Hillary Clinton says world must fight propaganda
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Winnipeg, Wednesday, January 21, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
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By Chinta Puxley, The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG - Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton is calling on Canada to continue fighting the "ideology of hate" and extremist propaganda fuelling terrorism.
Clinton told about 2,000 people at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce luncheon that the international community has to target material that is drawing radicals to the cause.
Everyone has a stake in the "contest of ideas and values," said the former senator and first lady, who pointed to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and last year's storming of Parliament Hill in Ottawa by lone gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.
"This is a generational challenge and it must be waged on many fronts," Clinton said. "It may seem very far away from Winnipeg, but ... it is a struggle that all of us have a stake in making sure that our side wins."
Extremism is hurting the vast majority of Muslims who are "peaceful and tolerant," she said.
"We can't close our eyes to the fact that, at this time in our world history, there is a distorted and dangerous strain of extremism within the Muslim world that continues to spread," Clinton said. "They have the capacity to cause profound damage, most especially to their own communities. With these vicious few, we are confronting an ideology of hate."
One of the best weapons in the fight against terrorism is democracy, Clinton suggested. She pointed to the outpouring of support from millions following the attacks in Paris.