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There is not much new here that we haven't covered since we initially broke this story, but this story underscores the flimsy politically correct foundations of this new initiative.
"U.S. officials urged to avoid linking Islam, jihad with terrorism," by Shaun Waterman for UPI (thanks to all who sent this in):
WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are being advised in internal government documents to avoid referring publicly to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups as Islamic or Muslim, and not to use terms like jihad or mujahedin, which "unintentionally legitimize" terrorism."There's a growing consensus (in the administration) that we need to move away from that language," said a former senior administration official who was involved until recently in policy debates on the issue.
Instead, in two documents circulated last month by the National Counter-Terrorism Center, the multiagency center charged with strategic coordination of the U.S. war on terrorism, officials are urged to use terms like violent extremists, totalitarian and death cult to characterize al-Qaida and other terror groups.
"Avoid labeling everything 'Muslim.' It reinforces the 'U.S. vs. Islam' framework that al-Qaida promotes," reads "Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication," produced last month by the center.
"You have a large percentage of the world's population that subscribes to this religion," noted the former official. "Unintentionally alienating them is not a judicious move."
Don't the jihadists who claim to be representing "pure Islam" alienate this large aggregate of peaceful Muslims? If not, why will Americans examining their claim alienate them? And what does their non-alienation by the jihadists, and the apparent fragility of their loyalties, such that they'll be driven into the arms of the jihadists they abhor by Western mention of the word "jihad," tell us? Or what should it tell us?
Urging officials not to use the word Islam in conjunction with terrorism, the guide notes that, "Although the al-Qaida network exploits religious sentiments and tries to use religion to justify its actions, we should treat it as an illegitimate political organization, both terrorist and criminal."
Great. And how exactly will ignoring the fact that it exploits religious sentiments make it stop doing so?
Instead of calling terror groups Muslim or Islamic, the guide suggests using words like totalitarian, terrorist or violent extremist -- "widely understood terms that define our enemies appropriately and simultaneously deny them any level of legitimacy."By employing the language the extremists use about themselves, the guide warns, officials can inadvertently help legitimize them in the eyes of Muslims.
Yes, Muslims the world over regard the State Department as on a par with Al-Azhar.
"Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahedin' … to describe the terrorists," instructs the guide. "A mujahed, a holy warrior, is a positive characterization in the context of a just war. In Arabic, jihad means 'striving in the path of God' and is used in many contexts beyond warfare. Calling our enemies Jihadis and their movement a global Jihad unintentionally legitimizes their actions."The guide also bans the use of the word caliphate -- the pan-national Islamic state -- to describe al-Qaida's goal. The term "has positive connotations for Muslims," says the guide, adding, "The best description of what (al-Qaida) really want to create is a 'global totalitarian state.'"
"There are some terms which al-Qaida wants us to use because they are helpful to them," Daniel Sutherland, who runs the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, told United Press International in an interview.
"This is in no way an exercise in political correctness … we are not watering down what we say."
Oh, of course it isn't. Oh, no.
Posted by Robert at May 7, 2008 12:18 PM
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I think two of Philip K Dick quotes are appropriate here:
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words."
Posted by: pr126
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 7, 2008 1:06 PM
"This is in no way an exercise in political correctness … we are not watering down what we say."
No, instead you are outright being deceptive. What wet behind the ears Infidel in the State Department has the authority to define Islam? You are cowards unwilling to define the enemy.
Posted by: Briars at May 7, 2008 1:09 PM
Someone should also tell this man that sharia doesn't require starving your 19 children--or maybe he is just practicing pure Islam.
at May 7, 2008 1:16 PM
"we are not watering down what we say."
Once you have emptied all the oceans such as the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian etc to water down what you have already said and found that there is no water left. You may be correct in that statement.
Posted by: James at May 7, 2008 1:23 PM
The Evil Doers™
Perpetually Oppressed Outraged People™
Fargin' Bastidges and Cork-Sucking Ice Holes™
at May 7, 2008 1:32 PM
So then, no concern about references to the "Axis of Evil" possibly offending peaceful North Koreans, Iraqis, or Iranians?
How long before a law is enacted making it a hate crime to refer to a terrorist as a jihadist, or to use the words "Islamic" and "Terrorist" in the same sentence?
Things are not looking good here on the home front.
