H.R. McMaster Breaks With Administration on Views of Islam (Won't Say Radical Islamic Terrorism)

New York Times ^ | February 24, 2017 | By MARK LANDLER and ERIC SCHMITT

[Pinkbell]

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s newly appointed national security adviser has told his staff that Muslims who commit terrorist acts are perverting their religion, rejecting a key ideological view of other senior Trump advisers and signaling a potentially more moderate approach to the Islamic world.

The adviser, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, told the staff of the National Security Council on Thursday, in his first “all hands” staff meeting, that the label “radical Islamic terrorism” was not helpful because terrorists are “un-Islamic,” according to people who were in the meeting.

That is a repudiation of the language regularly used by both the president and General McMaster’s predecessor, Michael T. Flynn, who resigned last week after admitting that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about a phone call with a Russian diplomat.

It is also a sign that General McMaster, a veteran of the Iraq war known for his sense of history and independent streak, might move the council away from the ideologically charged views of Mr. Flynn, who was also a three-star Army general before retiring.

Wearing his Army uniform, General McMaster spoke to a group that has been rattled and deeply demoralized after weeks of upheaval, following a haphazard transition from the Obama administration and amid the questions about links to Russia, which swiftly engulfed Mr. Flynn.

General McMaster, several officials said, has been vocal about his views on dealing with Islamic militancy, including with Mr. Trump, who on Monday described him as “a man of tremendous talent, tremendous experience.” General McMaster got the job after Mr. Trump’s first choice, Robert S. Harward, a retired Navy vice admiral, turned it down.

[Nextrush]

McMaster did use the PC term “Daesh” to describe IS as I recall in a video shown on MSNBC the other day.

I am suspicious of that.

[Dagnabitt]

Hopefully this overrated man gets bounced within a year.

[Cvengr]

People tend to do things for reasons.

Not always the right reasons, but reasons nonetheless.

It is very easy within any power structure to misconstrue the actions of others to be based upon the same premises of their power structures, when the latter are based upon an entirely different power structure.

People who direct their actions based upon religious power structures, don’t necessarily change their thinking due to economic considerations. Nor necessarily upon military or intellectual or political considerations. The same might be said of the other power structures.

Most worldly successful people have balanced their thinking amongst those power structures and are used for their strength in any one or combination of power bases.

Some excel only based upon one power system.

Such is the way of the world or worldly systems.

Spiritual warfare is different.

When countering an Islamic threat, one needs to understand the weapons of spiritual warfare and the thinking it represents. Too many liberal peacemakers with Muslims confuse Islamic thinking as being premised upon Judaeo-Christian foundations or simply a comparative religion to Christian denominations, which they also haven’t understood.

Making such mistakes is likely to cast pearls before swine, making them an even more upset enemy, than directly facing the threat and conquering it.

[turfmann]

1) I wouldn’t use the NYT to line my birdcage.

2) Since General McMaster has actually killed jihadists, in contrast to the legion of armchair generals who are quick to condemn, I am ready to listen to him.

[nathanbedford]

semantic distinction

So the campaign was then and this is now, huh?

Either the report is false, although it has been confirmed by another report with anonymous sources, or there is in fact an incoherence in our policy which by the president's own continuous assertions during the campaign concerns a matter essential to winning the war and keeping the country safe.

Candidate Trump was clear, if you cannot properly name and identify the enemy you cannot defeat him. That is not something that can be dodged by calling it semantics, it is important because semantics dictate policy.

What is going on?

[silverleaf]

May we call it Un-Islamic terrorism?

As in “ an Un-Islamic terrorist yelling Allu Akbar drove his truck down the promenade killing 100”

” Un- Islamic terrorists yeling Allu Akbar stabbed pedestrians “

” Un- Islamic terrorists killed beheaded hijacked crucified burned drowned enslaved stabbed blew up exploded yada yada yada “

[silverleaf]

Because someone on the NSC staff talked to,a NYT reporter

A pathetic excuse of a human who feels important because of passing secrets to the NYT

[VermithraxPejorative]

Why would Trump appoint someone like this? It makes absolutely no sense unless this guy lied to him. Trump really messed up getting rid of General Flynn and would have been better with Bolton yet now he has to deal with this troublemaker!

[VermithraxPejorative]

No, it doesn’t make sense and now he’s messed up big league here. He’s also appointing a lot of amnesty fans in business positions in his administration. Will be interesting watching Trump, but he’s going to have a tough time with this guy.

[VermithraxPejorative]

Exactly. Who will have their way now? Will Trump stop being straightforward on what we face with Islamic terrorism? This really is mindblowing knowing Trump chose this guy.

[VermithraxPejorative]

General Flynn was perfect for this position as he had clear eyed view of what we’re facing with the terrorists.

[Rusty0604]

That’s the story I’ve read from several sources.

[Rusty0604]

Islam is all political, it isn’t a religion.

[Rusty0604]

Yep.

[Rusty0604]

All this about McMaster has has been out from several sources.

[Rusty0604]

It’s a lost cause, Pinkbell. I’ve seen all this from several reliable sources too, but some just don’t want to hear it.

[JayGalt]

Fascinating video clip. Watching made me aware of a world of very relevant nuances. Interesting that Mattis views the use of radical Islamic terror as empowering the terrorists and marginalizing our allies.
Thanks for sharing.

[JayGalt]

70 posted on 2/25/2017, 2:37:38 AM by Pelham
Watch this excerpt from Mattis’ Heritage Foundation speech last December and you’ll learn why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W-R4xMbF68

Suggest you watch the video above. Clearly Mattis is operating from a much more sophisticated platform, one where he appreciates the need for precise terms, the realities of the enemy and also the potential friends who will be needed to successfully combat that enemy. Watch with an open mind and do not be so quick to condemn dogmatically.

[LeoWindhorse]

asinine

[LeoWindhorse]

you would think that he & Trump would have gone over this particular point during the interview process ....

why all the ‘surprises ‘ ?