US Spin on Violence

US Spin on Violence

By Ramzy Baroud

February 26, 2015

Truly, US President Barack Obama’s recent call to address the root causes of violence, including that of the so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) and Al-Qaeda was a step in the right direction, but still miles away from taking the least responsibility for the mayhem that has afflicted the Middle East since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“The link is undeniable,” Obama said in a speech at the State Department on February 19 “When people are oppressed and human rights are denied – particularly along sectarian lines or ethnic lines – when dissent is silenced, it feeds violent extremism. It creates an environment that is ripe for terrorists to exploit.”

Of course, he is right. Every word. However, the underlying message is also clear: it’