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 ...