Is Obama just stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the connection between Islamic terror groups and, well, extremism, because he doesn\u2019t want to anger Muslims in the U.S. or in Saudi Arabia? \u00a0Is he blind by his own conceptions of religion? \u00a0Or is it something else?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the op-ed piece which ran in the LA Times<\/a> and, presumably multiple papers elsewhere (but not in the Trib). \u00a0It\u2019s actually surprisingly slim in contents, but let\u2019s take it apart. \u00a0(And, contrary to my usual practice, I haven\u2019t read particularly much in terms of punditry and reaction to this, so apologies if I\u2019m repetitive.)<\/p>\n The United States has made significant gains against terrorism. We\u2019ve decimated the core al Qaeda leadership, strengthened homeland security and worked to prevent another large-scale attack like 9\/11.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cDecimated the core of al Qaeda leadership?\u201d \u00a0Doesn\u2019t seem to be making much difference.<\/i><\/p>\n At the same time, the threat has evolved. The al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen actively plots against us. Since 9\/11, terrorists have murdered U.S. citizens overseas, including in the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Here in the United States, Americans have been killed at Ft. Hood and during the Boston Marathon.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Glad to see that Obama is recognizing that Ft. Hood was about terrorism, rather than some kind of \u201cPre-TSD.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Our campaign to prevent people around the world from being radicalized to violence is ultimately a battle for hearts and minds.<\/p>\n In Syria and Iraq, the terrorist group we call ISIL [huh? \u00a0is this an acknowledgement that ISIL isn\u2019t the name in common use any longer]<\/i> slaughtered innocent civilians and murdered hostages, including Americans, and has spread its barbarism to Libya with the murder of Egyptian Christians. [Guess they took enough heat for the \u201cEgyptian citizens\u201d bit as to acknowledge the true nature of the killing?]<\/i> \u00a0In recent months, we\u2019ve seen deadly attacks in Ottawa, Sydney, Paris and Copenhagen.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, the Pakistan Taliban massacred more than 100 schoolchildren and their teachers. From Somalia, al-Shabaab has launched attacks across East Africa. In Nigeria and neighboring countries, Boko Haram kills and kidnaps men, women and children.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Gee, wonder what all these groups have in common?<\/i><\/p>\n In the face of this challenge, we must stand united internationally and here at home. We know that military force alone cannot solve this problem. Nor can we simply take out terrorists who kill innocent civilians. We also have to confront the violent extremists \u2014 the propagandists, recruiters and enablers \u2014 who may not directly engage in terrorist acts themselves, but who radicalize, recruit and incite others to do so.<\/p>\n This week, we\u2019ll take an important step forward as governments, civil society groups and community leaders from more than 60 nations gather in Washington for a global summit on countering violent extremism. Our focus will be on empowering local communities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0\u201cEmpowering local communities\u201d? \u00a0Apparently \u201ccommunities\u201d means \u201cmosques.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Groups like al Qaeda and ISIL promote a twisted interpretation of religion that is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the world\u2019s Muslims. The world must continue to lift up the voices of Muslim clerics and scholars who teach the true peaceful nature of Islam. We can echo the testimonies of former extremists who know how terrorists betray Islam. \u00a0Again with the \u201cbetrayal\u201d of the \u201ctrue peaceful nature of Islam.\u201d \u00a0Mr. President, didn\u2019t you read the article in The Atlantic <\/a>that everyone\u2019s talking about? \u00a0Why can you not fathom that not every religion\/religious group is inherently about peace? \u00a0But his weakness in understanding religion, in general, I commented on earlier<\/a>. \u00a0<\/i>We can help Muslim entrepreneurs and youths work with the private sector to develop social media tools to counter extremist narratives on the Internet. <\/p>\n We know from experience that the best way to protect people, especially young people, from falling into the grip of violent extremists is the support of their family, friends, teachers and faith leaders. At this week\u2019s summit, community leaders from Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Boston will highlight innovative partnerships in their cities that are helping empower communities to protect their loved ones from extremist ideologies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s odd. \u00a0If extremism has nothing to do with religion, then why would Muslim young people be particularly at risk of it?<\/i><\/p>\n More broadly, groups like al Qaeda and ISIL exploit the anger that festers when people feel that injustice and corruption leave them with no chance of improving their lives. The world has to offer today\u2019s youth something better.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Has Obama completely forgotten that the 9-11 hijackers were Saudis, with plenty of money? \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Governments that deny human rights play into the hands of extremists who claim that violence is the only way to achieve change. Efforts to counter violent extremism will only succeed if citizens can address legitimate grievances through the democratic process and express themselves through strong civil societies. Those efforts must be matched by economic, educational and entrepreneurial development so people have hope for a life of dignity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cLegitimate grievances\u201d? \u00a0This is fluff. \u00a0Who, exactly, is he talking about? \u00a0He he saying that young Muslims turn to \u201cviolent extermism\u201d because they don\u2019t have \u201chope for a life of dignity\u201d and live in undemocratic societies. \u00a0Where? \u00a0In Minnesota? \u00a0Boston? \u00a0Let\u2019s assume he\u2019s really speaking of Muslims in France, say, and the Conventional Wisdom that they haven\u2019t assimilated because France is Mean to Them. \u00a0But, y\u2019know, France is a democracy, too.<\/i><\/p>\n Finally \u2014 with al Qaeda and ISIL peddling the lie that the United States is at war with Islam \u2014 all of us have a role to play by upholding the pluralistic values that define us as Americans. This week, we\u2019ll be joined by people of many faiths, including Muslim Americans who make extraordinary contributions to our country every day. It\u2019s a reminder that America is successful because we welcome people of all faiths and backgrounds.<\/p>\n That pluralism has at times been threatened by hateful ideologies and individuals from various religions. We\u2019ve seen tragic killings at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in 2012 and at a Jewish community center in Kansas last year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Hmm. . . \u00a0were these actions due to \u201clegitimate grievances\u201d too?<\/i><\/p>\n We do not yet know why three young people, who were Muslim Americans, were brutally killed in Chapel Hill, N.C. But we know that many Muslim Americans across our country are worried and afraid. Americans of all faiths and backgrounds must continue to stand united with a community in mourning and insist that no one should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship.\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Can he at least have a little patience for the facts to come out?<\/i><\/p>\n Our campaign to prevent people around the world from being radicalized to violence is ultimately a battle for hearts and minds. With this week\u2019s summit, we\u2019ll show once more that \u2014 unlike terrorists who only offer misery and death Uh, no. \u00a0They also offer the opportunity to feel you\u2019re pursuing God\u2019s will, and, as a bonus, get to enact every violent fantasy you\u2019ve had, and have a sex slave, too, while you\u2019re at it\u00a0<\/i>\u2014 it is our free societies and diverse communities that offer the true path to opportunity, justice and dignity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But these people don\u2019t want \u201copportunity, justice and dignity\u201d \u2013 they want an Islamic theocracy that re-enacts the 7th century, with beheading and enslavement of your opponents.<\/i><\/p>\n A gathering to discuss how to counter extremism, and, in particular, the radicalization of second-generation immigrants in the West, isn\u2019t going to go anywhere, if those so gathered can\u2019t talk openly and honestly about true \u201croot causes\u201d and instead delude themselves that the only reason these young people are attracted to ISIS and others preaching an Islamic supremism, is that they don\u2019t have sufficient economic opportunity at home.<\/p>\n