Is POTUS correct in using the term "Violent Extremism" instead of Islamic Extremism?

The more he uses terms like Islamic extremism, the more the militants can use his words to make this a war against Islam overall (rather than a war specifically against militant radical Islamists). Basically, if he calls it Islamic extremism, he's playing right into the terrorists' hands and is helping fuel their recruiting efforts. I don't have a problem with his approach.

CPT (Join to see) I think the use of "Violent Extremism" is the best term to use by the POTUS. I agree with other comments in support of this use versus the Islamic Extremism! This way any type of International terrorism can be grouped into a common strategy. I think it is a smart move on his part and the administration. Not everything thing this POTUS does is wrong or bad. His advisors should be working overtime to get the right messages out. I give him a "thumbs up" and you too CPT (Join to see)

Even though most terrorism/extremism which we hear about in the media happen to have been caused by Muslims, POTUS did not want to link Muslim = Terrorist. Since there are extremists in all ends, they can all be categorized into Violent Extremism. Then there can sub-categorization into Islamic Extremism, Christian Extremism, etc.

CPT (Join to see) - Captain; I think that Mr. Obama was soft-peddling the issue.

I'd have gone straight to "Sociopathic Murderers Bent On Perverting and Destroying Civilization".

Unfortunately that's too long to get into a headline and doesn't come with a really nifty acronym so it will never sell and you simply can't print "Psychotic Murderous Assholes" (or say it on the air [although you could get away with "Psychotic Murderous Scum" {except that the "Extremely Radical Feminists" would get upset about the fact that the acronym "PMS" is sexist}]).

I do, however wonder if those who are the loudest about being all upset by President Obama referring to "Violent Extremists" are worried that there might end up being action taken against those "Violent Extremists" who AREN'T "non-American, non-White, non-JudeoChristians"?

I agree. All of these extremists have been denounced as "UN-Islamic" by every leader in the region. Islam has no central leader (like the Pope or Church President) but every authoritative cleric has also denounced them. The grand mufti (senior cleric) in Riyadh has issued a fatwa (legal opinion) saying they are UN-Islamic and murder of innocents is a wrong that cannot be forgiven. The leaders cannot make it any clearer. However, in the USA, low information consumers cannot understand this and insist on blaming all Muslims. I'm currently spending time with some "Muslims" who also happened to be Oregon Ducks since they both attended undergrad there. They love Oregon and all their American friends and I'm worried because we have people out there who wouldn't bother to discover that, just hate them for their accents. This isn't much different than the xenophobia America displays during any event in our history - Jews, Irish, Italians all faced unreasonable hatred, so did the Chinese "yellow peril" and the Japanese, Germans and Italians during WW II, so did Latin Americans in the 80s (Cuban boat lift) and now Middle Easterners. Are there violent extremists? Yes, of course. Look at the numbers - they are pretty small now, but let hate radio and TV continue to vilify, let loudmouths continue to disparage (as is their right under the First Amendment) and those numbers can increase. Look at France- they have a huge Muslim population (from Algeria and other places) since the 50s (they are French citizens) and they've always treated them like crap and excluded them and maligned them (like we do to black folks) and now they have a significant problem with radicals. I'd take care in labels, these sick people are violent extremists and we need to treat them as such.

I believe he is. Extremists can be found in just about any belief system, it's just that the Muslims ones are getting most of the attention these days.

For example, is a pro-lifer who bombs an abortion clinic any less an extremist? Or an environmentalist who sabotages construction sites?

No, the POTUS is twisting his mind in knots trying to avoid the obvious.

He likes to protect his people, the Muslims.

Until he understands why the anger over not saying Islamic and stop uses the bullypulpit in fits of rage he is going to elicit strong emotions. Many feel he is not on our team and coming from the office of president, that is not a good thing.

CPT (Join to see)
I just want to know why he refuses to call a Muslim terrorist just that, a Muslim terrorist.

I'm sure he would call people like Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols Right-Wing Extremists/Terrorists!