Tonight, I want to address, if I may, a few of the concerns expressed by Muslims who've said they're offended by my description of the principal enemies of this country today as radical Islamists. I assure you no offense is intended anyone, and in point of fact many Muslims have expressed their support for the description "radical Islamists" as a sound way in which to differentiate those Muslims who are simply following their religion from those who would lower their religion to the level of ideology and violently pursue that ideology in support of the creation of Islamist states.

As we heard tonight from three of the country's leading experts on the issue, all of whom support our definition and use of "radical Islamists," there are differing views as to how great a threat Islamists are to world security... but there is little room for debate on the ideological foundations and origins of those who've struck against the interests of this country. Muslims are not the enemy. The religion of Islam is not at issue, and no one would abridge anyone's right in this country to practice the religion of their choice.

But those radical Islamists who would trample on the rights of others who practice differing religions... Those radical Islamists who use their religion, not as a system of personal beliefs, but as the foundation of their ideology, and work to violently destroy innocent people and violently overthrow governments, and to create Islamist states, are without question our enemy. Radical Islamists are not only the enemy of this country and civilized societies everywhere, they are also the greatest enemies of Muslims. And it is time we all, irrespective of our religious beliefs, recognized them as such. On this broadcast, we will continue to define these enemies of this country as radical Islamists.