Rice: War on Terror Is Not War on Islam

Yahoo! News - AP Cabinet & State ^ | Sun Oct 19,12:22 PM ET | Yahoo! News . Com

[Bobby777]

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites)'s national security adviser insisted Sunday that the U.S. fight against terrorism is not a war between Christianity and Islam, despite a top general's comments that seemed to say it is.

But Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) twice avoided a question about whether Bush will condemn statements by Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, the deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence.

"The president has been absolutely clear that this is not a war of religions," Rice told ABC's "This Week."

"Islam is a peaceful religion. The president is respectful of those who practice the Islamic faith," Rice said from Thailand, where Bush was attending a summit of Asian and Pacific nations.

The Pentagon (news - web sites) released a statement by Boykin late Friday in which he apologized for his characterizations of Islam and said he never meant to offend Muslims.

"I am not anti-Islam or any other religion," Boykin said. "I support the free exercise of all religions. For those who have been offended by my statements, I offer a sincere apology."

Rice was asked on ABC whether Bush would condemn Boykin's comments, in which he seemed to describe monotheistic Islam as a religion whose followers worship idols.

She replied by outlining the president's views of the religion, the fastest-growing religion in the United States. She said terrorists targeted in the U.S. anti-terrorism campaign are "people who murder and maim and in fact pervert Islam."

Asked again whether Bush would condemn Boykin's comments, she said: "The president's views on this are absolutely clear, and I think the president is very clear on what he means here. This is not a war between religions. No one should describe it as such."

A furor arose after reports were published about the statements by Boykin, in and out of uniform, in churches and elsewhere. Since the reports appeared, Boykin has told his superiors he will curtail his speechmaking.

After a 1993 battle with Osman Otto, a Muslim warlord in Somalia, Boykin said: "I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol." After Otto's capture, Boykin has said he told Otto, "You underestimated our God."

Boykin's statement said the comment was misinterpreted, that he spoke of Otto's "worship of money and power; idolatry," not of his religion. "He was a corrupt man, not a follower of Islam," Boykin said.

Pentagon officials issued Friday's statement after hours of debate over ways to put aside the stir over Boykin, whose job forces him to deal with security services in many Muslim states.

[Bobby777]

FReepmail me if you'd like to be on or off this ping list ...

[Cyrus the Great]

The radical Christians trying to make this a holy war have great friends in fundamentalist Islamists trying to do the same.

Rice is brilliant and she's perfectly right.

[Bobby777]

She replied by outlining the president's views of (ISLAM) the religion, the fastest-growing religion in the United States.

indeed ... in a post-9/11 world ... incredible ...

[Bobby777]

time will tell ...

[chicagolady]

BULL!

[chicagolady]

If it is not a war on Islam...It should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cultural Jihad]

Exactly so. Anyone who tries to make Islam into our enemy is only carrying water for Bin Laden.

[boris]

It is a war of Civilization versus Barbarism.

Islam is barbaric.

The question confronting us is: is Western Civilization worth saving if the alternative is barbarism?

Most of the left--including the press--says NO.

If we are at war for Civilization then we had better be clear on who the enemy is.

--Boris

[Cyrus the Great]

If you believe that then you must also have hated liberation of Iraq, instead arguing perhaps to kill them all or force them to convert?

Never understood how anyone who has this hatred towards all Muslims could ever support President Bush. Including the fact he's the only president to court Muslim votes, put a Koran on his desk, and work for liberating Muslims in the Middle East. Including attending tons of events, and consistly denouncing anyone who mixes radicals with moderates.

It's an absolute oxymoron.

[Cultural Jihad]

If it is not a war on Islam...It should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, you think you know better than President Bush or Condoleezza Rice, eh?

[yonif]

This is a war against Militant Islam

[Bobby777]

at a minimum, weekly rants are made in Palestine, in Saudi Arabia, in Iran at mosques calling for the destruction of the Zionists (Israelis) and Americans ... this is a huge problem ... pretending it doesn't exist works for awhile ... I don't have a problem with strategy ...

On September 10, 2001, in New York City, at the Pentagon and at a few airports around the United States (and elsewhere), there was a belief this is a problem one-half a world away ... something that would not affect the USA domestic homeland ...

on September 11, 2001, there was a different understanding, sadly ...

