for.
But does that really mean that the president must reiterate manifest lies, or untrue statements, like that AQ/ ISIS is non-Islamic, touts a “perverted” version of Islam? That violent Muslims are not inspired by Islam itself?
This is the language of Islam-apologists and Islam-reformers. And their leftist “parrots”. But the apologists often go against the grain of influential Islamic scholars and hundreds of millions of their followers,
either to deceive the world or implying but never admitting that they do not agree with all the many influential Islamic Scholars who demonstrably concur with much of AQ/ ISIS say and do.
When we know Islam, thanks to JW, Is our suspicion of taqqiya so strange?
And when we choose to believe the apologists and reformers, or pretend this, what will it benefit us?
Is it not becoming ever clearer that the reformers are shunned by 99 % of the Muslims and that what the apologists declare is NOT what the majority of Islamic scholars, leaders in Islamic Nations is telling their people?
gravenimage says
Muslim apologist lebel wrote:
jwatchers who want the President to insult Islam and Muslims in his speech should ask themselves “what kind of speech would AQ/ISIS like Trump to make”?
We all know the answer and that should tell you something.
………………………
How many times have we heard *this* before–that if you dare note that Islam is hideously violent and that its pious adherents present a threat to us that we are somehow playing in to the hands of ISIS and Al Qaida.
In other words, we’d better let Muslims murder us with impunity, or else we will make it even worse for ourselves.
Also, note that lebel makes it quite explicit that if we say anything against Islam’s savagery that we are “insulting Islam and Muslims”. He is admitting that this violent barbarism is intrinsic to Islam, and may not be criticized, or it will insult all Muslims.
Pal says
Watch Live:
Trump to deliver speech in Riyadh on ‘crisis of Islamist extremism’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/live/Trump_meets_with_leaders_of_Gulf_Cooperation_Council_countries/5921828de4b07a80c004705e
Nero says
The fact that the issue is about ISLAMIC terrorism and NOT Muslim terrorism point to the cause.
Guy Jones says
More meaningless — and, dishonest — platitudes about “shared values.” Yet, the stark reality, proved by 1,400 years of history and cursory examination of Islamic scripture and doctrine, to say nothing of the behavior of millions of its adherents, is that Islam’s values are inherently incompatible with secular, democratic, pluralistic and individual freedom values of the Enlightenment. This should be obvious to anyone who examines the oppressive, strife-filled, misery-laden realities of daily life in any Islamic state around the globe.
Trump needs to say that Muslims need to take responsibility for the behavior of their co-religionists — and, that, if they do not do so, then, the free world can only conclude that Muslims have no interest in peaceful co-existence with non-Muslims, and, thus, should be treated as belligerent followers of a supremacist and totalitarian ideology.
Bad Juju says
TRUMP SAYS:
“If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”.
MOHAMMED SAID:
”I have been made victorious by terror”
al bakarra 2:217 and al maeda 5:5
“…mohamed said: I have been made victorious by terror…”
Muhammad: “I have been made victorious with terror.” The Hadith, collected by Bukhari(4.52.220) goes as follows:
Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand.” Abu Huraira added: Allah’s Apostle has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).
HEY TRUMP… READ THE KORAN… READ THE SURAH
Stop Kafirophobia says
So much for the 28 pages.
Mo says
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.”
Of course it is!
JawsV says
Check out our President bowing to the Muslim.
JawsV says
Here’s our President kowtowing to Muslims like Obama did.
ibrahim itace muhammed says
Mr Spencer,do you agree with Mr trump that there is dividing line between barbaric criminals(like isis )with perverted interpretation of islam who are the minority and descent muslims with correct interpretation of islam?or you are still holding the view that since these criminals are making referece to Quranic verse and practices of prophet muhammad they are the main stream islaam?
Keys says
Ibrahim itace muhammed-
Did the prophet Mohammad have the correct interpretation of Islam, or did he have a perverted interpretation of Islam?
gravenimage says
Spot on, Keys–very important question.
JawsV says
Muhammed never prophesied anything. He’s a false prophet just as Jesus warned.
gravenimage says
Ugly Muslim apologist ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
Mr Spencer,do (sic) you agree with Mr trump (sic) that there is dividing line between barbaric criminals(like (sic) isis (sic))with (sic) perverted interpretation of islam (sic) who are the minority and descent (sic) muslims (sic) with correct interpretation of islam?or (sic) you are still holding the view that since these criminals are making referece (sic) to Quranic verse and practices of prophet muhammad (sic) they are the main stream islaam (sic)?
