Stripping The Terror Lexicon Bare
I was listening to Rush’s radio show today. His guest was writer Andrew McCarthy to talk about his new book, Willful Blindness: A Memoir of the Jihad.
McCarthy stated that Homeland Security had issued memos regarding the use of certain words in dealing with the continuing War On Terror …
I half-believed him … until I came across this.
Please resist the sudden urge to put-fist-through-computer-monitor …
Investigative Project Releases Gov’t Memos Curtailing Speech in War on Terror
by Steven Emerson
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is refusing to identify the “influential Muslim Americans” and “leading U.S.-based scholars and commentators on Islam” who met with Secretary Michael Chertoff in helping shape a softer approach to government lexicon about terrorists and their ideological motivations.
“Our policy is we don’t comment on the Secretary’s private schedule,” spokeswoman Amy Kudwa told the IPT. Nor would she identify any of the participants’ organizational affiliation.
DHS and the State Department’s Counterterrorism Communications Center each issued reports urging government employees to avoid words like “jihad,” “mujahedeen” or any reference to Islam or Muslims, especially in relation to Al Qaeda. The Investigative Project on Terrorism is making the documents available for the first time here and here.
As we reported last week, the memos say a change in language from the U.S. government is needed to win the hearts and minds of moderate Muslims and avoid glamorizing terrorists motivated by religious ideology. “Moderate” is also frowned upon in the memos, though, with “mainstream” or “traditional” suggested as replacements.
Among the recommendations not reported previously:
“The experts we consulted debated the word ‘liberty,’ but rejected it because many around the world would discount the term as a buzzword for American hegemony.”
“The fact is that Islam and secular democracy are fully compatible – in fact, they can make each other stronger. Senior officials should emphasize that fact.”
The USG [U.S. government] should draw the conflict lines not between Islam and the West, but between a dangerous, cult-like network of terrorists and everyone who is in support of global security and progress.
So America, after serving for more than two centuries the sanctuary for huddled masses yearning to breathe free, is being asked to minimize liberty against fanatics bent on a global religious state. The memo doesn’t offer examples to show where Islam and secular democracy have reinforced each other, or explain how Shariah law, the imposition of religion into state affairs, is “fully compatible” with secular democracy.
It is no surprise, however, to see the changes praised by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC):
MPAC has long promoted a nuanced approach towards the lexicon of terrorism emanating from the United States government and media. It is essential that various elements of the government recognize the importance of decoupling Islam with terrorism. Furthermore, using Islamic language to describe terrorists falsely bolsters their religious credibility among the very people we most need — the majority of mainstream Muslims around the world.
The memorandum described by the Associated Press reportedly also draws heavily on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report that examined the way American Muslims reacted to different phrases used by U.S. officials to describe terrorists and recommended ways to improve the message. Through its regular government engagement with government agencies including DHS, MPAC has repeatedly addressed the importance of refraining from ideologically based language that mischaracterizes the Muslim community domestically and abroad.
The fact that the government agencies are implementing such recommendations in their communications is a victory for constructive engagement with the Muslim American community. Implementing the recommendations, as they are described in media reports, would serve as a powerful tool in isolating the terrorists.
In other writings, MPAC’s more nuanced approach involves accepting, not isolating, terrorists. It repeatedly has lobbied to remove Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hizballah from the U.S. list of designated terrorist groups. Its 2003 counterterrorism policy critique says:
Arab states question Washington’s list of designated pro-Palestinian groups and humanitarian organizations. It is clear that the current terrorist threat to the US emanates from Al-Qaeda and not Palestinian groups. There is no evidence that Palestinian groups designated as terrorist organizations have any connections to Al-Qaeda. Yet the preoccupation with these groups raises the question as to whether targeting Palestinian groups serves true national security interests or is based on political considerations.
Now, look at the bottom of page 2 on the DHS memo: “Hezbollah and Hamas are distinct in methods, motivations and goals from Al Qaeda,” it says. “When possible, the experts recommend that USG terminology should make this clear.
