Ask the Experts: Whether It Matters What We Call ISIS
— -- “What’s in a name?”
Of all the conversation generated from this week’s Summit to Counter Violent Extremism, the White House probably didn’t expect one of the biggest takeaways would be President Obama’s vocabulary.
“We come together today because we are united against the scourge of extremism and terrorism,” Obama said in remarks at the State Department on Thursday. “The notion the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie.”
That speech, along with similarly-fashioned remarks the president delivered Wednesday, has sparked sharp criticism from TV pundits and across social media. Many have argued the administration cannot win its war against ISIS if it fails to designate the terror group as “Islamic extremists.”
In the past, the White House has defended its language as a means to prevent a propaganda victory by ISIS, arguing that by focusing on calling the group “Islamic” they risk alienating moderate Muslims.
But others have said that in order to defeat and destroy ISIS, as the administration has stated is its goal, then the ideology of the group must be accurately recognized and targeted in the battle.
So, does it really matter what we call our enemies? Watch the ABC News original video above to hear input from three defense and counterterrorism experts on the issue.