…………………………..
muhammed himself has affirmed that Muslims can beat their wives, can slaughter Infidels who do not submit to Islam, can murder apostates, “blasphemers”, homosexuals, and girls escaping forced marriage.
He has called the brutal horror of Shari’ah law, including amputating the hands of petty thieves and stoning rape victims to death, a “blessing on mankind”.
How is any of this savagery different from what ISIS is doing? Of course, it is not.
gravenimage says
Trump to say “this is a battle between barbaric criminals and decent people of all religions”
………………….
Unfortunately, decent Muslims have to go against the hideous texts and tenets of Islam in order to be decent human beings.
Monty says
Perhaps Mr Trump is being pragmatic. He has apparently sold a hundred billion dollars worth of arms to Saudi Arabia. When Islam takes over Europe, the Saudis will have access to Europe’s military for next to nothing! I was hoping that Mr Trump would be different but trade once more triumphs over truth and morality. But what choice did he have? It is easy to judge from the comfort of my computer chair, here in Australia. I think we must let his presidency run its course before being overly critical. I find it hard to imagine that he could do any worse than his predecessors!
Oliver says
In an Israeli paper one of the Israeli officials was GLAD about the arms deal. His rationale- arming the Saudis against the common enemy- the Iranians.
ibrahim itace muhammed says
Gravenimage ,it appears to me as if you are brain_damaged with choronic mental delusion that you could not perform analytical criticism before reaching a conclusion on an issue.Here,you just jumped to the conclusion that the view of the barbaric criminals like isis represents what Quran and practice of prophet muhammad truly teach without showing to me how the other view held by descent muslims run counter to what these primary sources of islam truly teach.this shows that you are intellectually bankrupt.I want know,if at any level of your academic pursuit,you did take any lesson on analysis,even on literary criticism,for you to know that an analyst has to evaluate the two sides before tilting to one side point of view?
Idiot!!!
gravenimage says
More from ibrahim itace muhammed:
Gravenimage ,it (sic) appears to me as if you are brain_damaged (sic) with choronic (sic) mental delusion that you could not perform analytical criticism before reaching a conclusion on an issue.Here,you (sic) just jumped to the conclusion that the view of the barbaric criminals like isis (sic) represents what Quran and practice of prophet muhammad (sic) truly teach without showing to me how the other view held by descent (sic) muslims (sic) run counter to what these primary sources of islam (sic) truly teach.this (sic) shows that you are intellectually bankrupt.
……………………………..
Notice that muhammed is unable to say how he himself lauding the savagery of Jihad and Shari’ah law differs in any way from that of ISIS. Of course, he is unable to do so.
More:
I want know,if (sic) at any level of your academic pursuit,you (sic) did take any lesson on analysis,even on literary criticism,for (sic) you to know that an analyst has to evaluate the two sides before tilting to one side point of view?
Idiot!!!
……………………………..
Well, this is grimly hilarious, given that muhammed has proven himself incapable of addressing a single issue I raised–but this should not surprise. Islam explicitly rejects reason.
Moreover, when challenged he often just starts ranting. He has claimed, apropos of nothing, that I was raised in a “baby factory” and that I am a prostitute, because he cannot argue rationally. He has said similar unhinged things about other posters.
The implication that I am not presenting a fair and balanced view because I do not praise the sexual abuse of children and murder of gays and rape victims is morally grotesque–but this is not something a pious Muslim like muhammed would understand.
More Ham Ed says
“ibrahim itace muhammed says May 21, 2017 at 7:20 pm Gravenimage ,it appears to me as if you are…”
Signs of a jihadi speaking: insults, name-calling, threats, interruptions, loudness.
gravenimage says
Very true, More Ham Ed.
Samuel Barthis says
Saudi Arabic is the catalyst in a bad Muslim projection of religiosity. It is their favorite son who penned the Muslim scripture. All the ideas therein is the substance of a Shari’a that is soon the be the Law of the world. Trump cannot and should never equate or ask S.A. to be a conscience to good governance. They cannot because their ultimate aim is the subjugation or should we we say the mutilation of humanity through a fabricated scripture. The only thing Trump need to say is that S.A. must conform to common decency !!
dumbledoresarmy says
Trump’s first wife and first set of parents-in-law were and are Czech.
It would be nice if, one day, Trump could find the opportunity to say what a very clear-sighted former Prime Minister (and current President!) of the Czech republic had to say about the global situation vis a vis the Ummah, the allah Gang, the Mohammedan Mob, the de facto empire of Islam. Because what that man, Milos Zeman, had to say, back in 2011, was spot on.
Here it is.
