Obama's 'Tortured' Rhetoric on Islamic Extremism
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies - Bridge Marriott
Radical Islam has declared itself at war with the West as well as with moderate Muslims. The enemy is well organized, well funded, and grounded in the authority of religious texts. The United States therefore has a particularly difficult battle to fight. It is engaged with an enemy who cares first and foremost about the ideological battle -- rebuilding a distinct Muslim identity, strengthening the ummah, and defeating the West, both materially and spiritually. Without directly confronting the ideology driving such groups as Al Qaeda, the United States will never be able to defeat the threat of terrorism. Drawing on the expertise of those who were directly involved in the fight against past totalitarian ideologies and of those who are intimately familiar with the ideology and strategy of the current enemy, this conference will draw lessons from the past for today's fight against Al Qaeda and associated movements.

Speakers

Dr. Sebastian L. Gorka
Military Affairs Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Public Policy Institute

Thomas Joscelyn
Senior Editor, Long War Journal
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Dr. John Lenczowski
President, Institute of World Politics
Former Director of European and Soviet Affairs, National Security Council

Prof. John Moore
President Emeritus, Grove City College
Former Deputy Director, National Science Foundation

Robert R. Reilly
Author and Former Director, Voice of America
Former Senior Advisor for Information Strategy, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Stephen Ulph
Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation
Founder and Former Editor of Jane's Terrorism Security Monitor