Obama was pitch perfect at summit on extremism

Despite criticism from his political opponents, President Obama hit the right cord at this week's White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, argues James Zogby

President Barack Obama speaks at the Countering Violent Extremism Summit on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, at the State Department in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

I must admit that I was sceptical as I approached this week’s White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism. I was concerned that it might end up being nothing more than a box-ticking exercise. I was troubled that it might be perceived as targeting American Muslims and feeding the sense of suspicion that could result in a spike in hate crimes. I was also wary of the fact that the summit could become a hustle for some social entrepreneurs who were set to spawn a cottage industry as utterly counterproductive as the enterprise created by the so-called “terrorism experts” of a generation ago.

Nevertheless, I went. There were, to be sure, a few hustlers in attendance and there were some sessions that did nothing more than tick boxes. And then there were some Muslims who were convinced that any discussion of Muslims would contribute to more discrimination against their community.

This, however, was not what defined the summit for me, because what I also found at the White House were some remarkable people who were doing extraordinary things in communities around the US.

I had been asked to chair one of the sessions and marvelled at the conversation that ensued. The room was full of good people, all of whom were making a determined effort to build bridges and promote understanding. As we have found so many times before, while the current challenges may have brought out the worst in some, they have also created the opportunity to bring good people together to support each other.

What made the day was the closing address by Barack Obama. Playing multiple roles – teacher, analyst, sympathetic parent and leader – his remarks were pitch perfect.

With the US leading a broad coalition of countries that has been militarily targeting ISIL, Mr Obama was keen to lay out a strategy to take on the ideology the group uses to recruit disaffected alienated youth.

He said the extremists’ ideology must be discredited. The economic and political grievances exploited by the terrorists must be addressed. And partnerships must be developed with Muslim communities so that they can be empowered to challenge the false and dangerous goals posed by extremists.

What the president was making clear was that it is disaffection, anger or alienation that make young people susceptible to the ideas of extremists. But while the purveyors of violence can prey off discontent, they have nothing real to offer. This must be made clear before recruits are seduced and drawn into the extremists’ web.

Mr Obama continued his tough rhetoric against ISIL and was forceful in his resolve that they be defeated. But he also made clear that in targeting violent extremist ideology, the US and the West were not at war with Islam, since this is exactly how ISIL and Al Qaeda want to frame the conflict.

He said: “They are desperate for legitimacy. They try to portray themselves as religious leaders – holy warriors in defence of Islam ... and they propagate the notion that America is at war with Islam. That’s how they recruit ... [but] it is a lie ... They are not religious leaders – they’re terrorists. And we are not at war with Islam.”

Not surprisingly, it was on this last point that the president’s critics pounced. For days now, Republicans and several media analysts have relentlessly attacked him for what he didn’t say.

Apparently, what they wanted Mr Obama to say was that this was a war against Islamic terror or radical Islam. Said one critic, “you can’t win this war, if you can’t name the enemy”. Senator John McCain responded to Mr Obama by accusing him of propagating “a big lie”.

The most strident attack came from former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, who said, “You’ve got to be able to criticise Islam for the parts of Islam that are wrong ... what’s wrong with this man that he can’t stand up and say there’s a part of Islam that’s sick?” Answering his own question, Mr Giuliani added that the problem with “this man” is that “he doesn’t love America ...[because] he wasn’t brought up ... through love of this country”.

Not only were their criticisms disgraceful and insulting, Mr Giuliani and Mr McCain were also dead wrong. Mr Obama’s message was both tough and smart. He has built a coalition that has mobilised most of the Muslim world, involving them as partners in the fight against violent extremism. He has chosen a path designed to isolate and ultimately destroy what he has referred to as a “death cult”.

On the other hand, if Senator McCain and Mr Giuliani had their way, we would be digging ourselves deeper into the holes dug by George W Bush. We would be in the midst of a “clash of civilisations” and Sarah Palin would be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. That’s neither smart nor tough. It’s reckless.

James Zogby is the president of the Arab American Institute

On Twitter: @aaiusa