Does the name of our opponent in Operation Inherent Resolve matter?

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:29:59 -0400

What is the name of whom we are fighting? Depending on what article you read or who is speaking you hear ISIL, ISIS or Daesh. Seems like by all this time we would have a common name for this group of terrorists.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 30 at 2016 11:37 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:37:36 -0400

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen great question, it keeps changing year after year it seems. You get less medals for more work now! You used to get the GWOT medals! It's all the same IMHO!

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 30 at 2016 11:50 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:50:42 -0400

What's in a name? Apparently for some, a lot. It seems that references to "Levant" legitimize the claim of Islamists to all of the territories where Muslims have ever held claim. Our President seems to put great stock in this. "ISIS" has given rise to the disrespectful use of "WasWas". I suspect this annoys Islamists. Ultimately, our confusion over naming our enemy is symbolic of the confusion of our leaders in confronting them. Thus, it appears that S.I. Hayakawa was wrong in his assertion that "...there is no magic in words."

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 30 at 2016 11:55 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:55:28 -0400

We have been engaging in covert warfare with disciples of Wahhabi Muslim doctrine since before 9/11/2001 and overt warfare with them since - in operations in Syria and Iraq we are fighting against al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda, and ISIS [or their du jour name] and to some degree Iranian "militias" Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
The enemy has been changing its names since the 1960s when the various and sundry Palestinian terror groups renamed themselves as they mastered the news cycles: Al-Quds Brigades, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and subgroups or offshoots: Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Abu Nidal organization (ANO), also known as Fatah - the Revolutionary Council (FRC), Ahmed Abu Reish Brigade. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Black September.
The name of the enemy as a focus makes sense in force-on-force conflicts. It doesn't make sense in warfare against non-state actors [even those with grand caliphate aspirations).
Thanks for mentioning me SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 30 at 2016 11:57 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:57:18 -0400

It's a good question, Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen, but General James Mattis, USMC retired, didn't worry about names. He articulated his approach in these two quotes:
“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill EVERYBODY you meet.”
“Find THE ENEMY that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they’re so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.” LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 12:06 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 12:06:49 -0400

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen, they call themselves the Islamic State and strongly dislike daesh, which is general used as a pejorative in the region. The problem with calling them the Islamic State is that it accepts that they are actually a Nation-State with the rights of one. This is part of why there is so much confusion. Another problem is what region they claim, the Lavant is a larger area than Iraq or Syria and they'd like to control all if that as well.

Daesh is basically am Arabic way of pronouncing the acronym IS, but has been hijacked by their enemies as a pejorative so they don't use it anymore, is the ISIL leadership ever really did.

LTC Brian Steed is somewhat of an expert in this field and had has written a few books that can explain the background I the region pretty well although I don't think he has released a book specifically on ISIL yet.

I hope my rambling diatribe helped. Long story short, in this case it legally matters what we call them as a Nation because of the international legal implications.

Response by MSgt C Madd made Jul 30 at 2016 4:05 PM

MSgt C Madd — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 16:05:30 -0400

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Go with Daesh, they don't like this one.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 30 at 2016 5:23 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:23:24 -0400

You would think not but in Information Warfare sometimes those Little Nuances really do matter. ISIL or ISIS gives them some Credence and is in some small way recognizing them as a "Caliphate" State or an Independent Country it gives them a great deal of Undue Recognition. Daesh is their Older Name and it Implies a Boot Stepping On People, Much like the Propaganda the US had against the Nazis with a Swastika Emblazoned Boot stepping on Europe. They are trying to Sell themselves as a Little Softer in Tone to those of similar religious backgrounds (Hard to Believe I know) Using their Original Name so Offends them now that they have issued their Own Fattwah calling for the Execution of anyone using the Name Daesh for them. Guess what I call them, You Go It DAESH!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 31 at 2016 1:08 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 01:08:17 -0400

Muj?