March 3, 2016

Pearls of expression.

Much of the reaction [against Trump's statement about Muslim immigration] was somewhat Islamophilic: America needed larger numbers of Muslim immigrants to help win hearts and minds versus ISIS. An immigration pause would alienate them. As evidence, the Times highlighted a story of Trump luxury brand items being removed from the shelves in rich Arab Gulf states.

But no one has yet measured how the prospect of an immigrant visa, or lack of it, weighs compared to other policies through which the United States makes an impression on the Muslim world. For instance, one way in which the U.S states “who we are” to Arab and Muslim audiences is by killing a lot of Muslims.[1]

Winning the hearts and minds of the people is a concept born during the Vietnam era. It was referred to then as "WHAM."

Notes
[1] "Trump and the Riot of the Elites." By Scott McConnell, The American Conservative, 12/15/15.

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