--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we have seen with Islamist…" description: "\"What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan, is that the disease is not necessarily the individual count..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png" --- # What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is… ![“What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan, is that the disease is not necessarily the individual country. The disease is the Islamist extremism, and that's what we have to fight; that's the narrative that we have to beat.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png) > “What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan, is that the disease is not necessarily the individual country. The disease is the Islamist extremism, and that's what we have to fight; that's the narrative that we have to beat.” [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extremist ideology spreads across borders, so fighting it requires a trans‑national approach rather than focusing on individual nations. **In simple terms:** Extremism is a shared problem, not limited to one country. Key Takeaway Address the ideology, not just the locations. Themes terrorism politics international relations Mood urgent serious Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - military operations - community outreach - foreign diplomacy Key Concepts radicalization ideology security policy Questions to Reflect On - How can nations cooperate without infringing sovereignty? - What role does local culture play in counter‑extremism? A Different Perspective Extremist networks adapt quickly, making static strategies ineffective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Extremism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremism/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ## Related quotes > [You've got problems in Central Asia. And you've got problems within our own communities back home. So if we end up saying, look, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/you-ve-got-problems-in-central-asia-and-you-ve-got-problems-within/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [When I returned to the United Kingdom, I found that I could no longer justify Islamist extremism as the antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/when-i-returned-to-the-united-kingdom-i-found-that-i-could-no-longer/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [We have to render Islamist extremism as unattractive as communism has become today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/we-have-to-render-islamist-extremism-as-unattractive-as-communism-has/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [We have learned - or at least we should have - that seeing Islamist extremism purely as a reaction to what we do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/we-have-learned-or-at-least-we-should-have-that-seeing-islamist/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [The way to tackle Muslimphobia is to tackle prejudice against Muslims. What it is not is to pretend that Islamist extremism does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/the-way-to-tackle-muslimphobia-is-to-tackle-prejudice-against-muslims/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I think what happened with 9/11 is that people sort of felt that it came from nowhere. Whereas I think now we understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-think-what-happened-with-9-11-is-that-people-sort-of-felt-that-it/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [I oppose the spending of trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan, I strongly oppose Islamic extremism but don't believe that sending troops to die in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/i-oppose-the-spending-of-trillions-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-i-strongly/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [Every time I visit Iraq or Afghanistan I am blown away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/every-time-i-visit-iraq-or-afghanistan-i-am-blown-away/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [People are just afraid of things too much … Sure, evil exists, extremism exists. Somebody could commit a hate crime and hurt me. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/people-are-just-afraid-of-things-too-much-sure-evil-exists-extremism/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [Freedom is never granted. It is earned by each generation... in the face of tyranny, cruelty, oppression, extremism, sometimes there is only one choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/freedom-is-never-granted-it-is-earned-by-each-generation-in-the-face/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think the only way one can really determine whether extremism in the defense of liberty is justified, is not to approach it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-think-the-only-way-one-can-really-determine-whether-extremism-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Bombs kill terrorists, Books kill terrorism. Missiles kill extremists, Mindfulness kills extremism. Guns kill supremacists, Goodness kills supremacy. Law restrains cruel people, Love reforms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/bombs-kill-terrorists-books-kill-terrorism-missiles-kill-extremists/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Not only do we still engage in wars far away from our homes, which settle nothing and fuel extremism in the aftermath, we sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/not-only-do-we-still-engage-in-wars-far-away-from-our-homes-which/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [“It is very difficult to convince a person to come out of his conservative shell, unless he feels discomfort there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarif-naaz/it-is-very-difficult-to-convince-a-person-to-come-out-of-his/) [Tarif Naaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarif-naaz/) > [“Kill extremists and more extremists will appear. Kill Extremist Ideology and extremism will disappear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/kill-extremists-and-more-extremists-will-appear-kill-extremist/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) ## More by David Cameron > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [There is not, in my view, a single European demos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/there-is-not-in-my-view-a-single-european-demos/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The murders in Paris are sickening, we stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-murders-in-paris-are-sickening-we-stand-with-the-french-people-in/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-have-a-very-clear-view-which-is-that-if-you-disagree-with-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ve-said-i-ll-stand-for-a-full-second-term-but-i-think-after-that-it/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/simply-asking-the-british-people-to-carry-on-accepting-a-european/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [All those countries who keep their aid promises should be proud of what they've done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/all-those-countries-who-keep-their-aid-promises-should-be-proud-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/easter-is-all-about-remembering-the-importance-of-change/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I like democracy. I like to be able to throw out my political leaders when they get things wrong, and we don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-like-democracy-i-like-to-be-able-to-throw-out-my-political-leaders/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The EU must be able to act with the speed and flexibility of a network, not the cumbersome rigidity of a bloc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-eu-must-be-able-to-act-with-the-speed-and-flexibility-of-a/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) [Explore all 203 David Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan, is that the disease is not necessarily the individual country. The disease is the Islamist extremism, and that's what we have to fight; that's the narrative that we have to beat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Cameron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremism-whether-it-is-in-mali-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremism-whether-it-is-in-mali-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremis_1852180.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we have seen with Islamist extremism, whether it is in Mali or Somalia or Afghanistan, is that the…” — David Cameron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Cameron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we have seen with Islamist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremism-whether-it-is-in-mali-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/what-we-have-seen-with-islamist-extremism-whether-it-is-in-mali-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```