“”The enemy is the anti-civilisation spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it and it is financed partly from oil sales and partly from drug sales,” Zeman is quoted as saying about Islam at the recent conference.
“On Thursday he said that Muslims believe in the Qur’an like Nazis believed in racial supremacy and anti-semitism (yes!! – dda) and communists in class struggle and dictatorship of the proletariat. . .
“He added that the Qur’an includes passages calling for the subjugation, enslavement and even elimination of non-believers…”. (Precisely. True dat. – dda).
The original article appeared in an English-language version of a Czech media outlet. The link is probably broken, but I made a complete copy at the time, six years ago. So, from my files, link and all as originally given:
http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=35759
http://praguemonitor.com/2011/07/08/former-czech-pm-sued-over-statements-islam
Former Czech PM sued over anti-Islam statements
“…“The enemy is the anti-civilization spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it and it is financed partly from oil sales and partly from drug sales,” Czech news servers quoted Zeman as saying about Islam at the recent conference…
“Zeman said on Thursday that Muslims believe in the Qur’an like Nazis believed in racial supremacy and anti-Semitism and communists in class struggle and dictatorship of the proletariat.
He continued to say that Islam is far more aggressive and intolerant than present Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and other world religions. (Which it is! – dda).
He added that the Qur’an includes passages calling for the subjugation, enslavement and even elimination of non-believers “(Yup, it does – and then there’s the Sira and Hadiths, which are just as bad and indeed even worse, because clearer and easier to understand – dda).
He was, of course, sued for ‘hate speech’ or such; it’s unclear how it turned out, but in any case, he is currently President of the Czech republic, and has been since 2013!
He has continued to shoot from the hip, as regards Islam.
Here he is again, blasting Islam for its Jew-hatre and drawing attention to the very nasty Bukhari Hadith (the one that is quoted in the Hamas Charter). From his wiki entry…
“On 26 May 2014, during festivities celebrating the independence of Israel, Zeman said “So let me quote one of their [Islamic] sacred texts to support this statement: “A tree says, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. A stone says, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” I would criticize those calling for the killing of Arabs, but I do not know of any movement calling for mass murdering of Arabs. However, I know of one anti-civilisation movement calling for the mass murder of Jews.”
‘ When criticized and urged to apologise by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, his office replied “President Zeman definitely does not intend to apologise. For the president would consider it blasphemy to apologise for the quotation of a sacred Islamic text.” (Neat… – dda).
Trump should visit the Czech republic and have a nice long chat with Zeman, who could tell him a thing or two about Islam.
Islam, and Islamic countries, have nothing to do with any meaningful definition of civilisation. Historically, Mulsims have laid waste to Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist civilisation and civilised societies, attacking, killing, pillaging, wreaking ruin.. and then, upon the ruins, building.. NOTHING of any significance. A very astute Jew in Israel, A Carlebach, wrote, in 1955, that “On the path of Islam, even the trees have died”. In that observation Carlebach is perfeclty in congruity with words that he had probably never read, words by John Quincy Adams, to the effect that Mohammed’s false teachings “spread desolation and delusion”.
The Saudis are not ‘civilised’. They are decadent, greedy, viciously cruel (*cruelty* was one of the things that most impressed itself upon the young Ayaan Hirsi Ali, when her Somali Muslim family sojourned for some few years in Saudi Arabia) violent, profoundly amoral, and they are fomenting and enabling Jihad – as much by the deployment of enormous amounts of petrodollars, especially in paying for the buying up and corrupting of large chunks of the western Academy, and in influencing the media, maintaining a vast propaganda campaign to deceive and demoralise the world’s infidels, as by the use of weapons.
UNCLE VLADDI says
BUT ISLAM IS A BARBARIC CRIME-GANG, NOT A “RELIGION!”
The speech was a TOTAL FAIL – and here’s both how and why:
Here’s what Trump SHOULD have said to the Saudis:
http://islamexposed.blogspot.ca/2017/05/what-trump-should-say-to-muslim-leaders.html
And Here’s what he DID say to the Saudis:
http://islamexposed.blogspot.ca/2017/05/summing-up-trumps-arab-summit-holy-shit.html
moeped says
Agreed – all our pandering simply emboldens our enemy.
moeped says
I guarantee you that he knows that SA is our enemy. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend, especially if they sign a 110 Billion dollar arms deal.
Now to my next point – with all their riches, how can these backwards stupid idiot sub-human animals not figure out how to make their own guns? They love buying gold-plated toilet seats and Lamborghinis, but they can’t make a gun?
They don’t care really, they are busy exporting evil – they are experts at that.