Extremists in your midst spread propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in a war against Islam. This propaganda is false, and its purpose is to confuse you and justify acts of terror.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Bush argues that extremists falsely claim the West is at war with Islam to confuse people and justify terrorism.
- In plain terms
- Extremists lie about a war on Islam to trick people and excuse terrorist acts.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize false narratives used to justify violence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do false narratives gain traction?
- What distinguishes legitimate criticism from propaganda?
Another view
The quote assumes all propaganda comes from extremists without addressing broader geopolitical grievances.
More from George W. Bush
Imagine what it's like to be a young person living in a country that is not moving toward reform...While your peers in other parts of the world have received e…
Permalink to quote #367 I don't know where he [Osama Bin Laden] is. I have no idea and I really don't care.
Permalink to quote #369 Today, having come far in our own historical journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well? Before history is written down in books, it is written…
Permalink to quote #366
Related quotes
Perhaps you think that any fool could become a member of the SS. Do you really know what an SS soldier is? He is a superman. He is a professional chosen person…
Klaus BarbieKlaus Barbie quote #1 And as I was looking at those towers that were destroyed in Lebanon, it occurred to me that we have to punish the transgressor with the same, and that we had t…
Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden quote #17 The trouble is that once America goes off to war, it can't very well return without having fought one. If it doesn't find its enemy, for the sake of the enrage…
Arundhati RoyArundhati Roy quote #1