DES MOINES: White House hopeful Hillary Clinton called for global unity to crush the Islamic State group (IS), as the carnage in Paris took centre stage at Saturday’s Democratic presidential debate.

The three candidates began their debate with a moment of silence for the victims in France, bringing Friday’s horrific attacks an ocean away to the forefront of the 2016 race as they dominated the first half hour of the political showdown.

Clinton, liberal US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley united in calling for the destruction of the militants accused of massacring at least 129 people in the French capital.

“We are not at war with Islam,” said the former secretary of state, choosing her words with care as she warned ordinary Muslims should not be viewed as a threat.

“We are at war with violent extremism.”

“Our prayers are with the people of France tonight, but that is not enough,” she said, calling for global resolve to defeat IS.

“It cannot be contained, it must be defeated,” Clinton said of the group which has overrun swathes of Syria and Iraq.Former Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush spoke up from afar during the debate, tweeting: Yes, we are at war with terrorism.

While Democrats displayed equal determination to eradicate jihadism, fissures appeared between the candidates on whether the US should lead the struggle.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2015

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