White House brands Trump unfit to lead over Muslim remarks
White House brands Trump unfit to lead over Muslim remarks
The Pentagon warned on Tuesday against fuelling Islamic State’s (ISIS) narrative of a US war with Islam, in a swipe at rhetoric by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that has triggered outrage around the world.
Mr Trump, the Republican front-runner for the November 2016 presidential election, has proposed banning Muslims from entering the United States. On Tuesday, he compared his plan to the World War Two detainment of Japanese-Americans.
Asked about Mr Trump’s remarks, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Muslims serve in the US armed forces and that America’s war strategy to combat the ISIS hinged on support from Muslim countries.
“Anything that bolsters ISIL’s narrative and pits the United States against the Muslim faith is certainly not only contrary to our values but contrary to our national security,” Mr Cook told a news briefing.
Mr Cook did not mention Mr Trump by name and said he did not want to wade into domestic political matters. The Pentagon is helping local forces battle the ISIS and other extremists in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
US Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson said Mr Trump’s proposal could thwart US efforts to connect with the Muslim community, and secretary of state John Kerry said his ideas were not constructive.
The Pentagon counts thousands of service members who self-identify as Muslims.
Data released by the the defence department showed that 3,817 active-duty members and 2,079 members of the National Guard and reserve identified their faith as “Islam”.
The identifications are voluntary and there could be more members of the Muslim faith.
Mr Trump dismissed criticism at home and abroad Tuesday over his “grossly irresponsible” call as the White House branded him unfit to lead.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Mr Trump’s comments could “lead to the victimisation of the innocent” by extremists.
Mr Trump, whose comments were extreme even by his populist standards, was similarly lambasted by leading Republicans and campaign rivals.
Mr Trump was the “ISIL man of the year,” thundered Senator Lindsey Graham, referring to his belief that Mr Trump was succeeding only in fuelling the radical ideology of the ISIS group.
“Do you know how you win this war You side with people in the faith who reject this ideology, which is 99 per cent,” Mr Graham told CNN, before invoking Trump’s campaign slogan — “make America great again.”
“And do you know how you make America great again ” asked Mr Graham, who is lagging badly in the nomination race.
“Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.”
Other Republican contenders lined up to reject Mr Trump’s proposal.
