Quick Fact: Wash. Times falsely claims Obama “avoided” calling terrorist threat a “war”

Written by Tom Allison

Published

In a January 11 article, The Washington Times' S.A. Miller falsely claimed that President Obama “avoided characterizing the terrorist threat as a 'war' and the administration dropped the 'war on terror' title that President George W. Bush made the official description the [sic] global anti-terrorism campaign.” In fact, in his inaugural address, Obama stated that "[o]ur nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred," and he has repeatedly discussed terrorism as the rationale for U.S. military action abroad.

Wash. Times claims Obama has avoided calling terrorist threat a war and dropped “war on terror” phrasing

From the January 11 Washington Times article:

Still, Mr. McCain, who as the 2008 Republican presidential nominee blasted Mr. Obama's weak stance against terrorism, said he appreciated the president's comments that “we are at war” with terrorists. “They are a departure from his language before,” Mr. McCain said.

After the Detroit attack, which al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed, Mr. Obama said: “We are at war against al Qaeda, a far-reaching network of violence and hatred that attacked us on 9/11.”

Mr. Obama had previously avoided characterizing the terrorist threat as a “war” and the administration dropped the “war on terror” title that President George W. Bush made the official description the global anti-terrorism campaign. [Washington Times, 1/11/10]

Fact: Obama repeatedly stated that we are “at war” with violent extremists prior to his January 7 remarks

Obama: “I made it very clear -- our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.” During his January 2 weekly address, Obama stated that on the day of his inauguration, he “made it very clear -- our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred, and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country, even as we uphold the values that have always distinguished America among nations.” Obama further stated: “And make no mistake, that's exactly what we've been doing. It's why I refocused the fight -- bringing to a responsible end the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and dramatically increasing our resources in the region where al Qaeda is actually based, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's why I've set a clear and achievable mission-to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their return to either country.”

Obama: "[W]e are at war, and I'm responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans." During his December 10, 2009, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Obama referred to the “effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks” and stated that “we are at war, and I'm responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land.” He later stated: “I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. ... Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms” and added that “religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan.”

Obama: “Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. ... [W]e will defeat” the terrorists. During his January 20, 2009, inaugural address, Obama stated that "[o]ur nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred." He later added: “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”