Biden’s Top Intelligence Agency Warns Personnel Not to Use Words Like 'Jihadist' and ‘Islamic-Extremist,' These 'Problematic Phrases' Could Hurt Muslims Feelings

In a recent troubling revelation, an internal newsletter circulated by diversity, equity, and inclusion officials within the Biden administration’s top intelligence agency has cautioned personnel against using what they term as “problematic phrases” when discussing Islamic terrorism and foreign adversaries such as China. The uncovered document, exclusively obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Daily Wire, sheds light on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) efforts to reshape counterterrorism terminology, emphasizing the significance of language in shaping perceptions. However, critics argue that this information indicates a broader agenda at play – the use of language to whitewash Islam and the threat it poses to Americans.

As far as Islamic terrorists are concerned, their acts are done explicitly in the name of Allah and for the cause of Islam and Islamic law, a fact evidenced by the Islamic terrorists carrying out attacks across the globe. However, the intelligence agency, with the advice of Islamic supremacists and their organizations who are working with our government to hide the true nature of the threat. This is not an isolated incident; rather, it reflects a troubling trend within American intelligence agencies, where politically correct language and appeasement tactics overshadow efforts to combat terrorism.

The Dive: Shifting Counterterrorism Terminology

Titled “The Dive,” the unclassified newsletter presents a cover story advocating for a shift in terminology related to counterterrorism, citing the importance of language in the intelligence community. The author, whose identity remains redacted, stresses the goal of disassociating Islam from terminology often used to describe terrorism and extremist violence, deeming certain phrases as hurtful to Muslim Americans.

Among the flagged phrases are terms like ‘Salafi-Jihadist,’ ‘Jihadist,’ ‘Islamic-Extremist,’ ‘Sunni/Shia-Extremism,’ and ‘Radical Islamists.’ The newsletter, produced by ODNI’s Intelligence Community Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Office, was disseminated to personnel across various intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and intelligence components within each branch of the military.

Critics have swiftly denounced the guidance, viewing it as a concerning prioritization of political correctness over national security imperatives. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and U.S. Army veteran, lambasted the administration’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over core security concerns. “The Biden administration putting DEI above national security concerns is a tragedy waiting to happen,” Cotton remarked.

Similarly, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL), a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and U.S. Army veteran, derided the guidance as “totally insane,” likening it to the Obama administration’s purportedly inadequate approach to Islamic extremism. The newsletter’s publication comes against a backdrop of escalating Islamic terrorist threats globally, including the recent Hamas jihad attack that claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis and the recent ISIS attack in Russia that has claimed the lives of over 140 individuals.

Troubling Alignments: Biden Administration and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Moreover, concerns have been raised regarding the Biden administration’s alignment with troubling Islamic advocacy groups and influencers within the Muslim community, which has shaped its approach to counterterrorism discourse. The newsletter indicates that input from the Muslim community was sought in formulating alternative terms, with controversial Islamic scholar Shaykh Hamza Yusuf of Zaytuna College being invited to provide insights.

However, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf’s involvement in shaping counterterrorism discourse is highly contentious, given his troubling background. Born Mark Hanson in Walla Walla, Washington, on January 1, 1958, Yusuf has emerged as one of the West’s most influential Islamic scholars.

Yusuf spent ten years studying Islam in various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Mauritania. Despite his influence, Yusuf has a history of making anti-American and anti-Semitic statements. In 1995, he described Judaism as ‘a most racist religion,’ and in 1996, he expressed contempt for the United States, stating, ‘America … a country that has little to be proud of in its past and less to be proud of in the present.’ Just two days before the September 11, 2001 attacks, Yusuf spoke at a benefit dinner and predicted a ‘terrible fate’ for America, suggesting the country was ‘condemned.’

Yusuf has continued to criticize and express deep hatred of the United States. He has lamented the ‘dominant world order,’ characterized by capitalism and Western legal systems, and criticized America’s attempts to spread ‘consumerism’ and ‘gratuitous consumption’ worldwide. Moreover, he has expressed skepticism about the validity of other religions and suggested that Islam is superior. Yusuf’s statements have raised questions about his commitment to equal rights for non-Muslims and women in Islamic societies.

