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Who is America Fighting - Jihadists or Extremists?

(Counterterrorism Blog)
By Jeffrey Imm

Now we officially know the answer - the U.S. Government states that America is definitely not fighting “jihadists”, based on new guidelines directing federal agencies not to even use the term “jihadist”. So who is America fighting? Defense Secretary Robert Gates tells us: “the enemy is extremism”.

A. National Counter Terrorism Center Memo and DHS Report on Terminology

Associated Press reported today that the Extremist Messaging Branch at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) prepared a memorandum in March 2008 entitled “Words that Work and Words that Don’t: A Guide for Counterterrorism Communication.” The memorandum approved for distribution by the State Department today sets out guidelines for federal agencies in describing terrorists and their organizations. The AP report suggests that the NCTC memorandum is also supported by a January 2008 Department of Homeland Security report entitled “Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims”.

Per the AP report, the NCTC memorandum tells federal agencies that they are not to use the terms: “jihadist”, “jihadi”, “mujahedeen”. Specifically, the NCTC memorandum states: “Never use the terms ‘jihadist’ or ‘mujahedeen’ in conversation to describe the terrorists… Calling our enemies ‘jihadis’ and their movement a global ‘jihad’ unintentionally legitimizes their actions.” It also states: “We are communicating with, not confronting, our audiences. Don’t insult or confuse them with pejorative terms such as ‘Islamo-fascism,’ which are considered offensive by many Muslims.”

Another AP report states that the NCTC memorandum advises:
- “Don’t use ‘caliphate’ when explaining al-Qaida’s goals, as this has positive implications.”
- “Don’t use ’salafi,’ ‘Wahhabist,’ ’sufi,’ ‘ummah’ and other words from Islamic theology unless you are able to discuss their varied meanings. Particularly avoid using ‘ummah’ to mean the Muslim world, as it is a theological term.”

AP also states that the January 2008 DHS report calls for “caution in using terms such as, ‘jihadist,’ ‘Islamic terrorist,’ ‘Islamist,’ and ‘holy warrior’ as grandiose descriptions.”[…]

Bush Takes on Reporter
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Also see: New Jihad Watch: Watch your language @ Hot Air

Thanks to a generous Hot Air volunteer video editor, we have a brand new episode of Robert Spencer’s Jihad Watch for you. Or rather, in the Muslim language police-monitored and State Department-censored world, [Bleep] Watch:

John McCain dared to use the word ‘Islamic’ in regards to terrorism. As in Islamic terrorism. The Islamic Society of North America in typical islamic hypocrisy is p.o.’d.

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