Grassley urges Obama to say the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism’

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sen. Chuck Grassley urged President Barack Obama to use his presidential bully pulpit to make clear he understands the threat terrorism poses to the United States and who the enemy is.

That includes using the phrase 'radical Islamic terrorist,” Grassley told reporters Wednesday.

But the Iowa Republican also rejected comments Donald Trump made earlier this week that were interpreted as suggesting Obama had some role in terrorist acts against the country.

'I don't think Obama meant to do anything to assist these bad guys, but we do need to be clear who the enemy is and the president is in the best position with the bully pulpit to tell not only America, but the world, where it is,” Grassley said.

Using the term 'radical Islamic terrorist” would help make that clear because 'not making that clear, I think, can allow the radicals to hide behind the good name of Islam,” he said.

'And it is a good name,” he added. 'We're not fighting Islam. We're fighting the radicals who distort the religion.”

Use of the phrase became a flashpoint in the presidential race again this week with Trump suggesting Obama is abetting terrorism by refusing to use the words.

'Words are very important,” Grassley said when asked about Trump's comments. 'If Obama had been using those words the last eight years … just think of the impact the president of the United States has.”

Tuesday, Obama strongly brushed aside the suggestion he start using the phrase.

'Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction,” he said, adding: 'There's no magic to the phrase, ‘radical Islam.' It's a political talking point; it's not a strategy.”

The Washington Post contributed to this report.