Language with Intent

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

—Sun Tzu's Art of War, ss. 3.18: Attack by Stratagem (suntzusaid.com)

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It will be interesting to note how the left reacts to the ongoing and bloody conflicts around the world now that they will be unable to blame and hate G W Bush for them. For the last 8 years, western governments and agencies have been bending over backwards, passing policies and issuing phrasebooks to avoid any simultaneous mention of "Muslim", "Islam (or Islamic)", and "terrorism".

UK:
The Daily Mail: "Government renames Islamic terrorism as 'anti-Islamic activity' to woo Muslims"

"Ministers have adopted a new language for declarations on Islamic terrorism.

In future, fanatics will be referred to as pursuing "anti-Islamic activity".

(I'm pretty sure the fanatics have their own ideas about how Islamic their activities are - Jack)

The Guardian: "Whitehall draws up new rules on language of terror -Phrasebook designed to avoid blaming Muslims for extremism"

EU:
The Telegraph: Don't confuse terrorism with Islam, says EU

"Brussels officials have confirmed the existence of a classified handbook which offers "non-offensive" phrases to use when announcing anti-terrorist operations or dealing with terrorist attacks."

(one wonders why the handbook had to be classified if there is no link between Islam and terrorism - Jack)

US:
From the official non-binding memo that was circulated to "Federal agencies, including the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counter Terrorism Center," (Document here)

• Don't Invoke Islam
• Don't Harp on Muslim Identity
• Avoid the term 'caliphate,' which has positive connotations for Muslims, to describe the goal of al-Qaida and associated groups. The best description of what they really want to create is a 'global totalitarian state.' (oh that's much better - Jack)
  
• Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahideen' in conversation to describe the terrorists. 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.
  
• When possible, avoid using terms drawn from Islamic theology in a conversation unless you are prepared to discuss their varying meanings over the centuries. Examples: salafi, uzahhabist, caliphate, sufi. ummah. Do not use "ummah to mean "the Muslim world." It is not a sociological term rather it is a theological construct not used in everyday life."
  

In the history of the World, has there even been such exquisite deference to those that proudly proclaim to be our enemies? Replace the words Islamic with Nazi or Nazism, Muslim with the words German, and caliphate with "The Third Reich" and tell me if you think any of the Western (and Eastern!) governments of the day would have willingly restrained their use of language when dealing with the Nazi threat?

"For Stalin's sake Comrade, don't mention the The 3rd Reich, it will only inflame them further!"	"Hey old chap, don't talk about 'Nazism' when speaking with our German POW's, as you simply don't have the correct philosophical underpinnings to debate the difference between Socialism, National Socialism and just plain genocide. I mean you're not a German so how could you possibly understand?!?"	"Hey Sarge, the guidebook says we can't call the Krauts: bosch, hun, Nazis, sauerkraut munchers, stein drinkin' lederhose wearin' tulip smellin' Farterlanders. Can we call em' "weiner suckers""?

The focus on "offensive" language and the attempts to control it demonstrates that there is a widespread belief we are not in fact in a war, and if anything it is all the product of Bush et al. And this has real policy implications.

However it is not all doom and gloom. There are groups that are recognising this inability to clearly identify the enemy is hampering our ability to fight. From the Washington Post:

""The fact is our enemies cite the source of Islam as the foundation for their global jihad," the report said. "We are left with the responsibility of portraying our enemies in an honest and accurate fashion." "

Further links

• "Not calling Islamism the Enemy" - Daniel Pipes
• "Government policies stifle Talk of Islam" - Pyjamas Media

Picture sources:

• Russkies
• Brits
• Doughboys