Why Obama refuses to say 'radical Islamic terrorism'
What鈥檚 in a phrase? When it comes to terrorism, more than you think, says President Obama.
In a town hall at Fort Lee, Va., on Wednesday, the president was asked about his choice not to use the phrase 鈥淚slamic terrorist鈥� to describe ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups. Gold Star mother Tina Houchins wanted to know why Obama wouldn鈥檛 use the term, if he believed that terrorist groups themselves considered their activities grounded in Islam.
The decision to use the term 鈥� or not 鈥� has gained in political significance over the course of the 2016 election campaign. Donald Trump and other Republicans have said avoiding the phrase 鈥渞adical Islamic terrorism鈥� is equivalent to avoiding the problem. Yet neither Obama or former president George W. Bush has used the term, describing it as counterproductive to efforts to combat terrorist groups.聽
鈥淲hen you start calling these organizations Islamic terrorists, the way it鈥檚 heard, the way it鈥檚 received by our friends and allies around the world is that somehow Islam is terroristic. And that then . In some cases, it makes it harder for us to get their cooperation in fighting terrorism,鈥� Obama told the town hall meeting on Wednesday.
Avoiding the term 鈥渞adical Islam鈥� has therefore been US policy for more than a decade. Elliot Abrams, deputy National Security Advisor under President Bush, told Bloomberg, 鈥淲e were invading two Muslim countries, and we were being accused of being at war with Islam. So the administration wanted to make it very clear that and every Muslim in the world.鈥�
That attitude is clear in the way both Mr. Bush and Obama have described terrorist groups and their relation to Islam as a religion. On Wednesday Obama said terrorists have 鈥渢ried to claim the mantle of Islam for an excuse,鈥� while Bush described them as having 鈥�.鈥�
That distinction, they say, prevents sowing dissent among Muslims and聽recognizes the contribution of Muslims in America and around the world to a more peaceful society. Obama explained that he wants to 鈥渕ake sure that we do not lump these murderers into the billion Muslims [around the world] who are peaceful, who are responsible, who in this country, are our fellow troops and police officers and firefighters and teachers and neighbors and friends.鈥�
But others have expressed concern that by refusing to describe the actions of Al Qaeda and ISIS as 鈥渞adical Islamic terrorism,鈥� the US risks misunderstanding what's fueling terrorism and being unable to effectively combat it. Some Republicans suggest that using the term would make Americans safer.
Mr. Trump has been outspoken in calling for use of the term. At a campaign rally this spring, he told his supporters, 鈥淯nless you鈥檙e going to talk about it, you鈥檙e not going to solve [the problem].鈥� Following the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, he suggested that Obama should resign if he was not willing to describe the attack as 鈥榬adical Islamic terrorism.鈥�
鈥淚 am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack,鈥� he said in a statement. 鈥淲e 补苍测尘辞谤别.鈥�
The terrorism fight if it was framed as 鈥渞adical Islamism,鈥� according to Daniel Serwer, director of the Conflict Management Program at Johns Hopkins University鈥檚 School of Advanced International Studies. He told CNN that the label could alienate moderate Muslims and hinder coordination efforts.
鈥淎nything that stands in the way of Muslims joining the fight against ISIS is not a good thing,鈥� he added.
Though she has in the past expressed concern about the term, Hillary Clinton told CNN鈥檚 New Day in June that actions are ultimately more important than words.
鈥淔rom my perspective, . And it mattered we got bin Laden, not what name we called him鈥hether you call it radical jihadism or radical Islamism, I鈥檓 happy to say either. I think they mean the same thing.鈥�
