Admiral James “Ace” Lyons Speech on Islamic Extremism-Authorship Confirmed!
Summary of eRumor:
In a speech on Islamic radicalism, Retired Navy Admiral James “Ace” Lyons said that President Obama has an “anti-American” and “pro-Islamic” strategy to deal with extremists.
The Truth:
Admiral James “Ace” Lyons delivered this speech at a “Defeat Jihad Summit” organized by the Center for Security Policy in February 2015.
Admiral Lyons spent 36 years as a Naval officer. He last served as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet under President Regan. Lyons now serves as president and CEO of a consulting firm that specializes in trade, anti-terrorism, port security and foreign affairs.
Admiral Lyons said during his speech at the Defeat Jihad Summit that:
A number of you heard me say before; we’ve had many opportunities to change the course of history. It hasn’t mattered if it’s been a Democratic or Republican administration; we’ve failed every one them. Starting with Carter and the takeover of our embassy. We could off Komini and Islamic fundamentalism at the knees.
…We all say that we have to identify the threat. Well, I think the one who identified it best was (President Recep Tayip) Erdogan from Turkey who said, ‘Islam is Islam.’ There are no modifiers. Democracy is the train we ride to our ultimate objective. He couldn’t have said it any plainer. Until you recognize that Islam is a political movement masquerading as a religion, you’re never going to come to grips with it. As far as a strategy … the Obama administration has a strategy. It’s very simple; any thinking American should be able to grasp it. It’s anti-American, anti-western, it’s pro-Islamic, it’s pro-Iranian, and it’s pro Muslim Brotherhood.
But President Erodgan’s quote that “Islam is Islam” appears to have been taken out of context by Admiral Lyons. Erodgan made the comment in 2007 in response to the phrase “moderate Islam” being used to describe the country, the Turkish publication Milliyet reports:
Speaking at Kanal D TV’s Arena program, PM Erdogan commented on the term “moderate Islam”, often used in the West to describe AKP and said, ‘These descriptions are very ugly, it is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.”
Erodgan’s “Islam is Islam” quote has been thought to mean that Islam and extremism are inseparable, but Erodgan was actually arguing the opposite when he made the statement:
“The animosity, unfortunately, strengthens the scenarios that there is a so-called clash of civilizations in the world. Those, who defend such speculations, may go further to identify the terrorism with Islam which is based on peace,” he maintained, adding that the situation helps those who try to globalize Islamophobia.
Drawing attention to the importance of mutual understanding and respect, Erdoğan stated that he believes and respects Moses and Jesus, and accepts them as prophets. “I expect the same attitude from a Jew or a Christian toward my own prophet,” Erdoğan noted. He underlined the importance of Turkey’s European Union membership in terms of establishing connections between the West and the East.
“As a country whose population is mostly composed of Muslims, Turkey endeavors to get its place in the EU. Turkey’s effort is closely watched not only by European people but also by the citizens of Islam countries,” he said. “The thesis that the West and the East, Islam and other religions cannot reconcile, has become invalid in Turkey’s membership process.”