Bolton says: “Radical Islamist terrorist groups represent the preeminent transnational terrorist threat to the United States, and to United States’ interests abroad. The fact is the radical Islamic threat that we face is a form of ideology. This should not be anything new to anybody. King Abdullah of Jordan has frequently described the terrorist threat as a civil war within Islam that Muslims around the world recognize, and he is, after all, a direct descendent [sic] of the Sharif [inaudible], the keepers of the holy cities. If that’s how King Abdullah views it, I don’t think anybody should be surprised we see it as a kind of war, as well.”
The idea that there is a significant pushback to the jihad ideology within the Islamic world is a trifle overstated. The concept of jihad as meaning warfare against unbelievers in order to establish Islamic law’s hegemony over them is deeply rooted in Islamic texts and teachings, as well as in Islamic law. Nonetheless, in 2011 the Obama Administration removed all mention of Islam and jihad from counterterror training; this is a strong step in the right direction, toward once again enabling counterterror analysts to study and understand the motivating ideology of the enemy.
“New White House Counterterrorism Strategy Singles Out ‘Radical Islamists,’” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, October 4, 2018:
The Trump administration is implementing a new, government-wide counterterrorism strategy that places renewed focus on combatting “radical Islamic terrorist groups,” marking a significant departure from the Obama administration, which implemented a series of policies aimed at deemphasizing the threat of Islamic terror groups.
In releasing the first national counterterrorism strategy since 2011, the Trump administration is working to take a drastically different approach than that of the former administration, according to senior U.S. officials.
While the Obama administration sought to dampen the United States’ focus on Islamic terror threats, the Trump administration has made this battle the centerpiece of its new strategy.
National Security Adviser John Bolton acknowledged in remarks to reporters Thursday afternoon that the new strategy is “a departure” from the former administration’s strategy, which has been characterized as a failure by Republican foreign policy voices due to the increasing number of domestic terror attacks and plots across the United States
“Radical Islamist terrorist groups represent the preeminent transnational terrorist threat to the United States, and to United States’ interests abroad,” Bolton said.
“The fact is the radical Islamic threat that we face is a form of ideology,” Bolton said. “This should not be anything new to anybody. King Abdullah of Jordan has frequently described the terrorist threat as a civil war within Islam that Muslims around the world recognize, and he is, after all, a direct descendent [sic] of the Sharif [inaudible], the keepers of the holy cities. If that’s how King Abdullah views it, I don’t think anybody should be surprised we see it as a kind of war, as well.”
“One may hope that the ideological fervor disappears, but sad to report, it remains strong all around the world, and even with the defeat of the ISIS territorial caliphate, we see the threat spreading to other countries,” Bolton added.
The Trump administration strategy also shifts the focus to Iran, characterizing the country as the foremost state sponsor of terror across the globe.
“The United States faces terrorist threats from Iran, which remains the most prominent state sponsor of terrorism that, really, the world’s central banker of international terrorism since 1979,” Bolton said. “And from other terrorist groups. Iran-sponsored terrorist groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic jihad, continue to pose a threat to the United States and our interests.”…
Krishna says
Unlike Obama Atleast trump is using phrase radical Islamic terrorism hope Next president should not be hesitant to use word Islamic terrorism
christianblood says
Trump & US administration cannot and will NOT fight islamic terrorism when they are constantly in bed with the Wahhabi, head-chopping, terror-sponsoring Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Arab Gulf States and they are also arming various islamic jihadist terror groups like Al-Nusra, the White Helmets, FSA and many others in Syria and else where in the region!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O0uR03s7m4
christianblood says
Al-Qaeda jihadist leader in Syria confirms that US is on their side:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THO9672lRNQ
christianblood says
Trump gives millions of US tax-payer dollars to Al-Qaeda “White Helmets” in Syria to pursue US’s illegal regime-change in that country!
Below US-backed “White Helmets” cheer public executions in Syria:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPgOnD0n9uw
christianblood says
US & Saudi-backed Al-Nusra and FSA terrorists executing a number of captured (Alawite) Syrian soldiers. (Graphic) Watch:
https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=809_1395163651
christianblood says
Cortez
It is more than choosing one side! US and the West have been backing the wrong and the most barbaric and most murderous side of islamists which are Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS, MB and other Takfiri groups as well as Saudi Arabia and they have been doing this for the past many decades!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3f9mlUQzJA
gravenimage says
christianblood is correct that the Saudis are not allies of the United States–and that we should not necessarily consider groups to be ‘freedom fighters’ because they oppose a tyrannical regime. There are, sadly, few good guys in the region.
The same is certainly true, of course, of Russia re Iran and Hizb’allah.
christianblood says
Well-said, Graven!
