White House apologizes for using 'crusade' to describe war on terrorism

AP ^ | September 18, 2001

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Let's see. GWB is leader of the free world, leading the USA through a time of unprecedented peril, that will be (hopefully) written about in the history books centuries from now (if there are still people around to write those books and to read them). And he just happened to utter the word crusade? Right. Just like he just happened to think of the old west posters that said "Wanted Dead or Alive". And just like George Bush Sr. could never pronounce the word "Saddam" correctly and just like Winston Churchill could never quite get the pronunciation of "Nazi" correct. So Ari Fleisher comes out and says, "hah, hah. So sorry. Didn't really mean it". I think GWB chose his words pretty carefully and meant what he said.

[SAMWolf]

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty- loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Must not have to worry about hurt feelings back in 1944.

[OWK]

Given the use of the word "jihad" by our enemies (indicating their intent to attack us for religious purposes) I think it was quite wise and quite prudent of Bush to make it clear that he did not mean to indicate his intent to conduct a "crusade" (religious war) in retaliation.

This isn't about religion as far as Americans are concerned.

It's about terrorist animals.

[RJCogburn]

This isn't about religion as far as Americans are concerned.

On the mark, as usual.

[PISANO]

Politically Correct BS!! I am sick of it! Word police....thought police when will this nonsense end?

[Mr. Bird]

I agree, but clarification need not be an apology. In the current climate, I would prefer a scoffing reply bordering on disgust.

When the bullets start flying, I'm sure our boys will have plenty of non-PC things to say and write on their artillery shells. Will the press want to discuss that too?

[RJCogburn]

Politically Correct BS!!

No, it was rather a politically foolish word choice. Why choose a word that to Islam suggests a course of action motivated by something other than justice, security, self defense? Why give our enemies another tool to use to inflame those who might otherwise be fence-sitters? Why choose a word that adds no advantage to us in its use?

[Truthsayer20]

Christian world != Western Civilization

[LibertarianLiz]

They are not afraid to use the word "jihad."

Correct! I like the word "crusade", especially since they are declaring a "jihad (holy war)" against us.

I am becoming more and more disturbed by this trend I am seeing back to "sensitivity" and "political correctness". We need to dump that garbage and do what needs to be done --- none of which will be either sensitive or pc.

If we do this thing right, then we are going to have to do a lot of things that we are not going to like doing; but that must be done. My fear is that we are going to have grief counseling, pop a prozac, yawn --- business as usual.

[OWK]

In a narrow sense you are correct, but more broadly this is a war against the Christian world (Western Civilization, if you prefer) and "crusade" was an entirely appropriate phrase, at least imho.

From our enemy's perspective, it may very well be a war against the Christian world. That's why they call it a Jihad. But all Muslim's are NOT our enemies. Terrorists and evil doers are our enemies.

Our response as a nation is not against Islam. It is against those who have harmed us, or seek to do us harm.

This is not a religious crusade.

[uncitizen]

Here we go again. Apologizing for a word. This is sickening. Words don't hurt anything. Jets hitting buildings hurts something.

[OWK]

I agree, but clarification need not be an apology. In the current climate, I would prefer a scoffing reply bordering on disgust.

While I have sometimes been critical of Bush, I think his decision to recognize the potential connotations associated with the word, and even to apologize for it, show a great strength of character.

[Osinski]

I am up to here with this friggin political correctness. I'm sorry a sikh was killed today by some ignorant bastard who thought he was a muslim. That doesn't mean that we as a nation aren't under attack within and without by terrorists and extremists who happen to be Islamic, trying to cram the jihad down our throats. I say HELL no. This week, I am suspicious of non-American arabs. This is not racism, it is common sense. The rules have changed. This is a war. Had Bush not shut down air traffic the horror would have be unfathomable. As it stands, we as Americans are threatened at home and abroad by muslim extremists. If I say I'm on a crusade to protect me and mine from this scourge and some muslim is offended, too friggin bad. Get a clue that although Bush may want to tone down the rhetoric, I'm not ready to. Hell there are 5,000 people whose families are just getting the realization that their loved ones aren't coming home ever again. I give a shit about offended.

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

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[Revolting cat!]

Think first. Then speak.

Better yet, consult a dictionary, then speak (emphasis mine):

"crusade 1 sometimes any of the military expeditions which Christians undertook from the 11th to the end of the 13th cent. to recover the Holy land from the Muslims. 2 vigorous, concerted action for some cause or idea, or against some abuse"

--- Webster's New World Dictionary of American English, Second College Edition, Macmillan, USA

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Did not take us long to fall into PC line. The use of the word may have not been the wisest, but the media needs to get over it. A slip of the tongue. Will ABC censor that story or will we hear about it ad nauseum.