“Drive them out”! “Drive them out”!
Seemingly, that is the key phrase in US President Trump’s speech at Riyadh yesterday.
The fight against extremism is not “a battle between different faiths” but “a battle between good and evil”, he said as he emboldened the leaders of Muslim nations to drive out the terrorists.
This passionate appeal, obviously, finds resonance in people of all faiths; and that is how Trump was careful in avoiding treading on shaky ground.
Unlike the campaign rhetoric in which Candidate Trump had somehow vilified Muslims, President Trump, in this maiden speech to over 40 leaders at the Arab Islamic American summit showed us that he is united – with Muslims – in fighting terrorism.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who also met President Trump at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, gave a speech yesterday which, I feel, is very inspirational and apt for the occasion.
While appreciating Arab-American relations, our king assured the nations that the Arab “ranks are unified in the face of all forms of terrorism in order to defeat it”.
He said: “The Arab and Islamic States’ relations with the United States are longstanding and historically deep-rooted, based on shared interests, values; and a historical legacy that gives these relations great momentum and motivates us to push them forward to new phases of constant progress at all levels, for being of vital importance to achieve world security and peace, notably in light of the rapid developments in the region and the complex crises facing the world”.
“If terrorism, violence and extremism are the main sources behind dividing peoples, then cooperation, tolerance and co-existence are the fundamental factors for nations and communities to come together.
“And since Islam’s message came for all mankind, Islam can only be a religion of tolerance and co-existence among people and nations, a religion that preaches justice and equity and calls for acquaintance and cooperation.”
We can see therefore that the call for a united stand by Muslim nations against terror is more real than ever, and it is not coming mainly because Trump is asking for it; But, because, it is indeed the need of the hour.
In his speech, Trump has offered an ‘outstretched hand’, reminding us of Barack Obama’s 2008 speech where Obama mentioned an ‘unclenched fist’.
But Obama’s speech was to the students at Cairo University, three years before the Arab Spring uprising.
And Trump’s speech now in 2017 is to the leaders of Arab and Muslim nations, in the aftermath of – and sadly, ongoing – terror attacks in the name of religion, in many cities of the world.
Watching the speech live on CNN, I could see that President Trump was sticking to the script.
And that was the same observation which some commentators too gave, in their views, on the channel soon afterwards.
They said that, unlike his habit of veering off the script to give his personal addendums, Trump was very cautious to stick to the text of his speech.
And, quite rightly so. Because we all know that many of his off-the-cuff remarks, and even tweets, can cause controversies that do not die down easily.
I believe that Trump’s speech was reasonably consistent which his views against terror. And his tough stand against Iran will go well with the Arab leaders in Riyadh, who share the same opinion. But it could alienate Iran, Syria Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen and create a schism that we do not wish to see.
Trump Talk in Riyadh: Drive Them Out
“Drive them out”! “Drive them out”!
Seemingly, that is the key phrase in US President Trump’s speech at Riyadh yesterday, 21 May.
The fight against extremism is not “a battle between different faiths” but “a battle between good and evil”, he said as he emboldened the leaders of Muslim nations to drive out the terrorists.
This passionate appeal, obviously, finds resonance in people of all faiths; and that is how Trump was careful in avoiding treading on shaky ground.
Unlike the campaign rhetoric in which Candidate Trump had somehow vilified Muslims, President Trump, in this maiden speech to over 40 leaders at the Arab Islamic American summit showed us that he is united – with Muslims – in fighting terrorism.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who also met President Trump at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, gave a speech yesterday which, I feel, is very inspirational and apt for the occasion.
While appreciating Arab-American relations, our king assured the nations that the Arab “ranks are unified in the face of all forms of terrorism in order to defeat it”.
He said: “The Arab and Islamic States’ relations with the United States are longstanding and historically deep-rooted, based on shared interests, values; and a historical legacy that gives these relations great momentum and motivates us to push them forward to new phases of constant progress at all levels, for being of vital importance to achieve world security and peace, notably in light of the rapid developments in the region and the complex crises facing the world”.
“If terrorism, violence and extremism are the main sources behind dividing peoples, then cooperation, tolerance and co-existence are the fundamental factors for nations and communities to come together.
“And since Islam’s message came for all mankind, Islam can only be a religion of tolerance and co-existence among people and nations, a religion that preaches justice and equity and calls for acquaintance and cooperation.”
We can see therefore that the call for a united stand by Muslim nations against terror is more real than ever, and it is not coming mainly because Trump is asking for it; But, because, it is indeed the need of the hour.
In his speech, Trump has offered an ‘outstretched hand’, reminding us of Barack Obama’s 2008 speech where Obama mentioned an ‘unclenched fist’.
But Obama’s speech was to the students at Cairo University, three years before the Arab Spring uprising.
And Trump’s speech now in 2017 is to the leaders of Arab and Muslim nations, in the aftermath of – and sadly, ongoing – terror attacks in the name of religion, in many cities of the world.
Watching the speech live on CNN, I could see that President Trump was sticking to the script.
And that was the same observation which some commentators too gave, in their views, on the channel soon afterwards.
They said that, unlike his habit of veering off the script to give his personal addendums, Trump was very cautious to stick to the text of his speech.
And, quite rightly so. Because we all know that many of his off-the-cuff remarks, and even tweets, can cause controversies that do not die down easily.
I believe that Trump’s speech was reasonably consistent which his views against terror. And his tough stand against Iran will go well with the Arab leaders in Riyadh, who share the same opinion. But it could alienate Iran, Syria Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen and create a schism that we do not wish to see.
Now that US and Saudi Arabia have signed arms-deals worth almost $110bn, we should not be surprised if other countries governments say that US Foreign Policy is for sale. Especially, Iran where moderate Hassan Rouhani had just got re-elected for the second term as its Prime Minister, after a huge landslide victory for reformists on Saturday.
I found it interesting that Trump carefully avoided the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”.
During his campaign, Trump had criticised Obama many times, for not using the phrase in Obama’s speeches.
But then, Trump did say yesterday that, “This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.
“That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires.”
The speech was a beautifully constructed one, which did not deviate much from the ‘Trump doctrine’ we have now come to understand.