+1
christianblood says
Graven, the picture below says it all about Saudi Arabia and its Wahhabism. Click to see it:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dovi-bTXUAEhcT_.jpg
gravenimage says
christianblood, you *do* realize that the picture you linked to is about eschatological Islam? The “Horn of Nadj” comes from this Hadith:
“O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam. O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Yemen.” The people said, “O Messenger of Allaah, and our Najd.” I think the third time the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, “There (in Najd) will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations, and from there appears the Horn of Satan.”
This picture–with the Saudi prince draped in the American flag and the Star of David–is claiming that Americans and Jews are Satan.
I did a reverse Twitter search, and the image shows up on sites like “Christians, Muslims, & More AGAINST Evil Zionism” and qudsonline.ir, which is all about the conquest of Jerusalem and destruction of Israel by Muslims.
christianblood says
Graven
Thanks for sharing that Hadith! They way I see the picture is that it confirms that Saudi Arabia, Israel, ISIS, Al-Qaeda and the US are close allies working together against Syria!
gravenimage says
christianblood, you are now citing the Hadith as proof that Infidels are to be hated.
Carl Goldberg says
My point precisely. The phrase, “radical Islamic terrorist groups,” implies that there is such a thing as a non-radical Islamic terrorist group. It is logically absurd. The only logical and accurate phrase is “Islamic terrorist”.
Terry Gain says
Exactly. Words are not merely vehicles of communication which describe thinking, words influence thinking.
The real threat does not come from Jihadists, it comes from moderate Muslims. Both groups want to impose Sharia but the moderates are much more effective in achieving this goal as they pose as non- threatening and are accepted as such by the vast majority of Americans who are pathetically and dangerously misinformed about Islam.
jule says
Exactly, and Sunni Turkey/Egypt/Qatar/Africa style is just as bad and I hope no one in our government fails to see it. It is not just Iran/Hezbollah. I am so sorry to see Russia involved with Islam. I wish they had another way to go.
imwithstoopid says
Russia is involved because of the oil and its pipelines.
As a devil’s advocate, I think we should be siding with the Ruso-Syrian alliance if only to destroy the opposition.
All we want is a Syria that is under a watchful eye and happy to be allowed to just do its thing.
Assad is a jerk but better a jerk on a golden leash than all this stupid destruction.
All this started because, unlike his father, he would not talk to the so-called rebels, now we have a destroyed country and invaders that we created. The white hats are not the peoples or our friend. We use any and all excuses to say we are not arming them when we know otherwise.
gravenimage says
True–Assad is awful, but still the least awful faction in the region.
gravenimage says
Yes, Jule–Muslims are not allies of any Infidels.
John W. says
This is fine and all and better than previous administrations but it ultimately doesn’t stop civilization jihad in my opinion. If the USA or any country continues to import muslims they will do what they do everywhere. They don’t always gain ground with guns and knives. But we don’t dare say or do anything about that because that would of course make us islamophobic.
vlparker says
You’re absolutely correct. Muslim immigration is the biggest threat to the US, not terrorism. Domestic terrorism is a direct result of muslim immigration so if you address the cause the symptom goes away
. Remove the terrorists from the muslim population in the US and you still have a very large group of muslims who want to overthrow the US government and install sharia law. And that is being totally ignored. Islamic supremacists WANT us to focus on terrorism. Big mistake.
James Lincoln says
vlparker,
“Islamic supremacists WANT us to focus on terrorism.”
Interesting concept, I had not thought about it before in that way – but you may, indeed be correct.
While the United States focuses on terrorism, Muslims conduct soft jihad.
Terry Gain says
Exactly.
gravenimage says
John, Trump is actually trying to stem the flood of Muslims into the US.
And you are right, vlparker, that violent Jihad is only one tactic in Muslim conquest.
AK says
Systematic erosion of well established
governments in Middle East , Persian gulf countries etc and replacing these regimes with Islamic clerics by radical Islamic Terrorists groups has been going on for the past few decades under the idea of fiercely pushing up the Pan-islamisation programme in all the targeted countries in Europe, Indian Sub-Continent and Far East including China. As reported, even in USA such programmes were being pursued by these RIT groups with a low profile approach under the less stringent or low key pressure from the Administration. However, present Estate in USA as reported seems keen to put a full stop to the growth of these RIT groups and may even uproot them from American Soil.
While some of the countries have been paying a heavy price in money and blood to counter these RIT groups, China has been firmly crushing and inhibiting them from taking roots on their soil.
Michael Copeland says
“…the radical Islamic threat that we face is a form of ideology” – John Bolton.
Maybe Mr. Bolton is being diplomatic with his vocabulary.
