Terrorism fight a partnership, Obama says

CAIRO, June 4 (UPI) -- Actions of violent extremists are "irreconcilable" with the rights of human beings and violate the tenets of the Koran, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

"The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind," Obama told about 3,000 people in Cairo and the Muslim world at large in a major speech Thursday. "Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism -- it is an important part of promoting peace."

Pointing to the 3,000 killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Obama said al-Qaida "chose to ruthlessly murder these people ... and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale."

The United States wants to bring its troops home from Afghanistan, he said.

"We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can," he said.

U.S. officials also recognize that terrorist groups cannot be fought on the battlefield alone, Obama said. The United States plans to invest $1.5 billion annually over the next five years in Pakistan and another $2.8 billion in Afghanistan for a variety of non-military development.

America now has a dual responsibility in Iraq, he said. It must "help Iraq forge a better future and (it must) leave Iraq to the Iraqis."

While the United States must confront terror groups, it must not abandon its founding principles, he said, noting that he "unequivocally prohibited" the use of torture and ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison.

The United States will defend itself against extremists "in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened," Obama said.

"The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities," he said, "the sooner we will all be safer."