Posted by: cumulusnine at May 7, 2008 3:04 PM
If we allow our public officials to use terms such as these which link Islam to terrorism, the American people might, God forbid, start calling for massive immigration reform and real border security. Obviously we cannot allow that to happen. Besides, what they don't know wont hurt them.
Posted by: Vincienzo at May 7, 2008 3:08 PM
How was that again with the tower of Babel?
Is this not the same as what's happening to America today?
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at May 7, 2008 3:15 PM
There is only one thing comforting in that UPI article. The jury is still out.
"He said: "There are still competing schools of thought on the question" within the administration. "One view is that you have to be more absolute" in describing the enemy."
Posted by: Connie at May 7, 2008 3:26 PM
Islam is jihad, jihad is terror. So we unlink them linguistically and leave the followers of Muhammed to destroy us.
Posted by: DeadRecknoning at May 7, 2008 3:35 PM
The pussyfootin' around Islam continues unabated.
Posted by: Wellington at May 7, 2008 3:43 PM
Oil is at $123 today. If oil were $32 we wouldn't be caving in so easily. Arabs say the high oil price is yet one more sign of Allah's favoring them. Their mad mountebank prophet called Arabs the best of people with the best oil reserves
Posted by: dennisw at May 7, 2008 3:58 PM
Can we have the IRS stop linking taxes to my pay.
And I just sent a memo to my house instructing my wife that she is to stop linking foreplay and cuddling to sex. There is to be no mention of it.
Posted by: alaskan1000 at May 7, 2008 4:03 PM
The more all these various idiots, both in and out of government, insist on obfuscating the identity of the real enemy, the more we need sites like this to keep reminding us who the real enemy is: Islam.
It isn't terrorists, or extremists versus the West. It is Islam versus the rest of the world. The sooner we recognize this, the less bloodshed and destruction will be needed to defeat Islam.
at May 7, 2008 4:07 PM
One would have thought that nearly seven years after 9/11, people of the West would be able to properly identify what we face. If we can't do that, we can't effectively defeat it, muchless survive.
Posted by: cp at May 7, 2008 4:20 PM
I agree with the above post from "give me doughnuts".
Islam is indeed the root problem. However, in the demented minds of the enemy, jihad is an integral part of their faith. Within their propaganda, I can see how our usage of the term could be used to justify and recruit others of similar ilk.
The unintended consequence of using this language could indeed be that it helps the enemy to recruit more lunatics.
Posted by: The Cool Ghoul at May 7, 2008 4:32 PM
We are dealing with islam from a position of weakness due to our dependance on foreign oil. This has not just been caused by the leftists and the so called environmentalists in our midst, but ultimately by we the people in our ignorance. We will never, never, never be able to effectively defeat these beasts as long as they control a high percentage of the worlds oil supply. The first step in defeating islamic terrorism is to be taken here in North America. In our current position we can't afford an all out war with our real enemies and therefore we're afraid to even name them. If we weren't dependant upon the uninterrupted flow of oil from the gulf we would tell the Saudis and company to their faces where to go, and they'd believe us and back down. Probrably would've never heard the term 'religion of peace'.
Posted by: CJK at May 7, 2008 4:35 PM
Reducing the amount of gasoline you use is an act of patriotism and defiance.
Drilling in ANWAR, and developing other domestic petroleum sources is an act of patriotism and defiance.
Developing alternative fuels (algae-produced bio-diesel, for example), and alternative sources of energy (nuclear, solar, wind, tidal) are acts of patriotism and defiance.
And by "patriotism" I don' tjust mean in the nationalistic sense. I mean in the sense of supporting and defending "Western-style" civilization with its foundation of freedom, individual liberty, and the rule of law. A type of civilization where rationality, self-criticism, and advancement exist. In short, everything the dar-al-Islam is not.
Posted by: give me doughnuts at May 7, 2008 4:49 PM
From Article: Calling our enemies Jihadis and their movement a global Jihad unintentionally legitimizes their actions."
Yeah so what????? It does not stop their actions or their reasons for doing them. These people are so stupid it alarms me that they are protecting me.(??????????????????????). Call a hornets nest anything you want, it has no effect on the hornets.
at May 7, 2008 4:58 PM
Right naming is critical to winning the jihad that is being fought against us and the other kafirs of the world.
