Where they stand: Clinton, Trump views clash on Islamic extremism

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Bombings in the New York region and a stabbing attack in Minnesota have thrust Islamic extremism into the forefront of the 2016 election just a week before the first presidential debate, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton offering dramatically different visions of how to fight it.

Trump has embraced aggressive rhetoric in a plan that’s short on detail, but centers on limiting immigration – both legal and illegal – and dispensing with “politically correct” policies that currently block racial profiling and the use of torture.

Clinton has offered policies that would focus on leveraging alliances and improving relationships with Muslim communities at home while working closely with technology companies to crack down on propaganda and communication that encourages “lone wolf” attacks.

Here’s a look at each candidate’s prescription:

IMMIGRATION

TRUMP: His plan to combat illegal immigration – and reduce legal immigration – is the centerpiece of his plan to address Islamic extremism. Trump has repeatedly called for a moratorium on accepting Syrian refugees.

CLINTON: She has said she would expand President Barack Obama’s refugee program from accepting 10,000 to about 65,000 Syrian refugees annually. This would be in addition to the tens of thousands of refugees accepted from around the world every year.

FIGHTING Islamic State ABROAD

CLINTON: She has said she would not authorize sending ground troops to Syria or Iraq to take on the Islamic State group, instead favoring a plan to intensify the current coalition air-strike campaign.

TRUMP: He has said repeatedly that he wants to “bomb the hell out of ISIS.” Trump spent months on the campaign trail suggesting he had a secret plan to defeat the Islamic State group – in May, he deemed it a “foolproof way of winning” – but has added he does not want to reveal it because it would tip off extremist leaders.

DOMESTIC ATTACKS

TRUMP: He has repeatedly endorsed racial profiling in the U.S. as a counterterrorism tool. Trump has not released any specifics as to how U.S. law enforcement would use profiling.

CLINTON: She wants local law enforcement to develop improved relationships with Muslim community leaders, who she said are best positioned to recognize extremists in their communities.

CYBERSECURITY

TRUMP: He has not articulated a policy for addressing cybersecurity, an area national security officials cite as one of the most significant threats to the nation.

CLINTON: She has called on U.S. technology companies to be more cooperative in countering extremist propaganda, tracking social media patterns and intercepting encrypted communications.

USE OF TORTURE

CLINTON: Clinton has condemned the use of torture as an interrogation technique. During her first presidential run, Clinton briefly suggested that its limited use in extreme circumstances could save lives, but by September 2007 she categorically ruled it out.

TRUMP: He has repeatedly come out in favor of using torture.