Barack Obama either doesn’t know using the word, “ISIL” isn’t the name of the enemy – or he uses it on purpose, just to anger Israel. You can answer that after reading the essay below.
More background and solid historical reference from guest contributor, Laurie Sterling – in a continuing series. More information that doesn’t bode well for Obama when people are actually armed with the truth instead of blabber from our mainstream media.
Isn’t is strange that, not only does President Obama refuse to call civilization’s vicious enemies for who they are, Islamic extremists, but we can’t even get the name of the enemy right? Is it ISIL, ISIS, or Islamic State?
The confusion between the reporting of the names of the brutal terror group is no mere coincidence – and it just might have everything to do with efforts by the Obama Administration to delegitimize our nation’s greatest ally, Israel – by Laurie Sterling : Reprinted with permission
When U.S. president, Barack Hussein Obama gave his prime time address to the nation on September 10, 2014, he conspicuously changed the name of the terrorist group commonly known as ‘ISIS’ to ‘ISIL.’1 We assert that Obama knew exactly what he was doing. Many do not realize that he may have been speaking in Islamic “code language” that few westerners understand.
Instead of saying, ‘ISIS,’ or ‘Islamic State of Sham’ (Sham being an Arabic term that refers to Greater Syria), Obama referred to the group as ‘ISIL,’ which means ‘Islamic State of the Levant.’2 Notice the significance of the word, ‘Levant.’ Christopher Wolf of the website PRI.com provides some insight into the meaning of the term. He asserts, “Scholars today largely agree on the bounds of the Levant, extending from the Antakya region of Turkey, through Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, and round to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Some include Cyprus, as well. This coincides exactly with the classical Arab region of Sham.”3
The question that begs to be answered is this – When Obama says, “Islamic State of the Levant,” is he implying that Israel is an Islamic state, since Israel is considered part of the Levant? When one examines Obama’s actions since he first took office, it is clear that he has consistently favored Islam over other groups and religions. Volumes could be written about Obama’s loyalties to Islam. Suffice it to say that, beginning with his speech in Cairo in 20094, to his appointing of Muslim Brotherhood members to the Department of Homeland Security5, to his cold-shoulder treatment of Israel6, it is hardly a stretch to imagine his intention of dissing Israel once again by using the term.
It is equally important to understand what is really meant by the term “ISIS” or “Islamic State of Sham.” In some ways, both ISIS and ISIL are interchangeable since they both speak of “Greater Syria,” but, as we shall see, invoking the term ‘Levant’ has much more historical significance.
Claude Salhani of the website Oil Price.com provides further insight into the ISIS threat, “Here’s why the threat goes beyond Iraq and Syria…Modern Syria is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan and Israel to the south and Lebanon to the west. ‘Greater Syria’ incorporates most of the territories of each,” he asserts.7
Salhani further cites Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma: “If we can teach people that so many Arabs still think of Syria as Greater Syria, they will begin to understand the extent to which Sykes-Picot remains challenged in the region.”8
Salhani further explains the meaning of Sykes-Picot and the significance of the term “Greater Syria.” He states, “Sykes-Picot, of course refers to the secret agreement drawn up by two British and French diplomats — Sir Mark Sykes and Francois George-Picot — at the end of Word War I dividing the spoils of the Ottoman Empires between Britain and France by drawing straight lines in the sand.”9
“To this day, many Arabs refuse to accept that division and think of ‘Syria’ as ‘Greater Syria.’ Some go so far as to include the Arab countries of North Africa – which from the Nile to the Euphrates forms ‘the Fertile Crescent,’ the symbol of many Muslim countries from Tunisia to Turkey. And some even go as far as including the island of Cyprus, saying it represents the star next to the crescent,” asserts Salhani.10
Could Obama and other world leaders be conspiring to actually return the land to the boundaries of the former Ottoman Empire? Mike Whitney of Counterpunch.com speculated on Landis’s remark above regarding Sykes-Picot remaining challenged in the region. He states; “So, if Mr. Landis is right, then the fracas in Iraq and Syria might just be the tip of the iceberg. It could be that Washington, Tel Aviv and Riyadh –who we think are the driving force behind this current wave of violence–have a much more ambitious plan in mind for the future. If this new method of effecting regime change succeeds, then the sky’s the limit. Maybe they’ll try the same stunt in other countries too, like Turkey, Tunisia, Cyprus, and all the way to North Africa. Why not? If the game plan is to Balkanize Arab countries wholesale and transform them into powerless fiefdoms overseen by US proconsuls and local warlords, why not go on a regime change spree?”11
While Mr. Whitney’s comments seem plausible, it seems entirely unlikely that Tel Aviv would want to be involved in a “regime change spree” when the vacuum created by such “regime changes” is bringing about unleashed barbarian brutality in the form of ISIS. Obviously, Israel would not go against itself, but one can understand that countries like Saudi Arabia and even the United States (under Obama’s leadership), having an interest in regime change. This is evidenced in Obama’s support to overthrow Mubarak in Egypt by cooperating with the Muslim Brotherhood.12
On August 10, 2014, on my website, Watch Lady on the Wall.com, I made the following statement: “There is also growing speculation that Obama is intent on overthrowing al-Maliki in Iraq.”13 This was my conclusion after reading the following comment from Mike Whitney of Counterpunch.com. Whitney commented, What matters to Obama and his deep-state puppet-masters is regime change, that is, getting rid of a nuisance who hasn’t followed Washington’s directives. That’s what this is all about. Obama and Co. want to give al Maliki the old heave-ho because he refused to let U.S. troops stay in Iraq past the 2012 deadline and because he’s too close to Tehran.
