Trump vows to 'eradicate radical Islamic terrorism from face of earth'

United States President Donald Trump placed the battle against Islamic extremism at the heart of his foreign policy as he took office on Friday, vowing to work with allies to destroy the jihadist threat.

"We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth," he declared.

Trump has gone further than both his predecessors George W. Bush -- who invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban regime -- and Barack Obama -- who ordered the raid that killed Osama bin Laden -- in his use of language suggesting that he sees the fight as a civilizational battle between America and a threat springing from the Islamic faith itself.

Trump repeatedly made controversial remarks regarding Islam and Muslims while on the campaign trail, going so far as to propose "a total and complete shutdown on Muslims entering the United States."

In his inaugural address, Trump said that "when you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice."

"It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American flag," he said.

His vow to form new alliances against terror suggests that he intends to work with Vladimir Putin's Russia.
 [i24news.tv/AFP]
20/1/17