Obama: U.S. 'not at war with Islam'

Obama’s trip can’t be described as anything less than a success.

The storylines going in were about global divisions and hostility towards Obama and the U.S.

Now, besides North Korea, the buzz is about Obama’s surging popularity with leaders and his ability to cool the tensions at G-20.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

"Obama’s trip can’t be described as anything less than a success. Matt."

His trip can be described as a failure, as so many European newspapers have pointed out. He didn't get any meaningful troops from the NATO countries for Afghanistan, and key players such as Germany rejected his spending plans.

Tens of millions of American tax dollars down the drain for a photo op. The only economies we stimulated were Britain's and Turkey's.

He didn't talk about the Heroin produced in Turkey and shipped to America did he? It's good to see some lip servcie regarding terrorists, however, he see's terrorism and muslim extremists as seperate entities.

Coddeling those who would chop our heads off is a mistake the USA can't afford. Our president has to get out of campaign mode and into leader mode pretty soon. Solid decisions based on what's good for the USA is necessary, not pandering for world leader votes.

Our World standing in the areas of Economic and Strength of Resolve Against Terrorism is waining. The EU and NATO are rejecting his ideas for the most part in both areas and the US media gives us fluff and pandering rhetoric? Is this because that's all they have to provide?

Thank you for posting a photograph showing Obama with his dual teleprompters. He packed 12 for his Euorpean tour, just in case.

It makes sense that if you reach out to the 99% of muslims who are decent people, you have a better chance of squelching the 1% of muslim radicals who aren't. Bush's approach was to treat them all the same, and we can see where that got us.

President Obama professes that we are not at war with Islam great the war must be over now. This is akin to saying in WWII that we were not at war with Germany or Japan. The media will never catch on to this guy but Americans are beginning to realize that this man in so over his head. Barry is a dangerous joke.

Barry is by far our weakest leader. He talked about the USSA being arrogant. He gave N Koreas a stern look after their launch, and will huddle with UN, who met yeterday and did nothing. I don't need to go on because the lemmings refuse to see the obvious.

On this trip the President showed his ability to articluate ideas that will bridge the chasms created by the previous administration. Whether you like him or not you ought to be big enough to admit that. All such summits cost money. This time it was well spent.

Obama’s speech to the Turkish Parliament was a good one. He navigated a lot of sensitive issues concerning Turkey’s membership in the EU, its place in the Muslim world and why it is important that we remain allies. The only correction I would make would be concerning Obama’s statement that Turkey has been an ally for 60 years (e.g. since 1949). Despite the Turks declared neutrality during World War II, they were very friendly toward us and very helpful in opposing the Germans. They remained neutral in order to deny the Germans a pretext for invading their country and, thus, acquiring an overland route into central Asia. So, I would put the number of years of alliance with us closer to 70.

Will someone please tell the apologizer in chief to please come home and be quiet. It's not just that his trip has been a silly, unproductive embarrassment but his weakness and willingness to debase himself and his nation is dangerous. Get him home before he provokes an attack.

By the way can some genius in the WH whisper in Obama's ear that he is the President of the United States of America and no POTUS bows at the waist to a Saudi despot king or any king as he did. Can anyone imagine Washington, Truman or Reagan bowing at the waist to some tyrant?

I just can't understand why Europe wouldn't want to continue supporting a war that now is 8 years long. After we allowed defeat to be snatched from the jaws of victory, allowed this to fester for years, I just don't understand their reluctance. But it is nice to see those that supported this blunder to happen haven't stopped with their most valuable gift.......ideas!

Bill -- This is absolutely nothing akin to WWII. First, there were formal declarations of war amongst the USA and those countries, and in the end, formal surrenders from German / Japanese leaders. Second, the US government allows people (including US citizens and legal visitors) to freely practice Islam WITHIN the US borders. Why? Because the US has never been at war with Islam -- not under "Barry", and not even under "Georgie-boy".

Well then, what are at war with?

Liberals refuse to make hard choices. Either Islam gets to clean its own house of agression and terrorism or some else does it for them?

Marxism might be the goal for Obama but it has never worked before. Why will it work now?

there George Dubya, now, was that so hard?