[Cultural Jihad]

Or more precisely, against radical Islamism, not against Islam.

[Lion in Winter]

"This is a war against Militant Islam".

I do not believe there is any other kind.

[Monty22]

"Needless to say, you think you know better than President Bush or Condoleezza Rice, eh?"

So it's wrong to differ with their wrong headed beliefs on this eh?

Grow up.

[chicagolady]

Negative, I know the religion of Islam.

[Bobby777]

the issue isn't an absolute hatred of Muslims ... which is preposterous ... the issue is whether a large degree of their population is actively, yes actively involved in covert terrorist operations around the world ... if you haven't seen this, you haven't been paying attention ...

genocide of Iraqi citizens? ... puhleeze ...

[Bobby777]

This is a war against Militant Islam

agreed ...

[Let's Roll]

Yep, nice, doggy - I think I saw that stick around here somewhere ...

[Cultural Jihad]

Reason #32,237 that no one ever addresses you as "President Monty22."

[Cyrus the Great]

Oh believe me i support war on Fundamentalist Islamists.

[SouthernFreebird]

suuuuuuuuure.... *wink*

[Lion in Winter]

As long as the koran advocates killing Jews, Christians and other non-muslims and calls dogs, "UNCLEAN"....ALL ISLAM IS MY ENEMY.

As long as the koran calls on its believers to wipe their behinds with their left hand, Islam is my enemy....

As long as the koran calls murderers of non-muslims, "holy" ... islam is my enemy.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS of reasons why islam is my PERSONAL enemy. However, the majority of the reasons are dead Israelis in Israel and Munich or the enslaved or dead Christians in the Sudan.

[contessa machiaveli]

i've been suspicious of muslims since the munich olympics when the world wimped out of condemning the palestinians. we can't forget 1968 when RFK was murdered by...guess who? a muslim, plane hijackings in the late 60's and 70's? muslims,plane highjackings 80's, 90's, and into the 21st century? muslims, a call to slaughter the infidels? muslims, bringing down the center of finance in the US? the muslims again.
when will it end? probably never. i'm nauseated by the constant drumbeat of "islam is a peaceful religion". it most cetainly isn't.

[Bobby777]

Oh believe me i support war on Fundamentalist Islamists.

that is good to know ... especially in light of their unbroken record of violence ... especially against non-combatants ...

Deadly Works of Islamic Terror

1968 Robert Kennedy assassinated - Islamic Terrorist

1970 (?) 4 airliners hijacked, 3 airliners blownup in the Middle East in single operation - - Islamic Terrorists
1970 Jordanian citizens attacked, murdered (by PLO) - - Islamic Terrorists

1972 Munich massacre of Israelis - Islamic Terrorists

1975 Raid on Entebbe, Uganda - Israeli plane hijacked, Israelis murdered - Islamic Terrorists

1983 Lebanon Marine Barracks attack - 250 murdered - Islamic Terrorists

1985 Rome Airport murders - Islamic Terrorists
1985 TWA Flight 847 hijacked, U.S. Navy diver murdered - Islamic Terrorists
1985 Achille Lauro hijacking, murder - Islamic Terrorists

1986 Germany, Disco Bombing, U.S. military personnel murdered - Islamic Terrorists

1988 Pan Am 747 Flight 103 Bombing, Lockerbie, 100's murdered - Islamic Terrorists

1993 World Trade Center attacked - Islamic Terrorists

1996 Khobar Towers attack - Islamic Terrorists

1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100's murdered - Islamic Terrorists
1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100's murdered - Islamic Terrorists

1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle - Islamic Terrorists
2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered - Islamic Terrorists
2000-2002 Intifada against Israel - 100's dead and injured - Islamic Terrorists

2001 4 Commercial airliners hijacked, 250+ murdered - Islamic Terrorists
2001 World Trade Center attacked, 2800+ murdered - Islamic Terrorists
2001 Flight 93 murders - Islamic Terrorists
2001 Pentagon attacked, 180+ murdered - Islamic Terrorists

