- Title: USA-EXTREMISM/KERRY Kerry says "no one country" can stop violent extremism
- Date: 19th February 2015
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 19, 2015) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** AUDIENCE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "Terror is their obsession. It's what they do. And if we let them, their singleness of purpose could actually wind up giving them a comparative advantage. But with the images of recent outbreaks fresh in our minds, everybody here knows we simply can't let that happen. We have to match their commitment and we have to leave them with no advantage at all." KERRY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "We can all understand the search for meaning and doubts about authority, because at one time or another most of us have been there. But it's a huge leap between personal disquiet and committing murder, mayhem. So let there be no confusion or doubt, whatever one's individual experience might be, there are no grounds of history, religion, ideology, psychology, politics or economic disadvantage, or personal ambition that will ever justify the killing of children, the kidnapping or rape of teenage girls or the slaughter of unarmed civilians. These atrocities cannot be rationalized. They cannot be excused. They must be opposed, and they must be stopped. Whether...(APPLAUSE) Whether in classrooms or houses of worship or over the Internet on TV, our message is very straightforward. To anyone who is in doubt, we can say with conviction to have no doubt. There is a better to serve God, a better way to protect loved ones, a better way to defend a community, a better way to seek justice, a better way to become known, a better way to live than by embracing violent extremism. In fact, there is no worse way to do any of those things." AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "You have to take the people off the battlefield, who are there today. But you're kind of stupid if all you do is do that and you don't prevent more people from going to the battlefield. So, we have a broad challenge here. And mostly it is it to talk about facts and realities, and to take those realities and put them into a real strategy that we all implement together. No one country, no one army, no one group is gonna be able to respond to this adequately. And we see that in the numbers of countries that are now being touched by it." KERRY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "We have to be steadfast advocates of religious freedom, supporters of the right to peaceful descent, opponents of bigotry in every form, and builders of opportunity for all. Friends, our arms are open, our minds are open to the ideas. The partnership against violent extremism that we are assembling has room for anyone who is willing to respect the fundamental rights and dignity of other human beings." AUDIENCE, VIDEO BEING PLAYED AT SUMMIT SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS
- Embargoed: 6th March 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3TU5H4HI0L02FHPP01BCGQS7I
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday (February 19) "no one country" can stop violent extremism.
Delivering the opening remarks of the second day of a White House summit on the prevention of violent extremism, Kerry said militants bent on attacks are a formidable foe that must be countered.
"Terror is their obsession. It's what they do. And if we let them, their singleness of purpose could actually wind up giving them a comparative advantage. But with the images of recent outbreaks fresh in our minds, everybody here knows we simply can't let that happen. We have to match their commitment and we have to leave them with no advantage at all," Kerry said at a high-level ministerial conference at the State Department.
The three-day summit, which started Tuesday (February 17) and brings together local officials from across the country and ministers from around the world, follows recent shootings in Copenhagen and Paris that have galvanized Western resolve against such extremist attacks.
"No one country, no one army, no one group is gonna be able to respond to this adequately. And we see that in the numbers of countries that are now being touched by it," Kerry said.
Speaking at the summit on Wednesday, President Barack Obama called on American Muslim communities to do more to counter what he called "violent extremism".
Critics have accused the White House of shying away from tying extremism to the religion of Islam following shootings by Islamic militants in Paris and Copenhagen. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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