New national security adviser H.R. McMaster asserts the term "radical Islamic terrorism" isn't helpful for U.S. goals to defeat terrorist groups. In saying so, he sets a different tone from his predecessor, Michael Flynn, and President Donald Trump.
At a National Security Council meeting on Thursday, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster said jihadist terrorists aren't attached to their professed religion and on that basis, the use of the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" is unhelpful to U.S. in combating terrorism, an official present at the session told CNN. He explained that terrorist organizations like ISIS brings perversion to Islam and is considered un-Islamic.
An administration official gave his stance pertaining McCaster's view, saying that McMaster is not telling the President he's wrong, but is rather telling him that the term makes a "major difference". He reiterated that there is indeed a "genuine difference of opinion" between Trump and McMaster on the use of "radical Islamic terrorism".
Besides deliberating over Islamic terrorism, McMaster also pointed out that Russia was an adversary, and certainly not a friend. He contended against White House strategist Steve Bannon, who called the EU a flawed institution and expressed an intent to establish stronger ties with individual European countries. McMaster, who defended the original post-World War II world order, said it was rather important to maintain peace and security, according to KTLA.
Meanwhile, On Friday, President Trump again used the term "radical Islamic terrorism" during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, as he did on the campaign trail to criticize President Barack Obama for not saying it. "So let me state this as clearly as I can, we are going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country," Trump said, promising that the Trump administration will be taking brand new actions to the people and keep America safe.