* * * * *
Posted by: Bill O'Connell | April 6, 2009 12:46 PM
.
Consider Obama’s audience. Had he not made it clear that we were not at war with Islam, Obama would have turned every fair minded Turk away from us. A Turk’s identity is defined largely by his or her Muslim heritage. To claim that we were at war with Islam would, therefore, have signaled that we were at war with Turks too. Doing so would have risked our alliance with Turkey, which is something we simply cannot afford.
.
Besides, we aren’t at war with Islam any more than we are at war with Terror. We are at war with terrorists who adhere to Islam and have wrapped their religion around their efforts to harm us. Those who do so, by far, do not comprise a large segment of Islam’s adherents.

Amazing these head-in-the-sand right wing commenters who keep repeating the same old discredited (and false) lines day after day. Never a thoughtful exchange of ideas, just the same old tired baloney and personal attacks. Pathethic how they refuse to accept that change has come to America and the world, as if they repeat their lies and slurs often enough things will go back to the sorry state they were before Obama took office. Well better get used to Obama, because he's going to be your President for the next seven years.

"U.S. not at war with Islam."

Sounds good.

Radical Islam is at war with the U.S.

Get it?

Grow up please mr. prez.

"U.S. not at war with Islam."

Sounds good.

Radical Islam is at war with the U.S.

Get it?

Grow up please mr. prez.

President Obama professes that we are not at war with Islam great the war must be over now. This is akin to saying in WWII that we were not at war with Germany or Japan. The media will never catch on to this guy but Americans are beginning to realize that this man in so over his head. Barry is a dangerous joke.

The anti-Obama mania is getting out of hand, besides totally delusional. He's not supposed to take foreign trips, now? He's not supposed to have speechwriters prepare things in advance as other Presidents before him? He's supposed to give orders to foreign leaders? And he is right- we are not at war with Islam. By the way wingnuts: Bush said the same thing. Conservatives are not to be taken at all seriously if they can't do any better than the ones on this forum.

"Tens of millions of American tax dollars down the drain for a photo op. The only economies we stimulated were Britain's and Turkey's."

a. no, it was not that much money.
b. it was not an 'economic stimulus' trip
c. if it were only a photo op, at least we can be proud of it.
d. he has level-setted the world stage for us about 10 notches higher than it's been since (presumably your guy) W messed up everything in 2001.

But what did michelle wear???

It was also great to hear Obama say that the Turks did not employ Genocide against Armenians during WWI. I want to thank him for downplaying a tragedy for political expediency.
I will never forget the stories of my ancestors who fled Turkey after their villages were destroyed and how they watched Turkish soldiers compete to see who could get the most babies impaled onto one spear. Thank you Mister President, Thank you

New NashVILLAN

Since when is it more important to please other countries. They won't even step up to help in Osama Barama's new war in Afghanistan. If they are so important to him he should run for office there. He can just leave his teleprompters there for when he returns.

The US was founded on a notion of 'Freedom from Religion'. And while we are not at war with Islam, we are at war with radical terrorists who hide their actions behind their 'faith'.

That is the distinction that Obama is trying to make. Any Muslim is free to practice their faith within the US as long as in practicing their faith, they do not impact the freedom of others.

Not at war with ISLAM... too bad.. they are a war with us.. Barack is the modern day Neville Chamberlain.

If we are not at war with Islam why did he make the Muslim women with headscarves move out of camera shot during his campaign. Osama Barama is such a hypocrite. All he can do is hide behind his teleprompters and execute a marketing program. He's an empty suit.

Go figure why Rahm didn't join Obummer in talks with Turkey?

NATO has been bearing their share of the fighting in Afghanistan for the past 8 years. Many NATO countries have sufferd preportionally higher casualties there than the US have. The fact is that the US cut and ran from Afghanistan to go to war with Iraq for no reason. NATO stayed and fought.

I wish all of these people who are so unhappy with the way the November elections turned out would just leave the country.

As usual Mark Silva is incapable of reporting honestly. He makes it seem like this speech is news. The fact is that for years Bush also said the U.S was not at war with Islam. And for years the Bush administration pushed for Turkey's admittance into NATO, only to have European countries block it. But Silva reports like none of that ever happened and what Obama said was all brand new. So far the Chicago Obune has lost a couple of key Obama PR agency employees in Washington: Jill Zuckman and Frank James. Seems like Silva is going overboard to make up for those Obama PR Bureau losses.

