Obama Explains Why He Doesn't Describe Islamic State as 'Radical Islam'
President Barack Obama explained this week why he doesn't describe terrorist groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda as "radical Islam," saying such a description validates the terrorist groups in a religious manner, when they have actually "perverted" the religion of Islam.
"They are not religious leaders; they are terrorists," Obama said at a White House event regarding counter-terrorist efforts this week. "We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam."
The president added that groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are "desperate" to portray themselves as "Islamic" to give them religious validation.
"We must never accept the premise that they put forward, because it is a lie," he said.
"They propagate the notion that America, and the west generally, is at war with Islam; that's how they recruit, that's how they try to radicalise young people," he said.
The president went on to say that Muslim leaders need to do more to separate themselves from extremist groups like the Islamic State.
"Just as leaders like myself reject the notion that terrorists like Isil genuinely represent Islam, Muslim leaders need to do more to discredit the notion that our nations are determined to suppress Islam," the president added.
The president added that although religious subjects are often touchy, it is important to address them "head-on" and search for a solution.
"We can't shy away from these discussions," he said. "And too often folks are understandably sensitive about addressing some of these root issues, but we have to talk about them honestly and clearly."
