The only point here is that there are fanatics in any religion that believe they “kill in the name of God”. Thus, they invoke his name upon starting their onslaught – seeking his protection as King David did before going into battle.

So obviously many people cry out in the name of God before going into battle. I would say that it was prevalent in battles in the Korean War, World Wars I and II, The Gulf War, The Crusades, etc. EVERYBODY feels that God is on their side. EVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS pray before their battle – as if God “has a dog in the fight”!

Allahu Akbar is the “takbir” (we would call it a mantra) Muslims use both in their call to prayer and as affirmations of their spiritual lifestyle. The problem is truly with the media who posit “Allahu Akbar” as a “Battle Cry” used by extremist Muslims. Thus, they add to the anxiety of many unlearned Americans who then suspect every Muslim usage of the phrase to be a prelude to terror.

It is a phrase used in greetings as well – just as Christians in my neck of the woods exclaim that “God is Good” with regularity. And – although an abortion clinic bomber might utter, “God is Good” before doing his dastardly dead – NO US media outlet would proclaim “God is Good” to be the “battle cry of the Christian extremists”, making all Christians uttering the phrase suspect!