If only it were true. Suicide attacks are staples of the methods of each group. The imposition of Islamic law, or Shariah, is a goal stated by each.
These organizations are responsible for the wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians – often by the preferred method of suicide bombing, not to mention their roles in derailing U.S. foreign policy and efforts to achieve peace. But MPAC, despite these obvious details, as well as the fact that the U.S. has designated terrorist groups in every corner of the earth [Philippines (Abu Sayyaf), Spain (the Basque group, ETA), Japan (Aum Shinrikyo), Sri Lanka (the Tamil Tigers), Ireland (IRA and related groups), Colombia (FARC), Peru (Shining Path) and even Israel (Kahane Chai)], somehow finds itself engaging in conspiracy theorizing about the unfair “political” treatment of misunderstood entities like Hamas and Hizballah. And it is incredibly frightening to see government agencies directly involved in our national security buy into this philosophy, wholesale.
One prominent Muslim American who wasn’t consulted is physician M. Zuhdi Jasser, president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. In response to an e-mail from the IPT about the memos, Jasser said the suggested changes could diminish American understanding of the ideological motivations behind those who threaten our security:
It is interesting that the only venues in which this nomenclature is even a question is in the west where Muslims are a minority and Islamists are able to deceive the majority or just live in complete denial. In Muslim majority nations the radicals call themselves Muslims, Islamists, and Jihadists in Arabic and every other language with little time spent admonishing society not to call them what they call themselves.
Certainly pious loyal American Muslims will be frustrated with the inappropriate use of the name of Islam and ‘jihad’ in the militant causes by these radicals around the world. But that frustration should be directed toward frontal Muslim anti-Islamist and anti-militant causes and movements. Denying that considerable movements of radical Muslims exist around the world which exploit our religion and truly believe that their barbarism is ‘jihad’ will only empower them more and delay the inevitable conflict within our faith community over “whose Islam, which Islam”. For the USG to paternally dismiss the self-described nomenclature of ‘jihadists’ and “Islamists” is to in fact embark into a realm which really is an internal struggle within the consciousness of the Muslim community. We should call the terrorists what they call themselves. Once any Muslim, let alone non-Muslims, begins to determine who is and who is not qualified to define ‘jihad’, ‘Muslim’, or ‘Islam’ they are creating a clergy and a ‘church’ with a communication and excommunication process. That is exactly what the likes of Bin Laden and other radical Islamists want.
“Words matter,” the DHS report says. They sure do. That’s why hiding the very language and ideological justification used by terrorists from the American people is misguided at best. It is why a soft-pedaled lexicon from unnamed experts and Islamist activists is counter productive.
Trying to isolate terrorists is a clear goal for the government. But moderate, er, mainstream Muslims, shouldn’t need us to serve as language police to protect them from those who use their religion to terrorize the world.
(IPTNews)
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Sorry, I don’t do PC. Moreover I know all about Islam. I learned it quickly on 9/11 2001.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pmWill they be nice to me when they saw my head off with a dull knife?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 pmIslamo-Nazi
Islamo-Fascist
Raghead Jihadi
Muslim Mentalcase
Barack HUSSEIN Obama
Kill me now.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pmWhen are we gonna learn ? I read the same on many sites I regularly visit. Robert Spencer said it best: “Why can’t we call Islamic Terrorists what they call themselves ?”
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pmheheh Rush said..”What are we suppose to call themm, mables?”
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 pmTime to build the bunker and bring in the guns and supplies..
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:14 pmMuslims are our enemy. They are determined to make America a muslim country ruled by Sharia law. They are everywhere, waiting, watching, and planning. You can either resist them now or resist them later but we are going to have to fight them and right here. Many people worry about controlling the border and keeping the terrorists out. I have news friends…they are already here and are hiding under the names like CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood, and more..much more.
Time to go
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 pmdrillanwr…you should believe Andrew McCarthy.
He is a writer, yes; but he’s also someone who’s voice we’d all do well to heed.
