Paris Attacks: US is at war against violent extremism, not Islam, says Hillary Clinton

US was not at “war with Islam” but against violent extremism, said US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. She also added that the Islamic State militant group must be defeated not contained.

"I think that we have to look at ISIS as the leading threat of an international terror network. It cannot be contained, it must be defeated," Clinton, the leading Democratic presidential candidate, said during a Democratic presidential debate.

Her remarks came a day after the horrific terror attacks in Paris that claimed over 120 lives. The responsibility of the attacks has been claimed by ISIS in an official statement.

With the carnage in Paris taking centre stage at the Democratic presidential debate, the three candidates - Clinton, liberal Senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley - began their debate with a moment of silence for the victims in France.

Clinton stressed that this cannot be an American fight, although American leadership is essential.

"We need to have a resolve that will bring the world together to root out the kind of radical jihadist ideology that motivates organisations like ISIS, a barbaric, ruthless, violent jihadist terrorist group," she said.

Clinton's rival Sanders said he wants to get this planet rid of ISIS.

"International terrorism is a major issue that we have got to address today," he said but disagreed with Clinton that the bulk of the responsibility is not America's.

"In fact, I would argue that the disastrous invasion of Iraq, something that I strongly opposed, has unravelled the region completely and led to the rise of al-Qaeda and to ISIS," Sanders said.

"In fact, what we have got to do - and I think there is widespread agreement here - is the United States cannot do it alone. What we need to do is lead an international coalition which includes very significantly the Muslim nations in that region who are going to have to fight and defend their way of life," Sanders said.

O'Malley said the rise of ISIS poses a new sort of challenge, the new sort of threat that does, in fact, require new thinking, fresh approaches and new leadership.

"This actually is America's fight. It cannot solely be America's fight. America is best when we work in collaboration with our allies. America is best when we actually standing up to evil in this world. And ISIS, make no mistake about it, is an evil in this world," he said.

"ISIS has brought down a Russian airliner. ISIS has now attacked a western democracy in - in France. And we do have a role in this. Not solely ours, but we must work collaboratively with other nations," O'Malley said.

Sanders said the Muslim nations in the region - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Jordan - all these nations, they are going to have to get their hands dirty and their boots on the ground.

They are going to have to take on ISIS, he added.

"This is a war for the soul of Islam...those Muslim countries are going to have to lead the effort. They are not doing it now," he said.

(Image credits: Business Insider.com)