Obama is right in his speech. You cannot alienate 99.8% of a population by the yardstick of 'gulity by association'. You have to regain there confidence and friendship to defeat the extremists/terrorists. These elements can only be defeated by the help of vast majority of muslims who are true to there faith which teaches love and cooperation.This is a war of idiology and cannot be won by weapons.In the past 1400 years,Islam has faced even worst enemies within, who had proclaimed to be the protectors of the muslims and Islam but they all perished because they held ideas/views which where against the tenents of islam and the basic human nature of peace. I have noticed that the so called "experts" on Islam seen in the media are mostly non-muslims. I requst our media to invite the people from muslims community itself to ask there opinons, comments. This way people will know where muslims stand on these issues. Lets all pray for peace in this world.

Funny how just a year ago, there was no good reason to be at war with any nation on the planet. Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, N. Korea, you name the hot spot - no good reason to send Americans there to die. The dirty rotten scoundral who controlled this country filled with wingnuts was a criminal and baby killer!

Oh, what a difference a year and a national election makes! Now, those who wailed and screamed the loudest are suddenly supportive of baby killing, sending innocent Americans off to die on foreign soil. Spending Billions of US dollars on war mongering but hey, since it's someone elses idea and not Bush's it has to be OK?

The prior president went through great pains to tell everyone that the USA was not and has never been at "war with" the Islamic religion, so nothing new there.

When the Islamic terrorists who are most definitely still at war with us attack it hopefully will be at an Obama campaign rally. Then we will have Anti-Americans killing other people who hate the American way of life.

Posted by: springfield | April 6, 2009 4:09 PM

Simply NOT true.

Obama never said that there was no reason to be at qqar with anyone. He clearly stated that we must focus on Afghanistan, and took a lot of heat, form both sides for syaing that we must be prepared to attack Al Qaeda within Pakistan. Obama has been fully consistant in this area with what he said a year ago.

For you to say otherwise is a lie.

Finally a President that I can be proud of who sees that the Muslims are no better or worse than the Jews and the Christians. I guess AIPAC has it's work cut out for it, just as the good old boys will have to work harder to get the old bigots riled up. It feels good to be an American ! Shalom !!

And for years the Bush administration pushed for Turkey's admittance into NATO, only to have European countries block it. But Silva reports like none of that ever happened and what Obama said was all brand new. So far the Chicago Obune has lost a couple of key Obama PR agency employees in Washington: Jill Zuckman and Frank James. Seems like Silva is going overboard to make up for those Obama PR Bureau losses.

Posted by: John D | April 6, 2009 3:56 PM

John D, why was Bush pushing for Turkey to become a NATO member? Turkey's been a member since 1952.

Wrong again, my friend, wrong again. That's probably why Mark didn't repoert it that way. You really should look these things up before you go and make yourself look foolish.

The real success here is that while Mr Prez is out of town and not telling us how bad the economy is or how much money he needs to recover... the market went up. Kind of like letting the market take care of itself.

Congratulations, Dan. You win the anti-American comment of the topic. I've never seen someone who hates America so much that they would wish death upon a fellow American they disagree with. This goes for all the other conservatards who go out of their way to wish death, destruction, and hate towards people they disagree with. You're violating the principles set forth in the Constitution.

Jimmah Cahtah, Jr. is running the White House. He has telegraphed the message we don't want to fight. So how long before the jihadis, whom we are not at war with, start blowing up our embassies, kidnapping Americans, blowing holes in the sides of our ships, blowing up barracks full of our troops, and otherwise going back to the old ways of business?

I am embarrassed that this mocha Jimmy Carter is our president. He will be gone four years from now.

"I wish all of these people who are so unhappy with the way the November elections turned out would just leave the country."

Then who will pay all the taxes Barry needs to provide people like you govt. services til the day you die?

So, what color underwear do the Obama's wear?

Kudos to the intrepid reporter that reminded the Big O that he scourged the Bush Administration for not proclaiming Armenian genocide in 1914-15. He now refuses to support his own position on the matter.

