--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've made it clear, Madam President, that…" description: "\"I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg" --- # I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against… ![“I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg) > “I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes the fight against terrorism from targeting any religious or ethnic group, framing it as a battle against criminal evil. **In simple terms:** War on terrorism targets criminals, not Muslims or Arabs. Key Takeaway Focus on perpetrators, not entire communities. Themes justice terrorism religion ethnicity politics Mood serious concerned Type political explanatory When to use this quote - policy statements - public speeches - media interviews Key Concepts human rights national security propaganda Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance security with protecting minority rights? - What safeguards prevent mischaracterizing entire groups? A Different Perspective Overgeneralization can fuel prejudice and hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-people/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Innocent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-people/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-it/) [Muslims War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslims-war-2845621/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-war-401791/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Muslims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-muslims-817197/) [War Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terrorism/) ## Related quotes > [We're not at war with all Muslims, we're at war with a subset of Islam that believes in killing in the name of religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/we-re-not-at-war-with-all-muslims-we-re-at-war-with-a-subset-of-islam/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [It's a nonsense assumption that you can get rid of terrorism with war. Terrorism is taking the lives of innocent people to gain your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/it-s-a-nonsense-assumption-that-you-can-get-rid-of-terrorism-with-war/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [War can't end terrorism. War is terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-berrigan/war-can-t-end-terrorism-war-is-terrorism/) [Philip Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-berrigan/) > [I believe that the war against terrorism and the war against poverty in these times of turmoil go together. So you - when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/i-believe-that-the-war-against-terrorism-and-the-war-against-poverty/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [“How can you have a war on terrorism while war itself is terrorism!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/how-can-you-have-a-war-on-terrorism-while-war-itself-is-terrorism/) [HOWARD ZINN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/terrorism-is-the-war-of-the-poor-and-war-is-the-terrorism-of-the-rich/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Since war itself is the most extreme form of terrorism, a war on terrorism is profoundly self-contradictory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/since-war-itself-is-the-most-extreme-form-of-terrorism-a-war-on/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I'm for fighting a war on terrorism, not a war in Southwest Asia that Alexander the Great couldn't win, the British Empire couldn't win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schrader/i-m-for-fighting-a-war-on-terrorism-not-a-war-in-southwest-asia-that/) [Kurt Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schrader/) > [When you have war, whether it's a war against drugs, war against terrorism, war overseas, the mentality of the people change and they're more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/when-you-have-war-whether-it-s-a-war-against-drugs-war-against/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism, not a war against terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/wanton-killing-of-innocent-civilians-is-terrorism-not-a-war-against/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The war against terrorism is a war against those who engage in torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-markey/the-war-against-terrorism-is-a-war-against-those-who-engage-in-torture/) [Ed Markey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-markey/) > [War is a lie. War is a racket. War is hell. War is waste. War is a crime. War is terrorism. War is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-rowley/war-is-a-lie-war-is-a-racket-war-is-hell-war-is-waste-war-is-a-crime/) [Coleen Rowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-rowley/) > [Beyond the futility of armed force, and ultimately more important, is the fact that war in our time inevitably results in the indiscriminate killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/beyond-the-futility-of-armed-force-and-ultimately-more-important-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [It is time we admitted that we are not at war with “terrorism.” We are at war with Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-time-we-admitted-that-we-are-not-at-war-with-terrorism-we-are/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/how-can-you-have-a-war-on-terrorism-when-war-itself-is-terrorism/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George W. Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that-the-war-against-terrorism-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that-the-war-against-terrorism-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/george-w-bush-64_clear_i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that_1567422.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it…” — George W. Bush", "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": "George W. Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've made it clear, Madam President,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that-the-war-against-terrorism-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-made-it-clear-madam-president-that-the-war-against-terrorism-is/#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 } } ] } ```