2002 Reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped and murdered - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Philippines American missionary, Filipino nurse killed - Islamic Terrorists
2002 July 4, El Al attack Los Angeles LAX, several murdered - Islamic Terrorist
2002 Bali bombing - 200 dead, 300 injured - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Yemen, French Oil Tanker attacked - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Marines attacked / murdered in Kuwait - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Washington D.C. sniper - Islamic Terrorist
2002 Russian Theater attacked, 100+ dead - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Nigerian riots against Miss World Pageant, 200 dead, dozens injured - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Mombasa Hotel Attacked, 12 dead, dozens injured - Islamic Terrorists
2002 Israeli Boeing 757 attacked by missiles, fortunately no one injured - Islamic Terrorists

August 2003: Hotel bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia. 12 dead, dozens injured. - Islamic Terrorists
PLO - Islamic Terrorists
PFLP - Islamic Terrorists
Black September - Islamic Terrorists
Fatah - Islamic Terrorists
Islamic Jihad - Islamic Terrorists
Hizbollah - Islamic Terrorists
Hamas - Islamic Terrorists
Yasser Arafat - Islamic Terrorist
Osama bin Laden - Islamic Terrorist

[Bobby777]

I hope, I pray, I believe your assessment is correct ...

[SSN558]

Islam is barbaric.

So is the old testament. There is something for everyone in both of them.

[onedoug]

Islam actually has a deep, ethical monotheistic component and tradition.

Islamism however, is antithetical to Western civilization, and is going to have to be crushed for the latter to survive.

[nosofar]

This is not a war on Islam unless Muslims want it to be. Increasingly, though, it seems they do by the consistent refusal to outright condemn terrorism. By 'they', I mean the leadership plus a large chunk (if not a majority) of the masses.

[onedoug]

No other chronicle of a religous people however, is as intensely self-critical as the Tanak of the Jews who yet carry it forward.

[Bobby777]

I believe, their "moderates" and indeed others are cowed into silence by the radical element ... some of the history of recent beatings, etc. in certain countries shows this ...

indeed, the griping (few, I hope) element of Iraqis that *preferred* life under a dictator who would randomly kill their citizens and let his son, Uday, freely take from their daughters is amazing ...

[PsyOp]

Rice is brilliant and she's perfectly right.

Yes she is. And I admire her so much that I think the ought to be Bush's running-mate in "04, rather than end up a Foggy Bottom (even though they need someone like her).

Even so, her statement is only a half truth. WE may not be waging a Holy War on Islam, but Islam IS waging one against us, and must be dealt with accordingly.

Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....

[Cultural Jihad]

Anyone can pull violent Old Testament passages out of context, too, but all it would do is show one to be bigoted. Go visit some leftwing sites for a synopsis on how Christianity is supposedly the great evil, too.

[Lion in Winter]

Politicians talk.... and talk. Oh, yeah! Even the politicians that I love...they talk! TALK! Humor the enemy for the sake of peace in the world. Oh, please.

While non-muslims die at the hands of islamics who actually follow their instruction booklet of VERY bad poetry known as the koran. A booklet which tells them TO KILL NON MUSLIMS.

Oh, please.... islam is a danger to CIVILIZED thoughts on freedom of religion. And, come to think of it.... it is a danger to women like Condi Rice who actually believe they should have EQUAL RIGHTS WITH MEN and can wear whatever type of clothing they want to wear.

Hey,Condi... in an islamic "republic" you could be punished SEVERLY for walking around without a rag tied on your head! Or even KILLED for having a relationship or marriage with a man your father does not approve of.

Get real folks.... we all know that.... whether the politicians admit it or not..... islam is a real threat to free people EVERYWHERE on this planet.

islam... a religion OF NO PEACE for non-muslims....everywhere. "Peace" to a muslim means.... only when THEY are in charge.

This does NOT please me one whit!

[xzins]

A furor arose after reports were published about the statements by Boykin, in and out of uniform, in churches and elsewhere. Since the reports appeared, Boykin has told his superiors he will curtail his speechmaking.

As a retired army chaplain, let me assure you that a military member is allowed to go to church and that he is allowed to go to church in uniform.

He is not allowed to go to a political rally in uniform.

