The whole of the Obama administration seems fully committed to the president’s claim, made in the wake of the Orlando terror attack, that the phrase radical Islam is “a political talking point” and “not a strategy.”
President Obama, facing criticism for refusing to use those particular words in connection with Omar Mateen’s attack on a gay nightclub, was visibly testy when he had to explain that his being careful with his words had “nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with actually defeating extremism.”
The strategy hasn’t seemed to have kicked in yet. After suicide bombers killed 45 people (so far) at the Ataturk International Airport in Turkey, press secretary Josh Earnest released a statement that condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” but avoided any reference to the terrorists’ motive.
"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s heinous terrorist attack" —@PressSec on Istanbul pic.twitter.com/lmjPOcyya9
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) June 28, 2016
Overnight, at least 20 people, including at least one American citizen, were killed during a hostage standoff at a café in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, a kitchen staffer who escaped said that the attackers shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and multiple media outlets are reporting that hostages who could quote verses from the Quran were spared and allowed to finish their meals while others were tortured.
NEW: Bangladesh attack
-20 hostages killed
-6 attackers dead
-Hostages who couldn't recite Quran were torturedhttps://t.co/7aU3e1ORRl— ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2016
Father of Bangladesh restaurant attack survivor says gunmen spared people who could recite Quran verses https://t.co/AI3Ut4sw5y
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 2, 2016
Isis militants 'made Dhaka hostages recite from Quran and "tortured" anyone who couldn't say verses' https://t.co/6bqxKiXOa1
— The Independent (@Independent) July 2, 2016
Imagine being asked to recite verses from the Quran, and being hacked to death when you can't.
That's what happened in Bangladesh. Islam.
— I Am Leah (@Bossy_Leah) July 2, 2016
The White House chose not to jump to any conclusions in its official statement on the heinous attack, which is only a few words short of a straight copy-and-paste job from the statement on the suicide bombings in Istanbul.
Statement by @PressSec on the Terrorist Attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh: https://t.co/E3zkZfKZta#DhakaAttack pic.twitter.com/giDJ9gMRuh
— Obama NSC- Archived (@NSC44) July 2, 2016
The United States stands with Bangladesh. Read the statement by @PressSec: pic.twitter.com/9PGlPTjKAZ
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) July 2, 2016
stand but do nothing
— Miss Priss (@gbread2481) July 2, 2016
aren't you tired of standing around? How about unleashing our military and wiping them out.
— Deplorable Bob (@Rghommel) July 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/Hoss5942/status/749285645990846464
https://twitter.com/1963belinda/status/749301489613565953
https://twitter.com/trojancpa82/status/749285382307524608
@NSC44 @PressSec Makes no sense to stand with Bangladesh when the Jihadis are being allowed a free run in the name of Islam
— murali naidu (@HonestRambo) July 2, 2016
Three university students attending school in the U.S. were among the victims, including Abinta Kabir, an American citizen who was born in Miami and was attending Emory University in Atlanta.
Three U.S. college students, two from Emory University, killed in Bangladesh attack, officials say. https://t.co/TPcpkErx23
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 2, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers go out on behalf of Faraaz and Abinta, their friends and family for strength and peace at this unspeakably sad time
— Emory University (@EmoryUniversity) July 2, 2016
#EmoryUniversity student, Abinta Kabir, was killed in #BangladeshAttack Details: https://t.co/eVAnyED0QF pic.twitter.com/Kl6uZnXWQ4
— Marnie Levy (@MarnieLevy) July 2, 2016
It’s a holiday weekend, so maybe the White House’s social media director will update the Twitter feed Tuesday, but for now, this is the featured tweet pinned to the top. Look, it’s President Obama busy “protecting the planet.”
"If Canada can do it and the U.S. can do it, the whole world can unleash economic growth and protect our planet." pic.twitter.com/hHrcVhkhmR
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) June 29, 2016
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