Memo to John Bolton:
That “form of ideology” is Islam, ordinary basic Islam.
“Radical” Islam is the same as ordinary Islam.
pragmatist says
Turkey’s Erdogan said, I believe, ‘there is no such thing as Radical Islam, there is just Islam’. Why won’t western leaders believe that?
StellaSaidSo says
Of course Bolton is being diplomatic. Appearing to tar all Muslims with the same brush would be counter-productive. It makes no sense to alienate Muslims who do not support jihad.
imwithstoopid says
I don’t think that those two Muslims would care.
gravenimage says
All pious Muslims support the goals of Jihad–Islamization of the world.
No matter how much Infidels whitewash Islam, devout Muslims are not going to oppose Jihad and Shari’ah, which are orthodox tenets of Islam that are preached in the Qur’an, Hadith, and Sira, and were practiced by the “Prophet” himself.
And if Muslims are going to turn to Jihad if anyone dares to tell the truth about Islam, how committed are they to opposing Jihad in the first place?
We are always being told that if only we pretend that Islam is peaceful that Muslims may not decide to murder us.
StellaSaidSo says
You have missed my point entirely.
For a diplomat, there is no point in alienating potential support by publicly tarring all Muslims with the same brush. That would not be diplomatic. There are plenty of Muslims who don’t support jihad of any sort, and who would like to see the nutjobs eliminated as much as any infidel would.
Kesselman says
The first step to overcome an enemy is to identify him. Too many years have gone without the correct address thanks to Bush and Obama.
mgoldberg says
Hopefully this will result in Jihad being exposed for what it is historically, and concomitantly, allow for the teaching of the ideologic and theologic basis for jihad to our security agencies, defense dept as R Spencer has struggled to discuss these years of the denial of such reality.
ronyvo says
Christianblood, with all due respect, you have ignored what Pres. Trump said and STILL saying about Islam.
That said, he is a very smart man, contrary to the previous one. So, he is playing politics with people he n=knows very well that confronting them (the Muslims) will get them wild and cause havoc in the country.
He is trying first to stop them from entry to America. Then, he would start kinking out those who are already in.
Then, he can safely, as possible, to get after them.
AND, please, do not ignore the TRUMP’S EFFECT, which are taking place in many countries already.
I KNOW Muslims very well. I lived the first 25 years of my life among them.
I assure you that Mr. Trump is playing the Islamic game very wisely.
Just pray for him, and pray for him.
mortimer says
If all countries adopted Trumps strategy there would be no place for ISLAMIC TERRORISTS TO HIDE.
ronyvo says
Mortimer, true, but the problem is the West left Islam to flourish and invade their country. This cannot be more catastrophic than that.
The populous in general are still ignorant of this vicious enemy. The reason is the corrupt mainstream media. Look what happened in the US after the 9/11 attack, don’t you think that this by itself should have been enough for the people to realize and recognize the fact that Islam is the enemy we are facing now. Yet, to my utter surprise and dismay ‘the people’ elected a fanatic Muslim for president.
NOW, we have a president who understands this horrible enemy and have the courage and wisdom to defeat it6, thanks to God.
mortimer says
‘ISLAMIC TERRORISM’ accurately describes the actions of those motivated to commit clandestine jihad-warfare against disbelieving civilians.
The motive of ISLAMIC TERRORISM is Koran 8.60: “TURHIBUNNA” (terrorize them).
Walter Sieruk says
As for the title of the above article which uses the term “Radical Islamists” It needs be made clear the word “Islamist” is a fake word that was made up ,as in fabricated , after September 11, 2001 in order not to upset or non-violent Muslim . To put in another way that bogus word “Islamist” was fabricated after 9/11 so the peace Muslims wouldn’t be offended. That’s nice but dishonest. Likewise , the word “Radical’ as applied the violent jihadist Muslims is only know in the West. In the Islamic Middle East those who Westerns wive a “radical” many some in that area of the world see “normal” or “Muslims behaving a good Muslim should.
Furthermore,to explain is in more detail , the terms “Radical Muslim” and “Islamic extremist” in contrast to the term “Moderate Muslim” are actually Western terms and not that well known in the Islamic Middle East. This is because what In the Islamic mindset in the Muslim Middle East as well as in Indonesia and other Muslim controlled country what the non-Muslims of the Western nations view as “radical and “extremist” the Muslims of those places in the world see as “Normal” and even Devout and committed to the Cause of Islam”. Likewise they view those who Westerns see as “Moderate Muslims” those of the Islamic worldview and non-devout and non –committed Muslims. The violent jihadists even see them as “hypocrites.” Therefore, this explains the jihadist chant of those jihad-minded Muslims in different Islamic terror organizations. When they chant out loud “Death to infidels and hypocrites.” Meaning Death to people who and not Muslims and people who are non- jihadist Muslims..
jule says
Even so-called peaceful Muslims are Supremacists and feel it their duty to convert others to their way of defining what Allah wants. Its their very definition of How We should Be that is deranged, harmful to all human development and against all Human Rights.I do not even like it that Christians feel they MUST convert the world but At Least Their Model Is a GOOD one. If people find out the Muslim model no one but a Warlord would support it.
