REDEFINING THE GLOBAL ISLAMIST HIRABAHA very short, but interesting cultural intelligence paper on message strategy:
"
Choosing Words Carefully:Language to Help Fight Islamic Terrorism" by
Dr. Douglas E. Streusand and
LTC Harry D. Tunnell IVIn essence, the authors argue that the U.S. government is so out of touch with the Arab-Muslim world that U.S. officials and pundits end up using words to criticize Islamist terrorists that actually have very positive connotations for Muslim audiences. Thus, in a stroke, managing to make the Islamist propaganda case for the terrorists while offending moderate Muslims. The authors make the following recommendations:
DON'T SAY:Jihad/Jihadi " Striving for the Path of God"
Mujahid/Mujahideen " Holy Warrior"
Caliphate " Succesor of the Prophet"
Allah " God"
INSTEAD USE:Hirabah "Sinful warfare, warfare contrary to Islamic Law"
Mufsid/ Mufsidun " Evil or Corrupt person" or
Fattan " Tempter or subversive"
TotalitarianGodAs I am neither an Arabist nor a linguist by training, I'd like to hear what those who are think about this argument by Streusand and Tunnell.
Hat Tip to the excellent
Small Wars Journal Reference Library.