Obama Calls ISIL "Barbaric Terrorists"

victims killed by ISIL in Tikrit-- June 2014
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That's a mistake an intentionally misleading political label.

ISIL is terrifying, deplorable in many ways and murderous and brutal, so brutal that in 2014, according to wikipedia, "al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group, reportedly for its brutality and "notorious intractability".^[71][72] But that's not the same as terrorist.

Let's take a look at what Wikipedia has to say about terrorists:

In the international community, terrorism has no legally binding, criminal law definition.^[1][2] Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts that are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (e.g., neutral military personnel or civilians). Some definitions now include acts of unlawful violence and war. The use of similar tactics by criminal organizations for protection rackets or to enforce a code of silence is usually not labeled terrorism, though these same actions may be labeled terrorism when done by a politically motivated group. Usage of the term has also been criticized for its frequent undue equating with Islamism or jihadism, while ignoring non-Islamic organizations or individuals.^[3][4]

The word "terrorism" is politically loaded and emotionally charged,^[5] and this greatly compounds the difficulty of providing a precise definition. Studies have found over 100 definitions of "terrorism".^[6][7] In some cases, the same group may be described as "freedom fighters" by its supporters and considered to be terrorists by its opponents.^[8] The concept of terrorism may be controversial as it is often used by state authorities (and individuals with access to state support) to delegitimize political or other opponents,^[9] and potentially legitimize the state's own use of armed force against opponents (such use of force may be described as "terror" by opponents of the state).^[9][10] At the same time, the reverse may also take place when states perpetrate or are accused of perpetrating state terrorism.^[11] The usage of the term has a controversial history, with individuals such as ANC leader Nelson Mandela at one point also branded a terrorist.^[12]

ISIS has stated that it's goal is to create a caliphate that rules the world. It identifies itself as a caliphate, in other words, a nation or state. It was relatively dormant while the US was present in Iraq, and grew considerably in Syria, for all we know, with the help of extreme fundamentalist Sunni interests and possible even with the help of the US and Europe, as a way to erode the power of Syria's Assad.

ISIL is a concrete manifestation of very extreme religious fanatics. Wikipedia states,

"In its self-proclaimed status as a caliphate, it claims religious authority over all Muslims across the world^[46] and aspires to bring much of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its direct political control,^[47]beginning with territory in the Levant region, which includes Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus, and an area in southern Turkey that includes Hatay.^[48][49] The group has been officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council,^[50] the United States,^[51] the United Kingdom,^[52] Australia,^[53] Canada,^[54] Indonesia^[55] and Saudi Arabia,^[56] and has been widely described as a terrorist group by Western and other media sources.^{[17][57][58][59][60][61]}

^{One thing is clear. ISIL has already taken such a hold over major parts of Iraq that Obama, in the Q & A session after his press conference, stated that it was necessary to} "Create a safe corridor so these people can move." That indicates that ISIL already has control over major swathes of Iraq. That makes it more than a "barbaric terrorist" group. That makes it a conquering nation. In the past, instead of terrorist, the worde "horde" was used, as in "conquering horde," which was pejoratively used to suggest barbarian, non-civilized forces.

My point is that the idea of terrorism and terrorists is one used to justify massive funding to the tune of billions of dollars. Calling it terrorism instead of war, which is what happens when one nation is in conflict with another allows the president and congress to evade the responsibility for declaring war, for getting official authorization.

ISIL is bad news. Mis-labeling it is also bad news. It further worsens the fog of war and perpetuates the failure to hold the president and congress accountable.