In shift, U.S. general says he’ll use ‘Daesh’ name for Islamic State
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Version 0 of 1. The general leading the new U.S. military task force carrying out operations in Iraq and Syria said Thursday that in future he’ll be calling the Islamic State “Daesh” — a first in the Pentagon but one that brings him in line with much of the Arab world. Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry used the word 25 times in a 30-minute news conference with reporters. He said partner nations in the Middle East have asked him not to use the Islamic State name or its related acronyms, ISIS and ISIL, out of concern that it legitimizes the militants’ aspiration to establish a caliphate, a sovereign Islamic sphere that would replace existing governments and borders. In Arabic, Daesh is a loose acronym for one of the group’s names, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (al-Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-Sham). The name is hated by the militants. The Associated Press reported in September that several people in the Iraqi city of Mosul said fighters with the group had threatened to cut out their tongues if they used the Daesh name. “Daesh is why we are here,” Terry said. “Daesh uses terror and fear to dominate people and reward themselves. It has demonstrated time and time again a disregard for life and humanity. It has also openly stated intentions to apply its trademark barbaric methods not only regionally, but globally as well. While we recognize the ruthlessness and capability of this enemy, we also realize that the strategic advantage and tremendous strength of the coalition will ultimately lead to the defeat of Daesh.” Retired Gen. John Allen, the the U.S. envoy to the coalition against the Islamic State, and Secretary of State John Kerry have both used the “Daesh” name to describe the militants. But Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary said Dec. 12 that there had been no fundamental policy shift. “Here in the Pentagon, we continue to refer to them as ISIL, but you may see… some Defense Department individuals using [Daesh] as well, particularly when they’re speaking to audiences in the Middle East,” Kirby said. “But there’s been no change from our policy here that we refer to them as ISIL.” The question of what to call the militants has been raised across the world. As noted on the World Views blog, the French foreign ministry announced in September that it would call the militants “Daesh.” Terry said Thursday that he expects it will take at least three years to build up the Iraqi military’s capabilities to withstand the threat posed by the militants. The military acknowledged the existence of the task force Terry leads — Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve – on Dec. 5. Separately, a U.S. defense official confirmed Thursday that U.S. or coalition air strikes have killed Abdul Basit, described as the commander of Islamic State military operations in Iraq, and Haji Mutazz, a top aide to Islamic State boss Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their deaths were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. UPDATE: 3:43 p.m.: The Pentagon is continuing to call the militants ISIL on social media: .@PentagonPresSec says targeted airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within ISIL http://t.co/AD9wEewALK — U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) December 18, 2014 .@PentagonPresSec says targeted airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within ISIL http://t.co/AD9wEewALK — U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) December 18, 2014 |