Avoiding the "I" Word

During his summit on violent extremism, President Obama refused to use the word "Islamic" to describe the brutal group calling itself the "Islamic State." He says connecting its savage acts to religion gives religion a bad name. "We must never accept the premise that they put forward because it is a lie. Nor should we grant these terrorists the legitimacy they seek. They are not religious leaders, they are terrorists."

A chorus of critics, including some scholars, say he's denying reality. Like it or not, they insist, ISIS is rooted in the Koran. So, what's to be done about the continuing flood of ISIS supporters? Should there be less talk about words and more about living conditions for the poor, young people and women in much of the Muslim world?