Obama: ‘Ideologies Are Not Defeated with Guns, They’re Defeated with Better Ideas’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

BARACK OBAMA: "It is also true why ultimately in order for us to defeat terrorist groups like ISIL and Al Qaeda, it is going to also require us to discredit their ideology. The twisted thinking that draws vulnerable people into their ranks. I've said before and I know our military leaders agree. This challenge of countering violent extremism is not simply a military effort. Ideologies are not defeated with guns but better ideas and more attracting and more compelling vision. So the United States will continue to do our part by continuing to counter ISIL's hateful propaganda, especially online. We'll constantly reaffirm through words and deeds that we will never be at war with Islam. We are fighting terrorists who distort Islam and its victims are mostly muslims. We're also going to partner with Muslim communities as they seek the prosperity and dignity they observe. And we're going to expect those communities to step up in terms of pushing back as hard as they can in conjunction with other people of good will against these hateful ideologies, particularly when it comes to what we're teaching young people. And this larger battle for hearts and minds is going to be a generational struggle. It is ultimately not going to be won or lost by the United States alone."