He’s the US Attorney who (successfully) prosecuted the ‘original’ WTC bombers. As a result of his efforts, those ‘jihadists’ are all in prison. And, I hasten to add, enjoying all the connubial rights that tenure entails.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 pmI was listening, too. I could be wrong, but I don’t hear anyone in the State Department cautioning the JIHADISTS to stop calling us Crusaders, because it might make us mad. We’re already mad, and with damn good reason.
These people want to kill us, and it isn’t because of what we call them, or because we all have indoor plumbing. It’s their sick, evil mindset, and culture.
One thing more. Rush almost NEVER has guests, and when he does, it’s a President, or Vice President, or somebody like that. For him to give Andrew McCarthy 45 minutes is a message in itself.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmdrillanwr…
you should believe Andrew McCarthy.
————————————————————
Oh, yes … I HAVE read his columns, and know his history. He’s spot on.
What I meant by “half-believed” (not aimed at Andy’s believability) … it was that my mind just couldn’t grasp the concept that our government agency, who knows precisely and exactly the NAME of the enemy we are facing, would stoop to such semantics.
BTW
I am struck by that picture I came across to use for the article.
The shirtless woman (stripped of the terror lexicon) is hunched over a dictionary. She is us (or those who we believe represent us). And her shirtless back pretty much symbolizes how we have fought this war by baring ourselves (via our media and assorted others leaking important information and tactics in the fight), and by fighting this war practically naked as the ‘watchful’ MSM ‘eye’ has picked apart and second guessed every move we have made. Also, the fact we have had to fight it ‘kinder and gentler’ in terms of civilian casualties … contrary to the made-up figures of Iraqi dead thrown out there by the antiwar left.
The cat is our enemy (within our country in the form of Muslim organizations such as CAIR, and the enemy in the GWOT) … just waiting to pounce … on our head(s) …
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pmwe are not at war with ‘terror’, that is the most bullshit PC phrase out there
truly, what the fuck does that mean? we want to stop terror?
I thought we wanted to stop the takeover of civilization by the islamic hordes
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pmThis is why it is best to remember that Government has no soul. And those who put their faith in Government get what they deserve.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:24 pmFirst, I gotta say: that photo at the top is VERY distracting…Humminhumminahumina…What was I gonna say?
Oh, right, Andrew McCarthy. I heard him today, too. I thought the best–no, worst– thing he had to say was that fact that ALL of his prosecutions against terrorists were successful. Good, right? No, WRONG, since that meant that after ***8 YEARS*** of intensive and expensive effort, he took a total of 29 jihadis off the streets. Really quite pathetic, and McCarthy was the first to admit it.
But he made a great point: “Today in Iraq, our forces are frequently killing as many Islamic terrorists in one day as I convicted in 8 years.”
EXACTLY.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmAnd what about those Islamists who believe that Jihad is an inner struggle? Is the State Department going to offend these people by not allowing them to use their own term for a “religious inner struggle”? (sarcasm)
How idiotic. Using linguistics to change the meaning of words or eliminating the proper terms isn’t going to make the problem go away.
Way to score one for the opposing team there Condi & Co.
You make for some mighty fine Dhimis. Be sure and pay your jizya on the way out the door.
Freaking morons.
More here http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/04/jihadist_or_not.php
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 pmAnd didn’t Andrew McCarthy mention the jihadis using the koranimal koloring book to excuse their behavior. McCarthy researched it like President Jefferson and came away with the same finding. Jefferson killed them and McCarthy locked them up. Somethings never change.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 pmThak you drillanwr for your lil essay. You obviously are keeping up with the real deal. If our USG is taking a vote I’d chime in with; Don’t piss on my cheerios and tell me it’s raining…
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 amGod bless you guys (girls too!).
“BTW I am struck by that picture I came across to use for the article.”
Me too. Except I don’t read so much into it.
Ummmmm….naked babe.
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 amObviously it is a work of art that you and I would stand staring at and contemplating … and come away with, eh hemmm, different conclusions …
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 am