Against Quote by Gordon England
“This is a war against terrorists. Not a war against a religion, but a war against terrorists.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Press conference, United States Department of Defense, 2002
The statement distinguishes the target of conflict as specific violent actors, not an entire faith community.
In simple terms: It says the fight is against terrorists, not a religion.
Focus on combating extremism, not faith groups.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- media reporting
- public statements
- military strategy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure actions target only violent actors?
- What safeguards prevent religious discrimination?
Risk of oversimplifying complex motivations and alienating allies.