Two strikes and you’re out, at least that’s how Washington plays the game.”14
We now know that Obama was successful in deposing al Maliki and, sadly, we see the dire consequences that have resulted in the region with ISIS wrecking havoc ever since.15 To the countless Christians and other ethnic minority groups being slaughtered in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, it matters little what name the terrorists are called. They and everyone else in the world should call it one name and one name only: pure, unadulterated evil. Anti-Semitism is rising throughout the globe while millions choose to stand with Hamas against Israel under the red herring of the “Free Gaza” movement.16
Obama turns a blind eye to the evil perpetrated by what he deems to be the “Islamic State of the Levant” while quietly giving a wink to the Muslim Brotherhood. Is it a coincidence that Obama recently invited noted members of the Muslim Brotherhood to the White House?17 Furthermore, with his recent speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, there can be no doubt as to where the president’s loyalties lie – Not with the Americans he swore an oath to protect, but with the cause of furthering the agenda of Islam.18 The world is on fire, and like Nero, Obama is playing the fiddle, but this time it is in the form of word games. Is it a stretch to think that Obama would imply an “Islamic State of Israel?” Sadly, the conclusion must be no.
Follow Laurie on Twitter @lauriesterlingm
1 “Obama ISIS Speech [FULL] Today on 9/10/2014: ‘Ultimately Destroy’ Militants.” The New York Times, You Tube. Accessed February 11, 2015.
2 “You Say Levant, I Say Sham: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Greater Syria. PRI. http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-01-08/you-say-levant-i-say-sham-lets-call-whole-thing-greater-syria
3 Ibid.
4 “President Obama Speech to Muslim World in Cairo.” C-SPAN. You Tube. June 4, 2009. Accessed February 11, 2015.
5 Michael Dorstewitz, “Muslim Brotherhood Supporter Gets Homeland Security Promotion.” Biz Pac Review, September 13, 2013. Accessed February 11, 2015. http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/09/13/muslim-brotherhood-supporter-gets-homeland-security-promotion-83259
6 Associated Press, “Obama Refuses to Meet With Netanyahu During His Trip Just Two Weeks Before the Israel Election.” Daily Mail.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2922031/Obama-not-meet-Netanyahu-trip-Washington.html
7 Claude Salhani, “Why ISIS Won’t Stop With Iraq.” Oil Price.com: The No. 1 Source for Oil and Energy News, June 17, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2015. http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-ISIS- Wont-Stop-With-Iraq.html
11 Mike Whitney, “What Did the White House Know: Did Obama Know that ISIS Planned to Invade Iraq?” Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. June 24, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/06/24/did-obama-know-that-isis-planned-to-invade-iraq/
12 Ali Al Shambody, “Morsi Trial Expected to Expose Obama’s Ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.” Canada Free Press, October 31, 2013. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/58939
13 Laurie Sterling, “Did Obama Imply that Israel is an Islamic State by Using the Term, ‘ISIL?’” Watch Lady on the Wall.com, August 10, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.WatchLadyontheWall.com/blog/did-obama-imply-that-israel-is-an-islamic-state-by-using-the-term-isil-by-laurie-sterling
14 Mike Whitney, “What Did the White House Know: Did Obama Know that ISIS Planned to Invade Iraq?” Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. June 24, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/06/24/did-obama-know-that-isis-planned-to-invade-iraq/
15 Martin Chulov, Luke Harding, and Dan Roberts, “Nouri al-Maliki Forced From Post as Iraq’s Political Turmoil Deepens.” The Guardian. August 12, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/nouri-al-maliki-iraq-forced-out-prime-minister
16 Laurie Sterling, “Anti-Semitism Rings Loud In Chicago.” Watch Lady on the Wall.com. August 6, 2014.
Accessed February 11, 2015. http://www.WatchLadyontheWall.com/blog/anti-semitism-rings-loud-in-chicago-by-laurie-sterling
17 Allen West, “Revealed: Known Jihadist Members Among Attendees at Secret White House Meeting,” Allen West: Steadfast and Loyal, Allen West.com. February 11, 2015. Accessed February 11, 2015.
http://allenbwest.com/2015/02/revealed-known-jihadist-members-among-attendees-secret-white-house-meeting/
18 Charles Spiering, “Obama at National Prayer Breakfast: ‘People Committed Terrible Deeds in the Name of Christ.” Breitbart News, February 5, 2015. Accessed February 11, 2015. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/02/05/obama-at-national-prayer-breakfast-people-committed-terrible-deeds-in-the-name-of-christ/