So, did the Empty Suit miss 9-11 or what?

“I am embarrassed that this mocha Jimmy Carter is our president. He will be gone four years from now.”
.
Posted by: That guy | April 6, 2009 6:15 PM
.
Is there no way you could have said this without the using the word “mocha” to reveal your racism? Don’t you think calling him a Jimmy Carter clone would have been insult enough? If you’re a conservative like me, then your differences with Obama should be limited to politics. Keep your stupid racism at home.
.
And BTW - if you want to be a racist, could you at least be brave enough to actually tell us your name?

good post, John W... one of the one or two conservatives in the Swamp with class.

Well, "John W.", is that your real full name? Or are you famous enough to just use the initial, like George W.? Noting a prominent physical trait of a person is not racism, unless you happen to be a hypersensitive PC wimp. Look at any political cartoon, unless your delicate sensibilities would cause you to swoon at such brazen recognition of the obvious. Obama is not a "clone" of Carter, although he shares Carter's emasculated foreign policy approach. Keep your stupid Oprafied FEEL-ings at home, and let the menfolk tend to business.

Keep your stupid Oprafied FEEL-ings at home, and let the menfolk tend to business.

Posted by: That guy | April 6, 2009 10:37 PM

Sexist as well as racist.

* * * * *
Posted by: That guy | April 6, 2009 10:37 PM .
.
1. John is my real first name, and W. is the initial of my real last name. In contrast, we don't even know your real first name. Calling yourself “That guy” is nothing more than a good way to hide from significant criticism for statements in shockingly poor taste - you coward.
.
2. The mention of a "prominent physical feature" is an expression of racism when: (1) the physical feature happens to be peculiar to the racial or ethnic group of a person under discussion; and (2) the notation of said prominent physical feature is used to mock, ridicule or express hatred toward that person. Your last post meets these criteria. Ridicule of physical features peculiar to a given ethnic group - e.g. the size, shape and color of a person’s skin, limbs, eyes, nose and hair - has always been a hallmark of racism. To not know this, you would have had to have been raised in a box until your 21st birthday - which I doubt is true. In which case, sir, you have now made yourself out to be both a liar and a coward for denying the truth of what is obvious to everyone else.
.
3. The “menfolk” and "womenfolk" are tending to business here. That’s why we are in your face for your stupid racist remark. Who the heck are you?

John W, want to tell me again that there isn't all too much racism from the right?

* * * * *
Posted by: Lou | April 7, 2009 12:27 PM
.
I never said there wasn't racism on the right, Lou. I don’t know where you got the idea that I ever expressed that idea. The point I was trying to make in the other thread is that racism is an ambient social phenomenon, rather than being strictly tied to a single political party. So, yes, there is racism on the right, and there is also racism in the center and left.
.
There are even benign forms of racism, where some people seek to act paternally toward certain minority groups because they believe the groups are too inferior to properly care for themselves. This form of racism is actually quite popular on the left. That’s the kind of stuff Geraldine Ferraro was talking about when she was talking trash about Obama. Do you remember when she said that Obama wouldn’t be where he was (in the campaign) if he was a white man? The subtext of her speech was that the political system was coddling Obama because of his ethnic background, and that if he were not coddled he wouldn’t have gone anywhere.
.
As to how to stop it: Confrontation with racists one at a time. Holding an individual up to ridicule in a society where being a racist isn’t PC is a fairly effective deterrent. Racism, after all, is a mind set of personal insecurity.

As to how to stop it: Confrontation with racists one at a time. Holding an individual up to ridicule in a society where being a racist isn’t PC is a fairly effective deterrent. Racism, after all, is a mind set of personal insecurity.

Posted by: John W. | April 7, 2009 1:19 PM

That's not enough. It's a step, but unless we also confront the institutionalized racism that exists in this country, we will never root out the individual racism. We must be willing to challenge organisations and groups as well as individuals. We must challenge policies and practices which encourage racism, be they from a governement, a political party, a corporation, or any other grouping in our society. We must challenge those who will tolerate racism to futher their own ends. That's been my point John.

Was Obama born in Hawaii? Yes.

Is he a Muslim? No. Just arogant