Israel Matzav

Experts: Ignoring Islamic ideology won't make terror un-Islamic

In a report to be released this week, counter-terrorism experts will urge the Obama administration to put the "Islamic" back into the description of Islamic terror.

In the report, scheduled to be released this week, counterterrorism experts from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy argue that the U.S. could clearly articulate the threat from radical Islamic extremists “without denigrating the Islamic religion in any way.” . . .

[A]dministration officials have said that the use of inflammatory descriptions linking Islam to the terror threat feed the enemy’s propaganda and may alienate moderate Muslims in the U.S.

In the report, which was obtained by The Associated Press, the analysts warn that U.S. diplomacy must sharpen the distinction between the Muslim faith and violent Islamist extremism, identify radicalizers within Islamic communities and empower voices that can contest the radical teachings. . . .

“There is an ideology that is driving al-Qaida and its affiliates,” said Matt Levitt, one of the authors of the study on countering violent extremism.

If we'd stop worrying so much about not being labeled 'Islamophobic,' maybe we could go back to fighting terrorism the way we should.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:49 AM