Fellow Patriot: The voluntary financial generosity of supporters like you keeps our hard-hitting analysis coming. Please support the 2024 Year-End Campaign today. Thank you for your support! —Nate Jackson, Managing Editor

August 17, 2016

Trump vs. the Islamic State

His stated vision differs sharply from the Obama-Clinton model.

Donald Trump’s foreign policy speech Monday laid out a vision for combatting radical Islam that differs sharply from Hillary Clinton’s. The most notable difference is that Trump actually has a plan for defeating the Islamic State, while Clinton’s follows Barack Obama’s disastrous strategy of accommodation and apology.

Trump opened his speech reciting a long list of attacks perpetrated by ISIL that have taken place in America and among our allies. He then made the case that we have the Obama-Clinton foreign policy team to thank for the Islamic State in the first place. Premature exit from Iraq, the bungling of Libya and Syria, and the 2009 “apology” speech Obama gave in Cairo are just some of the reasons that Trump points out for America finding itself in this current predicament.

It cannot be overstated that Obama and Clinton’s moral equivalency that puts America on par with the radical jihadis who seek to destroy us has had a blistering impact on our status overseas. And it is now harming us here at home.

In short, as Trump puts it, “Hillary Clinton lacks the judgment, the temperament and the moral character to lead this nation.”

Trump is right on these points, but that doesn’t make him a dream candidate for the White House. His rise to GOP standard bearer, impressive though it was, has been marred by outrageous behavior and public comments that are slam dunks for a Clinton-friendly media out to paint her opponent as crazy, xenophobic, homophobic, what have you.

This speech, however, gives Trump an edge in the foreign policy debate, and in a tone that is presidential and strong on ideas.

The big takeaway from Trump’s speech seems to be the expanded vetting of immigrants.

Operating from the belief that “we should only admit into this country those who share our values and respect our people,” Trump proposes to create a system that would effectively screen immigrants from the Middle East and countries with a history of hostility to America. He is somewhat light on the details of the vetting process, how it would be carried out, and how much it might cost. Still, screening people who are coming into the country should not be considered so outlandish a thing.

“In addition to screening out all members or sympathizers of terrorist groups,” Trump said, “We must also screen out any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles — or who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law. Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into the country. Only those who we expect to flourish in our country — and to embrace a tolerant American society — should be issued immigrant visas.”

Is Clinton really willing to stand on a stage and say that she wants to welcome people who are hostile to America and its many lifestyles — including “progressive” values?

“While my opponent accepted millions of dollars in Foundation donations from countries where being gay is an offense punishable by prison or death,” Trump said, “my administration will speak out against the oppression of women, gays and people of different faith.”

Trump also spoke of military options in his speech, noting that we need to be working with our traditional allies in stopping ISIL overseas. Clinton, on the other hand, said this week of American ground troops in the Middle East, “Well, that is off the table as far as I am concerned.”

Telegraphing appears to be a skill that Clinton has picked up from Obama, one that will not improve America’s station in the Middle East. Trump’s alternative, which it should be noted contradicts some of his earlier foreign policy positions, offers a much better chance of reversing the trend of terrorist violence.

Trump’s speech was not perfect. Thanks to his penchant for speaking off the cuff with little forethought, Trump often contradicts himself, and he did so here as well. He spoke of working closely with NATO to halt the spread of radical Islam, even though he is on record stating that NATO is “obsolete.” Trump also continues to overestimate the level of cooperation that can be found from Russia in this fight. For example, Vladimir Putin is interested in propping up Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which means he is often attacking the rebels the U.S. is backing, rather than the Islamic State.

Still, Trump needs to speak on the security issue and speak on it often. His points will find a large and receptive audience among the voting public, and Clinton knows that. This is why her campaign to this point has consisted mostly of personal attacks on Trump. She doesn’t dare flaunt her foreign policy credentials because they are just plain awful.

Clinton’s biggest weakness should be an easy layup for a solid Republican candidate. Unfortunately, Trump is anything but solid. He needs to change that dynamic and hammer home the foreign policy issue. If he keeps talking about it, then it will become part of the narrative and Clinton and her media cronies won’t be able to sidestep it any longer.

Who We Are

The Patriot Post is a highly acclaimed weekday digest of news analysis, policy and opinion written from the heartland — as opposed to the MSM’s ubiquitous Beltway echo chambers — for grassroots leaders nationwide. More

What We Offer

On the Web

We provide solid conservative perspective on the most important issues, including analysis, opinion columns, headline summaries, memes, cartoons and much more.

Via Email

Choose our full-length Digest or our quick-reading Snapshot for a summary of important news. We also offer Cartoons & Memes on Monday and Alexander’s column on Wednesday.

Our Mission

The Patriot Post is steadfast in our mission to extend the endowment of Liberty to the next generation by advocating for individual rights and responsibilities, supporting the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and promoting free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values. We are a rock-solid conservative touchstone for the expanding ranks of grassroots Americans Patriots from all walks of life. Our mission and operation budgets are not financed by any political or special interest groups, and to protect our editorial integrity, we accept no advertising. We are sustained solely by you. Please support The Patriot Fund today!


The Patriot Post and Patriot Foundation Trust, in keeping with our Military Mission of Service to our uniformed service members and veterans, are proud to support and promote the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, both the Honoring the Sacrifice and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs aiding wounded veterans, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, the Folds of Honor outreach, and Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, and Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

★ PUBLIUS ★

“Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!” —George Washington

Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray also for the protection of our Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic's Founding Principle of Liberty, that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

The Patriot Post is protected speech, as enumerated in the First Amendment and enforced by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, in accordance with the endowed and unalienable Rights of All Mankind.

Copyright © 2024 The Patriot Post. All Rights Reserved.

The Patriot Post does not support Internet Explorer. We recommend installing the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome.