US officials blamed Islam rather than Western-backed autocracies for extremism.

Evidence

Rather than acknowledge the role of Western countries in propping up authoritarians who perpetuate political repression, economic disparities, and corruption that triggers non-state violence, US government officials blamed Islam. Federal prosecutors shared the belief that Islam is “both a religion and a political-social ideology.” — Sahar F. Aziz, The Racial Muslim, 726

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Said’s Orientalism and to the displaced-anger dynamic seen in state scapegoating of minority religions. — connects to: US officials racialized Muslims as incapable of democracy while arming their dictators — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 368; US policymakers framed Arabs as racially predisposed to extremism in designing foreign aid. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 383; US security agencies internally disagree on whether Islam causes terrorism — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 600 (+1 more)