But his right to religious freedom has never been curtailed, and never should be.

Boynkin is a great warrior and asset for this country. His faith sees islam as a false faith. Now that he's in the public spotlight with 3 stars should he be careful what he says in public?

Probably. But not because he's wrong.

But for mere political considerations. In today's American culture everyone's religion is OK....as long as it isn't sincere Christianity. (For you doubters, that's a proof of the validity of Christianity if you care to think your way through it.)

[risk]

pretending it doesn't exist works for awhile ...

But president Bush is absolutely right. We cannot make this into a Crusade, or we become like them. We must simultaneously recognize the full potential of Islam to be "perverted" as Rice says it is when terrorists use it for their aims, and encourage the moderate side of it, as does Daniel Pipes.

There's famous saying: Trust but verify.

There are a lot of interesting problems this war presents to an advanced society. I'd just like to say that guarding our borders, limiting immigration, and tracking down those who have made threats to us overseas are now more important than ever. And I think we need to make sure that the State Department isn't overconfident again, like it was in Vietnam.

None of this is going to be easy, and before it is over, we will be forced into moral dilemmas the likes of which we had never expected to resolve. We need to figure out how we will respond ahead of time so that we don't make the situation worse with whatever we do. President Bush is obviously paying attention to these problems very carefully.

Will we be able to trust any other candidate next time around? Not that I can tell.

[NutCrackerBoy]

Islam actually has a deep, ethical monotheistic component and tradition. Islamism however, is antithetical to Western civilization, and is going to have to be crushed for the latter to survive.

I don't disagree with either statement. However, I would add that Islam's problem in this world goes deeper than a lunatic fringe. Millions of non-militant adherents agree with rule by Sharia, theocratic rule. The Islamic states are all deeply incompatible with modernism. As long as that continues, their economies will be so awful compared to Western states that we will see trouble after insurmountable trouble.

[nosofar]

As long as the koran advocates killing Jews, Christians and other non-muslims and calls dogs,....

I suspect many Muslims don't know about this, just as many Christians don't know the Bible that well. The biggest problem is that, to my knowledge, only the Koran makes the injunction to murder explicit. Every other major book has to be twisted a bit get that kind of meaning. Who would you least want to meet in a dark alley?

1. fundamentalist Muslims,

2. fundamentalist Christians, or

3. fundamentalist Buddhists?

Easy call.

[Mr Rogers]

Islam is a peaceful religion.

If she kept a straight face while saying this, I don't want to play poker with her...

[petercooper]

peaceful my A@#

Islam is militant, radical and 12th century backward

[nosofar]

Islam is barbaric.

So is the old testament. There is something for everyone in both of them.

You are comparing apples and oranges, or more specifically, a religion as it is currently practiced with the literature it's based on. Are you saying Judaism is barbaric? In any case, if you happen to be of a more bloody mindset, there are more choice verses in the Koran that can be used to justify any killing you might want to indulge in.

[Bobby777]

LOL ... hehe

[theFIRMbss]

>WE may not be waging a Holy War on Islam, but Islam IS waging one against us

So you are sure that
Islamic terrorists stand
for global Muslims?

Do the Democrats
stand for all Americans?
Are the globalists

America, too?
These days, Christian people must
try to look deeply...

[Lion in Winter]

Anybody with the word "jihad" in their FR name NEED NOT EVER REPLY TO ME!

[Lion in Winter]

BTTT

[Lion in Winter]

BTTT

[prairiebreeze]

bookmarking

[Cultural Jihad]

If you can't accept the truth or are chained to a compulsion to state that you know better than President Bush does, it is not my problem.

All I do is describe Reality. Anyone is free to disagree with Reality if they want to.

[StonyBurk]

#1 Only a boob or a politician would say this is not a
Religious War. Every dead or imprissoned Muslim connected
to the bombing and/or destruction of the WTC has cited the
bloody Koran--and has followed the Scripture and tradition
of Islam. IF one side in a War believes it is a religious
War it is. They DO- and if we don't want to be acting like
the Sudanese Christians we had best wake up and realize what war we are in the middle of.My God is greater than
theirs -and I don't give squat what the Diplomatic policy
of this--or any WhiteHouse is.