Islam: What the West Needs to Know2006

Tony Blair:
[first lines - about initial ops in Afghanistan, 2001] I wish to say finally, as I've said many times before, that this is not a war with Islam. It angers me, as it angers the vast majority of Muslims, to hear Bin Laden and his associates described as Islamic terrorists. They are terrorists, pure and simple. Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion, and the acts of these people are wholly contrary to the teachings of the Qur'an.

George W. Bush:
[President Bush's address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday night, September 20, 2001] I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It's practice freely by many millions of Americans, and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful. And those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah.

[enthusiastic applause]

Bill Clinton:
[about 1998 raid on Afghanistan and Sudan] I want you to understand, and I want the world to understand that our actions today were not aimed against Islam. The faith of hundreds of millions of good, peace-loving people all around the world, including the United States. No religion condones the murder of innocent men, women, and children. But our actions were aimed at fanatics and killers, who wrap murder in the cloak of righteousness, and in so doing profane the great religion in whose name they claim to act.