For another view of right naming, see the Frontpage Magazine interview today with Dr. Bill Warner
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=76B12F33-3165-47D1-80ED-C3F1ACD07D8A
at May 7, 2008 5:06 PM
The only serious sources of energy at present and for the forseeable future are oil, coal, and nuclear. Most of the 'alternative' sources are not real solutions, but are just pies in the sky hyped by the left. Just an annoucement of a serious drilling and exploration plan on the part of the USA would probrably result in oil prices dropping by about 25%. But Alas, we won't even drill in ANWR, or our continental shelf, as we await a character such as obama to vie for the presidency! The glory has indeed departed - Icabod!
Posted by: CJK at May 7, 2008 5:06 PM
A religion which requires persecution to sustain it is of the devil's propagation.
Hosea Ballou (1796 - 1861)
The idea that terms like jihad or mujahedin "unintentionally legitimize" terrorism is beyond ridiculous. All they do is point to the origins of the terrorism.
Did anyone object to the term "Irish Republican Army" to denote a terrorist group? The overwhelming majority of the Irish were not terrorists.
How about Kosovo Liberation Army?
Our State Department can call it whatever they like. A skunk by any other name is still a skunk.
Posted by: PMK at May 7, 2008 5:14 PM
The Brits call your "Jihad has no link with Islam" and raise it with "Jihad is anti-Islamic activity".
Posted by: Brett_McS at May 7, 2008 5:17 PM
I thought the fatuous morons in our government constituted a Tiny Minority of Extremists(TM). My mistake. Once you get above some lofty pay grade, they are the majority.
Lord, help us.
RSI
Posted by: RedStateInfidel at May 7, 2008 5:55 PM
US urges officials to stop linking Islam with terrorism --
Curious is it not? Why do "US officials" have such a neurotic preoccupation with trying to avoid offending a religion called islam?
Is it because they view islam as the de-facto state religion; or have they somehow forgotten about the prostitution of the "separation of church and state" nonesense with which they use to beat Christians and Jews about the head and shoulders?
Actually I suspect a lot of the "policy makers" are nothing but cheap, low-level, "bug-chasing," whores for PC/Multiculturalism, CAIR, and Saudi cash.
If you think for a second that these memos pontificating about sensitivity reflect what is really on the minds of everyone in government -- you're dead wrong
at May 7, 2008 6:14 PM
'Jihad'-''Watch your mouth!
Posted by: Bosch Fawstin at May 7, 2008 7:14 PM
duh_swami: I recall a rude joke about a VD rash that had as its punchline 'And you can call it measles if you like..."
Posted by: jewcat at May 7, 2008 7:17 PM
How long before a law is enacted making it a hate crime to refer to a terrorist as a jihadist, or to use the words "Islamic" and "Terrorist" in the same sentence?
Things are not looking good here on the home front.
Posted by: cumulusnine
--
Just wait till Obama is in the White House. He's got stuff like this on his website. It's there for all to see.
I just heard Michael savage think out loud whether McLAME is a fall guy set up to lose against Obama.
It doesn't seem that far-fetched seeing what kind of a non-campaign McLAME is running..
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at May 7, 2008 7:34 PM
It seems I am alone in perhaps trying to understand why this is being done...
By removing the religious connotations of the words it makes clear that the Jihadis goal is actually political. While they think they are fighting for God, the new words would make it clearer that they are in fact fighting for political power, using human methods.
Changing "caliphate" to "global totalitarian state" is also a step forward because it states the actual goal of political Islam, which a political organisation diguised as a religion. I believe that this distinction is an important step forward.
For example, compare these two versions the creedo of the Muslim Brotherhood...
"Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."
and...
"A global totalitarian state is our objective. Our leaders use religious texts for personal and political ends. Political war is our way. Global war, terrorism and suicide bombing and is our highest hope.
Seen in this way, it shows those who would subdue us in the name of God as simply terrorists.
That said, there is still the big issue of how Islam itself justifies these political actions.
Posted by: madijihadi at May 7, 2008 7:52 PM
-- now if they could only convince the jihadists to stop also
Wouldn't that be a trick?
Posted by: Eg at May 7, 2008 7:54 PM
The net effect of this will be to further confuse the issue with ordinary Americans, while leaving the jihadis untouched and freer than ever to act. It's very hard to muster support to fight an enemy that we won't name and cannot understand.