Yusuf has previously endorsed the Islamic terrorist group Hizballah. In America, has close ties to the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) –
a troubling organization with a long record of ideologically promoting jihad and martyrdom on behalf of Islam. At their conferences, he has given troubling speeches about Islamic Jihad and praised the idea that Islam could be a “threat to this society:”

Yusuf proudly announced his failure of a test devised by Daniel Pipes to determine whether a respondent holds dangerous Islamic beliefs. The test included questions about condemning terrorism, accepting the validity of other religions, and supporting equal civil rights. Yusuf’s history raises serious questions about his suitability to advise the government on counterterrorism strategies.

The Past Resurfaces: Judicial Watch’s Findings

The recent guidance issued by the Biden administration’s intelligence agency has reignited concerns about the whitewashing of Islam and the influence of radical Islamic groups and Muslims working with the Intelligence Community. This is not the first time we have seen this happen.

Judicial Watch exclusively obtained droves of records back in 2013 documenting how, under Robert Mueller’s leadership, the FBI purged all anti-terrorism training material deemed ‘offensive’ to Muslims after secret meetings between Islamic organizations and the FBI chief. Judicial Watch sued to get the records and published an in-depth report on the scandal in 2013 and a lengthier, updated follow-up in 2015.

As FBI director, Mueller bent over backward to please radical Islamic groups and caved into their demands. The agency eliminated the valuable anti-terrorism training material and curricula after Mueller met with various Islamic organizations, including those with documented ties to terrorism. Among them were two organizations— the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)—named by the U.S. government as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorist financing case. CAIR is a terrorist front group with extensive links to foreign and domestic Islamic terrorist groups. It was founded in 1994 by three Middle Eastern extremists (Omar Ahmad, Nihad Awad, and Rafeeq Jaber) who ran the American propaganda wing of Hamas, known then as the Islamic Association for Palestine.

The records obtained as part of Judicial Watch’s lawsuit show that Mueller, who served 12 years as FBI chief, met with the Islamic organizations on February 8, 2012, to hear their demands. Shortly later, the director assured the Muslim groups that he had ordered the removal of presentations and curricula on Islam from FBI offices nationwide. The purge was part of a broader Islamic operation designed to influence the opinions and actions of persons, institutions, governments, and the public. The records obtained by Judicial Watch also show similar incidents of Islamic influence operations at the Departments of Justice and State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Obama White House.

A Dangerous Path Forward

The recent revelations regarding the Biden administration’s intelligence agency’s attempt to reshape counterterrorism terminology, along with the troubling influence of certain Islamic advocacy groups on government policies, paint a grim picture of the path America is treading. By prioritizing political correctness over national security imperatives, America risks obscuring the true nature of the threat posed by observant Muslims.

The efforts to whitewash Islam and silence legitimate criticism not only undermine America’s ability to combat terrorism effectively but also jeopardize the safety of American citizens. The advice taken from individuals with questionable backgrounds, such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, raises serious concerns about the direction of America’s counterterrorism strategies.

Instead of focusing on genuine threats from Islamic extremists, intelligence agencies often seem preoccupied with combating perceived ‘Islamophobia’ and targeting political opponents. Meanwhile, the real danger persists unchecked. The FBI’s past failures to address terrorist threats from Islamic individuals like Major Hasan, Omar Mateen, Esteban Santiago, and the Tsarnaev brothers highlight the consequences of ignoring the true nature of the threat. The FBI had previously interviewed these jihadis, yet the agency failed to properly identify the imminent danger they posed. This pattern of overlooking critical warning signs underscores the urgent need to reassess counterterrorism strategies.

Effective law enforcement is supposed to prioritize protecting Americans from all forms of terrorism without succumbing to political pressures or appeasing radical groups supporting terrorists. The failure to do so endangers American lives and undermines the foundation of America’s national security.

As America moves forward, it’s imperative to confront the uncomfortable truths about Islam and its adherents, both at home and abroad. America cannot afford to once again let political correctness hinder its ability to address the real threats facing the nation. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of inaction, as we have seen repeatedly, are too dire.