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'DON'T WAIT FOR AMERICANS'

Trump with Saudi Arabia's King Salman.

Drive extremists out, Trump urges Muslim nations

RIYADH, May 21, 2017

US President Donald Trump, in a spirited speech to Arab leaders gathered in Riyadh, called on them to drive out terrorists and extremists from their lands and said they must do it themselves and should not wait for the Americans.

"America is prepared to stand with you in pursuit of shared interest and common security. But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for the American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themeselves, for their country and frankly for their families and for their children," he said addressing the Arab leaders in the Saudi capital.

"It's a choice between two futures. And that is a choice America cannot make for you. The better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the extremists. DRIVE THEM OUT, drive them out of your places of worship, dirve them out of your communities, drive them out of the holy lands and drive them out of this Earth," he said.

Trump, who is on his first official trip abroad, said he had come to deliver a message of friendship, hope and love. "That is why I chose to make the first foreign official trip to the heart of the Muslim world, to the nation that is the custodian of the two holy sites in Islamic faith.

"Our vision is one of peace, security and prosperity in this region and all over the world. Our goal is a coalition of nations who stand together to stamping out extrmism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honour to God," he said.

Excerpts of his speech released by the White House quoted: "We can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong, and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden...the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them."

"We are not here to lecture, we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship," Trump said.

Trump, who generated controversy with his push to ban many Muslims from entering the US, described the fight against terrorism as a battle between good and evil rather than a clash of civilizations, said a Reuters report.

"This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it," Trump said.

"That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians."

"Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land," he said.

Trump is in Saudi Arabia as part of  a nine-day tour that includes Israel, Italy and Belgium.

The speech is part of an effort to redefine his relationship with the Muslim world after Trump frequently attacked Muslims on the campaign trail last year and tried to ban many from entering the United States, said Reuters.

Trump received a warm welcome from Arab leaders, who set aside his campaign rhetoric about Muslims and focused on his desire to crack down on Iran's influence in the region.




Tags: Middle East | Trump |

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