Posted by: jewdog at May 7, 2008 8:02 PM
"Actually I suspect a lot of the "policy makers" are nothing but cheap, low-level, "bug-chasing," whores for PC/Multiculturalism, CAIR, and Saudi cash."
I am offended at your characterization of these people as “whores”, as this defames an entire profession that performs a quite useful service to society.
“These people” are not useful for anything except obfuscation.
at May 7, 2008 8:23 PM
Let's see now. If we don't call a jihadist a jihadist, he will be less likely to kill us because terrorism is unintentionally legitimized? As the queen said, "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Wonderland!
at May 7, 2008 8:24 PM
“The net effect of this will be to further confuse the issue with ordinary Americans, while leaving the jihadis untouched and freer than ever to act. It's very hard to muster support to fight an enemy that we won't name and cannot understand.”
Posted by: jewdog
Exactly so, jewdog.
This is an obstacle purposely put in our way, by our own leaders, to make it more difficult for us to understand our enemy. It is essential that we understand Islam to defeat it and yet here are these FOOLS working feverishly to hide the truth.
An astounding outrage it is!
at May 7, 2008 8:36 PM
Everybody - the article 'the poetess' linked is well worth reading.
Copy, scrapbook it, keep; printout and share around.
Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at May 7, 2008 9:05 PM
Please do not refer to Iran as "trying to build a "nuclear" weapon". It only legitimizes the effort. From now on, say; "Iran is attempting to build an Open-air mass-crematorium."
at May 7, 2008 9:06 PM
US urges officials to stop linking Islam with terrorism --
Is there a way to find out who are these "officials", what department are talking from.. just find their names, and follow the money.
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at May 7, 2008 9:07 PM
"It seems I am alone in perhaps trying to understand why this is being done..."
madijihadi
***************************
You're not alone. See my posting earlier.
While I too would like to see Islam identified as the enemy that it actually is, the unintended consequence of using this language could indeed be that it helps the enemy to recruit more lunatics.
Posted by: The Cool Ghoul at May 7, 2008 9:12 PM
More evidence of how the government obfuscates and covers up, to our detriment...
Posted by: undaunted at May 7, 2008 9:19 PM
Mom, cover your ears.
This is ALL BULLS#@T!
I'll be damned if my gvmnt thinks I am going to stop calling a spade a spade just because they have finally lost their cojones as well as their backbone and REFUSE to see, in glorious color and clarity the real threat and its underlying causes. I WILL NOT surrender my right to use my god-given brain and THINK FOR MYSELF on whats right and whats wrong. This action by the State Dept is an insult to me and every other American, no, every freedom loving people and country that believes in the sanctity of free thought. My God, we really are losing our way, arn't we?
Never surrender
Never give up
Never lose focus
Never forget
BTW, Happy Birthday Israel! Way to go! The big 60! May you have 60 more, at least. Lovg Live Israel!!!
"Kuffirs of the world, Unite!"
"Islam, abusing women and children since 622AD"
at May 7, 2008 9:29 PM
Lord help us "W" is in so far over his head he has gone mad. We are being led by ninies. How do we take this administraion seriously anymore? It has now become totally detatched from reality.
Posted by: ethoman at May 7, 2008 10:15 PM
“Allah Is Bigger Than Logic & Reason”
Ali Eteraz is trying to f*kc with Sam Harris over his excellent article in HuffPo:
Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks
http://sheikyermami.com/2008/05/08/allah-is-bigger-than-logic-reason/
"Islam isn't Islamism"
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ali_eteraz/2008/05/islam_isnt_islamism.html
These Islamo-types seem to have a part of their brains missing...
at May 7, 2008 10:23 PM
yeah ummmhummm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR69ngd6vrw&feature=related
Mikey said it all.
Posted by: ethoman at May 7, 2008 10:36 PM
Madhijihadi and Cool Ghoul, you are right. Unfortunatly we have little choice because of our position of weakness.
Posted by: CJK at May 7, 2008 10:55 PM
I find it rather interesting that this idiocy coincides with Gordon Brown's recent visit to America, although it's probably the fruition of months of tedious hand-wringing and concerted denial on the part of ignorant bureaucrats who are following his lead. There is absolutely nothing appealing, likeable, or personable about Mr. Gordon Brown. He is creepy.
