by Jeffrey Imm
In fighting Jihad, America's greatest challenge remains understanding and confronting the ideology that provides the basis for Jihadist terrorism. Efforts to clearly define this enemy ideology recently have been undermined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and the State Department in promoting a 'terror lexicon' that recommends federal government employees avoid terms such as 'jihad,' 'jihadist,' 'Islamist,' 'mujahideen,' and 'caliphate' when addressing issues involving terrorism. The argument made by the DHS, NCTC, and others is that the use of such terms will aid in the 'recruitment' of Muslims to join terrorist organizations, or will alternatively provide 'legitimacy' to religious aspects of terrorist efforts.
In fighting Jihad, America's greatest challenge remains understanding and confronting the ideology that provides the basis for Jihadist terrorism. Efforts to clearly define this enemy ideology recently have been undermined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and the State Department in promoting a 'terror lexicon' that recommends federal government employees avoid terms such as 'jihad,' 'jihadist,' 'Islamist,' 'mujahideen,' and 'caliphate' when addressing issues involving terrorism. The argument made by the DHS, NCTC, and others is that the use of such terms will aid in the 'recruitment' of Muslims to join terrorist organizations, or will alternatively provide 'legitimacy' to religious aspects of terrorist efforts.
However, this tactical approach to create a 'terror lexicon' to ban such terms used in federal government terrorism reports and the 9/11 Commission report undermines the strategic efforts to identify, understand, and confront the ideology that is the root challenge in a war of ideas against Jihad. And, as Bill West points out, it can also open the door to some unintended consequences for law enforcement.
....to address this strategic war of ideas, America needs to be willing to recognize that we should not grant special treatment to those hostile to our values. In facing the challenge of Jihadist terrorism, we need to be able to name and discuss the enemy's ideology.
....to address this strategic war of ideas, America needs to be willing to recognize that we should not grant special treatment to those hostile to our values. In facing the challenge of Jihadist terrorism, we need to be able to name and discuss the enemy's ideology.
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