LONDON, United Kingdom – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has called Hillary Clinton’s plan to “empathise” with the point-of-view of America’s enemies “mindless naivety”. His comments came at a meeting with Parliamentarians and journalists at the House of Commons, as part of a tour of Britain.
He took the opportunity to attack for former Secretary of State claiming her desire to “show respect for our enemies” and “empathise with their perspective and point of view” was a sign of weakness when the US was threatened by ISIS.
The Governor said: “Well, yes, understanding our enemies as a means of destroying them, I’m all for that. But empathizing with them as if perhaps we can find some common ground, I have no interest in that kind of mindless naivety.
“Let me be blunt about this. I want America’s allies to trust us and respect us, and I want our enemies to fear us.” Senator Clinton made her comments in December, and Jindal’s decision to highlight them is another reminder Republican hopefuls expect to face her in 2016.
Jindal continued: “The events of the past several years clearly suggest that America’s allies are often less than certain that they can count on us, and our enemies too often do not fear us. Of course, as Americans we want all people to live in harmony, and we do not desire to have any enemies.”
He went on the talk specifically about the terrorist attacks in France, but warned his audience of parliamentarians and journalists that he did not intend to be politically correct. He said: “The fact is that radical Islamists do not believe in freedom or common decency nor are they willing to accommodate them in any way and anywhere. We need to stop pretending otherwise.
“We are fools to pretend otherwise. How many Muslims in this world agree with these radicals? I have no idea, I hope it is a small minority. But it is clear that far too many do, and it is clear that they must be stopped.”
He also attacked the idea that certain communities in Europe had declared themselves ‘no go’ areas for non-Muslims, governed by Sharia Law. The staunch Catholic described it as being in “direct opposition to its laws” and “hard to fathom”.
Jindal is the first presidential hopeful to tour the United Kingdom, in order to demonstrate he has the foreign policy knowledge to lead the US. However, Jindal is no stranger to the UK, having studied a Masters Degree in Political Science at The University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
The meeting was arranged by the Henry Jackson Society, which works to expose radical Islam in the UK. It is well known internationally as the home of Douglas Murray, who has been widely critical of the way the Paris attacks have made European journalists conform to Sharia blasphemy laws.
As is customary during visit to the United Kingdom he was asked about the Special Relationship between London and Washington. Jindal said he believed that “strategic partners come and go but those who share our values will always have a special relationship with the US” and he believed this should be the case whichever party is in power in either country.
Despite the seriousness of the content of the speech the mood was lightened by an Indian journalist in the questions and answers. He told the Governor, whose parents are from India: “If there were only Indians around the world voting in this election you’d definitely win… Because of your clear policies!”
Jindal is currently polling around 3 percent for the Republican nomination putting him in eleventh place. The three frontrunners are Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan and Chris Christie.
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