In a press statement Tuesday morning condemning the terror attacks in Belgium that killed at least 30 people and left 100 others injured, Secretary of State John Kerry managed to address the deadly incident without ever mentioning Islam, Muslims, jihad or any other term linking the attacks to Islamic terrorism.
Here's Kerry's press release, in full:
Today’s abhorrent attacks in Brussels are an assault against the Belgian people and the very heart of Europe. Our thoughts are with all those in Brussels, including the injured and the loved ones of those who were killed, and with the first responders and security personnel who are working tirelessly to keep Brussels safe.
The U.S. Embassy in Brussels is making every effort to account for the welfare of American citizens in the city, and in the days ahead we stand ready to provide whatever support the Belgian Government may require. As I made clear this morning in a conversation with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, the United States stands firmly with our ally Belgium and with all of Europe in the face of this tragedy. Attacks like these only deepen our shared resolve to defeat terrorism around the world.
The attacks in Brussels, in which Islamic militants set off explosions at both the Zaventem Airport and a city metro station, were quickly labeled as terrorism and immediately linked to radical Islam. Local reports stated there were shouts in Arabic and gunfire along with the explosions, and a suicide belt was found at the scene.
But regardless of the fact that Islamic radicals are hell-bent on blowing up anything and everyone around them, we certainly wouldn’t want to offend anyone.