Source: yahoo.com
While terrorists are fighting their foes by sacrificing innocent lives, that is committing evil crimes, the US-led Nato’s evil policies of aggression against the interests of 99% of world’s peoples in seeking interests for the 1% monopoly capitalists inspite of their deceptive rhetoric about “liberty”, “democracy”, “human rights”, etc., have created the social conditions for the development of terrorist ideology. Fighting evil with evil is no solution to the problems confronting mankind today.
-- The New Legalist editor
In his first high-stakes speech abroad on Sunday, President Donald Trump is expected to take a more measured tone on Islam than his harsh rhetoric during his campaign.
Trump will address “the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires,” according to excerpts of the speech released by the White House.
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it,” Trump will say. “This is a battle between good and evil.”
Trump’s speech, delivered at the Arab Islamic American Summit before a group of leaders from Middle Eastern countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will call on Arab leaders to join the United States in the fight against radical groups like ISIS.
“But we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong -- and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden. Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land,” Trump will say.
“America is prepared to stand with you -- in pursuit of shared interests and common security.But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children,” Trump will say.
Rather than painting Islam as an apparent enemy of the U.S., as Trump did during his presidential campaign, he will depict the Muslim world as an important partner.
Trump’s trip to the Middle East is a chance to "start a new chapter in the history of the region," a senior administration official told ABC News.
In the excerpts released by the White House, Trump uses the phrase “the crisis of Islamist extremism,” rather than "radical Islamic terrorism" -- a term that has been a hallmark of his rhetoric at domestic events, and which he has called out Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama for opting not to use.
“We are not here to lecture,” Trump will say. “We are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.”
"Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith.”
He will call on religious leaders to play a role in combating radicalization.
“Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory -- piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”
The president worked on the speech during the 12-hour flight on Air Force One from Washington, D.C., to Riyadh, and in his weekly address Saturday gave a sense of what he will say today: "Many of these leaders have expressed growing concern about terrorism, the spread of radicalization and Iran’s role in funding both. Now it appears Muslim leaders are ready to take more responsibility and a much bigger role in fighting terrorism in their region."
Trump’s speech about the fight against extremism comes on the second day of his first trip abroad as president. He met with leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and signed a new $110 billion arms agreement between the two nations. "That was a tremendous day," Trump told reporters. "Tremendous investments into the United States, and our military community is very happy."
The president will also visit Israel and the Vatican during the trip, which is taking place as controversies swirl in the U.S. around the investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials in the 2016 election, which could draw attention away from his overseas diplomatic initiative.
What to expect
White House officials say Trump will focus on the battle against extremism in his address to the more than 50 Middle Eastern leaders.
"He will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president’s hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," said National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster in a press briefing on Tuesday. "The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America’s commitment to our Muslim partners."
Trump adviser Stephen Miller -- who played a key part in writing the president’s travel ban, which is now tied up in the courts -- played a key role in writing this speech.
The executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Nihad Awad, said in a statement Wednesday, "If President Trump wishes to reach out to ordinary Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, he should avoid ... pejorative terminology, anti-Muslim stereotypes and counterproductive policies," he said. "A truly inspiring speech would focus on the universal desire for justice, freedom and human dignity."
What Trump said during the campaign and since taking office
Trump made the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" a staple of his campaign speeches, including frequently criticizing Clinton and Obama for not using that term. Trump has also used this term since his inauguration in his joint address to Congress.
In a March 2016 interview with CNN, Trump said "Islam hates us," and that "it’s very hard to separate" between the billions of peaceful Muslims worldwide and violent extremists.
"I think Islam hates us," Trump said. "There’s something -- there’s something there that is a tremendous hatred there. There’s a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. There’s an unbelievable hatred of us."
"We have to be very vigilant. We have to be very careful. And we can’t allow people coming into this country who have this hatred of the United States," he continued. When asked whether all of Islam hates the U.S. or just violent extremists, Trump said it’s "very hard to define."
"It’s very hard to separate because you don’t know who is who," he said.
Trump also during the campaign called for a Muslims ban during the campaign.
“Donald J. Trump is calling for a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” he said.
Shortly after his inauguration, he signed an executive order to restrict travel into the U.S. of people from seven Muslim-majority countries. The travel ban was stayed by a federal court, and a revised version of the order has also been temporarily blocked by federal courts. The Trump administration’s appeal of that decision is set to be heard in court Monday.
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