Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough’s Remarks on Islam and Terrorism Cited in White House‑linked Publication

From: Bill Siege] Sent: 3/8/2011 4:57:57 PM To: Attachments: image001.jpg Bill Siegel thought you might find this of interest: http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.8911/pub_detail.asp March 8, 2011 Denis McDhimmi White House National Security Adviser Speaks to Hamas-Linked Group Bill Siegel On March 6, in anticipation of Congressional hearings on domestic radicalization, Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough stated the following: “President Obama recognizes that through our words and deeds we can either play into al Qaeda’s narrative and messaging or we can challenge it and thereby undermine it. We’re determined to undermine it. For example, we know there are many different reasons why individuals—from many different faiths—succumb to terrorist ideologies. And there is no one easy profile of a terrorist. But based on extensive investigations, research and profiles of the violent extremists we’ve captured or arrested, and who falsely claim to be fighting in the name of Islam, we know that they all share one thing—they all believe that the United States is somehow at war with Islam, and that this justifies violence against Americans. So we are actively and aggressively undermining that ideology. We’re exposing the lie that America and Islam are somehow in conflict. That is why President Obama has stated time and again that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam.” This statement encapsulates so much of what this writer has identified as the “Control Factor:” that function of our minds which will distort our perceptions so as not to present ourselves with the ever so fearful reality that confronts us under the banner of Islam today. That is, rather than to clearly see, focus upon, and set about to create strategies to properly confront the threat which we currently face- a threat that by definition we do not control and see little way over which to regain control- our minds essentially collude to reconstruct in a manner which deludes us with the sense that we are in control. 1. The statement essentially reduces the threat we face to that of terrorism caused by al-Qaeda. By defining and limiting the threat to a band of “radical extremists” who have distorted the doctrine of a great religion, we buy into the sense that our military might and criminal detection methods will ultimately save the day. The fantasy is that this is a problem that we can get our arms around because under our Constitutional principles, terrorism is a violation that we are permitted to fight against. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031688