Here is the surrounding paragraphs from her spsech. Tell me how it changes the context of her statement...
Sarah Palin:
"This war -- and that is what it is, a war -- is not, as some have said, a clash of civilizations. We are not at war with Islam. This is a war within Islam, where a small minority of violent killers seeks to impose their view on the vast majority of Muslims who want the same things all of us want: economic opportunity, education, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families.""The reality is that al Qaeda and its affiliates have killed scores of innocent Muslim men, women and children. The reality is that Muslims from Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other countries are fighting al Qaeda and their allies today. But this will be a long war, and it will require far more than just military power to prevail. Just as we did in the Cold War, we will need to use all the tools at our disposal -- hard and soft power. Economic development, public diplomacy, educational exchanges, and foreign assistance will be just as important as the instruments of military power."
I assumed that Palin supporters would be familiar with her major speeches, and wouldn't need entire paragraphs.
I'm glad Mesta asked for more, because this shows you more.
As you can see from her speech, far from thinking that Islam itself it the problem, or thinking that islamic countries are by nature out enemies, she seeks to develop good relationships.
Sarah Palin: "But this will be a long war, and it will require far more than just military power to prevail. Just as we did in the Cold War, we will need to use all the tools at our disposal -- hard and soft power. Economic development, public diplomacy, educational exchanges, and foreign assistance will be just as important as the instruments of military power."
Charles, you used that paragraph to imply that somehow, Sarah Palin was on the same plane as perry where it comes to islam. They’re NOT. What Palin said in a speech in China in no way compares to what perry has said and done with reference to islam.
Saying we are not at war with islam does not hardly compare to signing agreements to build mosques all over Texas and teach islam to schoolchildren.
Their approaches to islam could not be more opposite.
perry had not a clue how to handle the Ground Zero mosque controversy, so he asked a palestinian who had run against him for govenor. Never mind this guy had ties to terrorists, and finally after hemming and hawwing for weeks, he said well, maybe they could build it somewhre else. Compare that to what Sarah Palin DID to try and stop it from being built.
You tried to make them sound equal when nothing could be further from the truth.
FWIW, here is a little more of that speech. Yes, context matters.
*************************************
Sarah Palin gave an extraordinarily well-crafted speech in Hong Kong, a real Reagan speech.
“I am a Commonsense Conservative ...
“Two weeks ago, America commemorated the 8th anniversary of the savagery of September 11, 2001. The vicious terrorist attacks of that day made clear that what happened in lands far distant from American shores directly affect our security. We came to learn, if we did not know before, that there were violent fanatics who sought not just to kill innocents, but to end our way of life.”
“Their attacks have not been limited to the United States. They attacked targets in Europe, North Africa and throughout the Middle East. Here in Asia, they killed more than 200 in a single attack in Bali. They bombed the Marriott Hotel and the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. Last year in Mumbai, more than 170 were killed in coordinated attacks in the heart of India’s financial capital. In this struggle with radical Islamic extremists, no part of the world is safe from those who bomb, maim and kill in the service of their twisted vision.”
“This war — and that is what it is, a war — is not, as some have said, a clash of civilizations. We are not at war with Islam. This is a war within Islam, where a small minority of violent killers seeks to impose their view on the vast majority of Muslims who want the same things all of us want: economic opportunity, education, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families.”
“The reality is that al Qaeda and its affiliates have killed scores of innocent Muslim men, women and children. The reality is that Muslims from Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other countries are fighting al Qaeda and their allies today. But this will be a long war, and it will require far more than just military power to prevail. Just as we did in the Cold War, we will need to use all the tools at our disposal — hard and soft power. Economic development, public diplomacy, educational exchanges, and foreign assistance will be just as important as the instruments of military power.”
“During the election campaign in the U.S. last year, you might have noticed we had some differences over Iraq. John McCain and I believed in the strength of the surge strategy — because of its success, Iraq is no longer the central front in the war on terrorism. Afghanistan is. Afghanistan is where the 9/11 attacks were planned and if we are not successful in Afghanistan, al Qaeda will once again find safe haven there.”
“As a candidate and in office, President Obama called Afghanistan the “necessary war” and pledged to provide the resources needed to prevail. However, prominent voices in the Democratic Party are opposing the additional U.S. ground forces that are clearly needed. Speaker of the House Pelosi, Defense Subcommittee Chairman Murtha, the Senate Armed Services Committee Chair, and many others, recently expressed doubts about sending additional forces! President Obama will face a decision soon when the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan requests additional forces to implement his new counterinsurgency strategy.”
************************************
So this speech was made IN China before the *surge* in Afghanistan.