Kesselman says
It’s not a healthy friendship. US and terror-backed Islamist groups against al-Assad’s Syrian army aren’t going to help the situation. I would like to see the US and the Russians fighting jihadis – not only in Syria but worldwide. I know that world strategies and odd alliances between Russia, Iran, Syria, and China make things complicated, but anyway … try!
jule says
Somehow, we should be united with China and Russia and stop this insane Competition and co-operate best we can. What a task. (in the old days of Soviet Union I guess they thought they could get in and spread communism – like they did in Gaza, Afghanistan etc. and mistakenly thought they could get along.) Chechnya should have taught them they cannot and now with Turkey…we are all in a bad way. Really, our fault was Corporate Multinational globalists but its gone so far. Without co-operation of all non Muslim countries it will not work. Unless Saudi can be bent to repair their Qur’an, which would take years and years we do not have. I guess EU just has to sink. I see nothing good ahead. Trump still isn’t bringing it back home enough & with all his enterprises outside, I don’t see it BUT it is a Start. Whatever the next Pres. is better be a radical Back Home, America First with business IN our country. They could sell outside BUT STAY HOME. Profiteers won’t like this. Greedy Money makers will not like this. NAFTA/WTO was a tragic mistake, Tragic. And it still is not fixed. And this is why we are in Mideast because of Multinationals and control of territory.
gravenimage says
Trump’s new counterterrorism strategy singles out “radical Islamists”
……………………..
*Excellent*. I could quibble about using adjective “radical”–this is actually mainstream Islam–but over all it is a very good sign.
Chand says
Iran and Shia groups are mentioned by name and singled out. But the elephant in the room is not mentioned. Saudi Arabian Wahaabism and Sunni jihadis are the bigger threat. Wahaabism spreading to madarsas globally using Gulf money, indoctrinating little kids with the ‘kill kafirs’ doctrine and making them future time bombs, remains unchallenged. The Sunnis are now allies.
StellaSaidSo says
Chand, you are spot on re the ‘elephant in the room’. Wahhabism is steadily replacing every other interpretation of Sunni Islam, with dire consequences for the world. I have spoken with Indonesian and Malaysian Muslims, as well as Muslims of various origins in my own neck of the woods, who are alarmed at the rapid mushrooming of Saudi-funded mosques and madrassas in their neighbourhoods. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with Muslims at public protests against yet another mosque permit. Covert Sharia patrols are active in every Wahhabi-dominated area. The pressure on Muslims – many of them nominal or ‘cultural’ Muslims – to conform is enormous. They are just as scared as we are.
jule says
Another real elephant is also MB, Salafis in Qatar/Turkey/ Gaza/Egypt. Face it ANY kind of Islam. People keep dissing Wahhabi but Muslim Bros and Salafists as just as Bad! And Deobandi or 12ers or 5ers or ALL of the using the Qur’an. Anyone who uses the Qur’an which is the Warlord manual for conquer and total control with all the little people doing the fighting for some false promise of honor in paradise. And they must BELIEVE with all their heart or get punished or killed. What a set up!
StellaSaidSo says
MB, Salafists, and Deobandi are all Sunni/Wahhabi.
gravenimage says
Sadly, these are just zealous orthodox Muslims, not some obscure sect.
gravenimage says
Both Sunni and Shia Muslims practice Jihad and slaughter Infidels.
strong aingel says
Anything King Abdullah of Jordan says should be treated fr what it is and shovelled into a Compost Bin.
UNCLE VLADDI says
Re: “A good step in the right direction to once again enabling counterterror analysts to study and understand the motivating ideology of the enemy…”
Who needs experts to “ANALYZE THIS!”
“See all those smart people, so full of hope for themselves? God doesn’t want them to be like that and succeed! God will kill them all anyway, no matter what they do to try to be better than him to stop him!”
…
“But Muhammad! God will kill off all us proudly willful Submitters to the despair of inevitable death, too!”
…
“Yeah, but we’re still better than them, because we didn’t resist it at all! We MEANT to end up dead! Whee!”
😉
PS: There is no rational left.
There’s nothing rational about endorsing instantly giving up (Submission) as a holy virtue.