Mr. Brown, the globalist and effusive supporter of the New World Order, encouraged America to repeal the Declaration of Independence and join Europe in the Brave New World of global "interdependence", a world with no nation states, no borders, and governed by unelected elites in the United Nations. National sovereignty is now obsolete according to Mr. Brown and as I recall, one of his first acts after becoming Prime Minister of Great BRitain was to forbid the association of islam with terrorism. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
How ironic that a British prime minister would have the gall to come to America, make a speech to a group of elites at an elite university (which wasn't covered at all by the MSM), and tell America that it has no right to be a sovereign nation! I'm sure he had a supportive, sympathetic audience but I wonder why he didn't make his speech on national television? I feel sorry for the people of Great Britain, at least the ones who are trying desperately to save their country. Mr. Brown obviously has other plans for them, as well as for the rest of the free West. And I'm sure there are plenty of pompous, elitist social engineers within our government who share his insidious agenda and are working just as hard as he is to destroy the West, but they do their dirty work behind the scenes.
Posted by: Susanp at May 7, 2008 11:04 PM
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at May 7, 2008 10:23 PM
Thanks for the Eteraz link, Sheikh.
Posted by: awake at May 7, 2008 11:43 PM
If only Muslims could stop the Koran from linking to terrorism.
(But, if they did, they'd only be left with a flapping cover and maybe thirteen loose, poorly-plagiarized pages inside about Adam and Joseph and Noah.)
If only Mein Kampf hadn't led to genocide.
If only idiots didn't have mouths.
Posted by: profitsbeard at May 7, 2008 11:43 PM
To really educate the public, let all the media start referring to them as 'terrorists using islamic jihad as their excuse' and their aim as 'establishing a caliphate - a global totalitarian state'.
That would make it clear to the public.
Posted by: Lili at May 8, 2008 12:44 AM
Susanp, I agree with you, but the real tragedy is that our President agrees with Gordon Brown. They are both globalists, sneering at the fools who desperately try to hang on to our sovereignity (us). Only an act of G-d can destroy these people and save us.
Posted by: protozoah at May 8, 2008 2:23 AM
European's are already doing this... the results are:
1) Citizens CONTINUE to associate Islam and terrorism... so there is NO CHANGE in PUBLIC OPINION about ISLAM.
2) Citizen's INCREASING MISTRUST of GOVERNMENT AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA. So there IS a change in public opinion about GOVERNMENT.
Such policy not only fails to provide public trust in Islam, it fuels public scepticism about government and media.
This, in turn, fuels frustration and the growth of counter-Islam organizations. In the UK, the BNP party (which is widely held to be racist as well as anti-Islam) is growing at a record rate. Hence, some very nasty trends start to occur.
Policies such as these increase PUBLIC division - and do nothing to chalenge or placate Islam.
Go ahead and make the policy - you will sow seeds of mistrust, resentment and hatred... and we all know very well what government will be harvesting later!
Posted by: Stefcho at May 8, 2008 6:14 AM
>> US urges officials to stop linking Islam with
>> terrorism -- now if they could only convince
>> the jihadists to stop also
Now at least they will drop the other foot and follow this with the logical conclusion:
"Everyone who preaches for Jihad in a violent context would be guilty of a crime and will be judged accordingly"
Virtually all (99%) Muslim moderates would quickly embrace this since it will help prove that Islam is a peaceful religion, really having nothing to do with violence.
Sure....
Posted by: Cyclop at May 8, 2008 11:05 AM
I was thinking... Globalism vs. Caliphate. I had a vision from one of the Highlander movies and heard these words in my head: "There can be only one!"
It seems oil is decreasing in supply as demand increases. Bad news for Globalists, oil may indeed eventually run out... or become too expensive for global emerging market consumers.
However, jihadists who are hell-bent on Caliphate seem to be a renewable resource teeming with overabundance and vibrant energy.
Too bad our cars can't run on hate. If we pumped Islamic hate into the tank, we could probably get 1000 miles to the gallon.
Side note.. I had my wife watch http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-871902797772997781 and then asked her, "How does it feel to know that approximately 2 billion people on our planet want to murder you?"
Posted by: PATRIOT5150 at May 11, 2008 2:51 AM
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