Bush backs off 'Islamic fascists'

WorldNetDaily ^ | Sept. 1, 2006 | Not Cited

[conservativecorner]

President Bush has toned down his war rhetoric after Muslim-rights groups complained his description of the enemy as "Islamic fascists" unfairly equates Islam with terrorism.

In his speech to the American Legion Thursday, Bush backed away from the term, defining the enemy simply as "fascists" and "totalitarians."

He said the war on terror was an "ideological struggle" with terrorists who "kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology," but he did not identify the source of the ideology. His only reference to Islam during the speech was in noting that the Muslim terrorists are distorting the tenets of the religion. "Free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam," he said.

In a press conference last week, Bush also avoided repeating the phrase "Islamic fascists," reverting instead to more general language such as "extremists" to describe the threat.

"This is a global war on terror. We're facing, you know, extremists that believe something," he said. "And they want to achieve objectives."

While the White House declined to comment officially about the dropping of the term 'Islamic fascists,' a White House insider explained that the president is sensitive to concerns raised by Muslim leaders.

"The president never meant to imply we're at war with Islam, but some took it that way," the official said. "It's not a climb-down as much as a recognition of the concerns of the Muslim community."

In a major rhetorical shift, Bush last month began describing the enemy as "Islamic fascists," sparking a firestorm of criticism from Muslim groups.

The pressure groups, led by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, lobbied the president to stop using the term. Washington-based CAIR fired off a letter to Bush arguing that continued use of the "hot-button" term would only harm the image of America "in the Islamic world."

"We believe this is an ill-advised term and we believe that it is counterproductive to associate Islam or Muslims with fascism," added CAIR executive director Nihad Awad.

Awad warned Bush to choose his words carefully so as not to "start a religious war against Islam and Muslims."

"We urge him and we urge other public officials to restrain themselves," he asserted.

CAIR is a spin-off of the Islamic Association for Palestine, identified by two former FBI counterterrorism chiefs as a "front group" for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Several CAIR leaders have been convicted on terror-related charges.

Washington officials have been careful during the war on terror to distinguish between Islam and the terrorists so as not to offend Muslims.

The distinction has rankled many conservatives who see little difference.

After 9-11, Bush frequently referred to Islam as a "religion of peace" and asserted the terrorists were "perverting" or "hijacking" the faith. A search of transcripts shows that, to date, the president has not publicly used the terms "Islamic terrorists" or "Islamic terrorism."

The White House insider says it's unlikely Bush will repeat the term "Islamic fascists" out of deference to Muslim groups.

[Spiff]

"This is a global war on terror. We're facing, you know, extremists that believe something," he said. "And they want to achieve objectives."

I hate it when he talks like an idiot. I suspect the next line was "And they work hard." He loves to say that about everyone and if I was a drinker I would have invented a drinking game around it.

So, they "believe something." And that "something" would be...

And they have "objectives." And those "objectives" are...

If he's too much of a wimp now to answer those questions truthfully and without reservation, then he's never going to win this war against Islamic jihadists whose objective is to brutally force the world to submit to their evil rule. And Iran is counting on exactly that.

We will all be PC'd to death.

So true...

[bnelson44]

Here is a search for the word "fascist" on the Whitehouse website, sorted by date. The last time he used the term Islamic Fascist and it was record here was 8/7.

[Dane]

I hate it when he talks like an idiot.

Oh when you mean he talks like you(Spiff).

[Howlin]

This story is BS.

You notice nobody had the gall to put their name on it.

[Dog Gone]

How ironic.

[BallyBill]

When he apologizes for the term fascist and restates that Islam is the ROP, I'll start worrying.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It's BS because no one at WND had the stones to put their name to the story.

[top 2 toe red]

It's sickening.

Sickening? Your stupid tagline is sickening!

[whatisthetruth]

Oh thank you, thank you Mr. Bush for dropping the term Islamic-fascists from your language. Now the next thing we want you to do.............

[Dog Gone]

It quotes a White House insider

Who? A janitor? Karl Rove?

It's real easy to attribute things to unnamed sources. That way you don't get to judge credibility, but it's implied. "Insider", just whisper it. Sounds so official.

[Poincare]

Awad warned Bush to choose his words carefully so as not to "start a religious war against Islam and Muslims."

Or what?

[Cobra64]

Again with Savage, it WILL take a couple of 9-11s to happen before this PC crapola goes out the door & we take it to this so-called religion of peace.

Bingo!

[rodeocowboy]

Sickening? Your stupid tagline is sickening!

I'm sorry you believe that way. But, unlike Bush, I am not going to stop saying (or writing) what I believe to be true to make a few "Bush-Can-Do-No-Wrong" bots, like you, happy. I'm not sorry for that either. I am a realist and a conservative and will stand for many things so that I don't fall for anything.

Thank you for your opinion and don't stop giving them in order to please anybody (especially the "offended" would like to wipe your country from the face of the earth or slice your throat on national TV).

[Admin Moderator]

I'm about two more obnoxious posts from pulling this thread entirely.

[Paperdoll]

>This is yellow journalism. Period.<
>Or a yellow president and senate!<

Hey, cowboy, you are a brave man to make such a suggestion here. I've been harpooned for less. :o)

[Vision]

I think to say "there is no consensus as to what "fascism" even means" is psychotic; like Pat can be.

I know Pat has had some bizarre opinions on Jews.

I think those who say it is a mistake to call Islamic Fascists, "Islamic Fascists", are kook moonbats. And I believe this is obvious to everyone on the planet besides those Islamic Fascists, and those in high power who are too afraid to deal with this situation as it is. Kind of like the beaten wife who rationalizes that her husband won't beat her again if she doesn't talk about his drinking.

Do you need to know anything else, or can I go back to doing what I was doing?

[rodeocowboy]

Your post (number 41) is so true, and funny too! I was thinking the same exact thing when I first read it. I could just picture, mentally, both of Bush's hands outstretch in conversational mode, with his shoulders slumped toward the camera, with that normally dumb-founded look on his face!

It's a shame too! Right after 9-11, when he meant what he was saying and was speaking from his heart, he was a wonderful speaker. But, soon after, when he started rehearsing his speeches again and trying to be slick Willy, he became a bumbling speaker again.

[conservativecorner]

Good ole' Dane showing up to limit discussion to name calling. You are at least consistent. LOL!

[Vision]

Please don't. I think this needs to be discussed, no matter how ugly it gets.

[seasoned traditionalist]

While the White House declined to comment officially about "We will all be PC'd to death"

More than likely, PC will be the "cause of our death!"

"the dropping of the term 'Islamic fascists,' a White House insider explained that the president is sensitive to concerns raised by Muslim leaders.

"The president never meant to imply we're at war with Islam, but some took it that way," the official said. "It's not a climb-down as much as a recognition of the concerns of the Muslim community."

Well, its nice to know that W cares more about the "sensibilities" of that front-org-for-terries (CAIR) then identifying our primary enemy and the threat we face by name--Islamofacism.

CAIR's propaganda apparatchik operates like a well-oiled machine and its success (aided and abetted by a fawning and apologists MSM) will simply embolden it and in the future, look for a more wide-ranging PR campaign to put a positive lite on anything Islam.

One of their "Mentors" and the father of modern day propaganda (Joseph Goebels) would be proud.

As for me, I'm ashamed to admit that my President (who I voted for twice and regardless of my disappointment on the border issue, thought was at least strong and resolute on the WOT) appears to have turned into a first-class wuss!!!

An afterthought and not a very nice or kind one: Could it be that W is hoping to garner the Muzzie votes for the Pubs, by kowtowing to them the same as he is obviously doing with the Mexicans?