Anyone who calls Khalid Sheikh Mohammed "KSM" is an idiot, a dupe, or a propagandist

[alcibiades_mystery]

I mean, please, people.

I now hear every dimwitted propagandist on TV referring to this man as "KSM," as if that's his super-bad-guy brand name, and now this bullshit is popping up on DU? Gimme a break.

At least "OBL" emerged organically as a short-hand for bin Laden. I hear this KSM shit uttered at least five times by uber-propagandist Jim Miklaszewski, only to then hear every other "correspondent" using the same douchebagesque Pentagon language. This is a program, people. Don't get coded so easily.

[Virginia Dare]

1. It's easier to type..

and invariably I would spell it wrong, and I would get chided for that too. Laziness on my part, not propaganda.

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Perhaps it's easier to type

But it's not easier to SAY KSM than it is to say "Mohammed" (they have the same number of syllables), which should be the standard news protocol for referring to somebody's NAME. Hell, you didn't hear Brokaw referring to Timothy James McVeigh as TJM, and that has the same number of syllables as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as well.

OK, I'll concede that KSM may be an easier way to write it on these boards. Fine. What worries me is that I first heard it (and never saw KSM here, coming out of the Pentagon, and that strikes me as the usual Orwellian acronymizing bullshit. Did anyone use KSM before today to refer to Mohammed? I'll do a search on that and get back to you.

[Igel]

22. There's a damned good reason to not just refer to him

by the his 'last name.'

"Mohammed confesses to planning 9/11 ... Mohammed is a terrorist ..." etc. etc.

[Matariki]

43. What I was thinking.

[alcibiades_mystery]

51. Yeah, that WOULD be CRAAAAAAZY

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070315/ap_on_re_as/terrorist_confession_daniel_pearl_1

:eyes:

[Virginia Dare]

25. This is true..

but they did in the end refer to Timothy McVeigh as simply McVeigh. And for the life of me, I can never remember what the "unabomber"'s name was, I just know him as "the unabomber" because that's what the media insisted on calling him.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed doesn't roll off the english/american tongue or fingers very well, so it's probably a little bit of both laziness and propaganda on the part of the Pentagon/news media.

By the way, a google search indicated that news organizations are spelling it both "sheikh" and "shaikh", so I have no idea which is correct.

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. There were no uses of the term "KSM" in GD or LBN before today

I only searched for the last year.

The term does appear several times in the September 11 forum, a few times in government reports (this is how the September 11 Commission referred to him) and often by one poster (KJF), who has been pretty consistent in referring to Mohammed as KSM.

I'll admit, though, that people have been using it before today. :-)

[Virginia Dare]

31. I know I used it before today..

I've probably been using it for at least 6 months, because I got tired of having to look up the spelling every time I posted about him. In fact, I think the first time I saw it used was here.

[uppityperson]

40. Wouldn't it more properly be Khalid?

Sheik is a position or title (like chief), and Mohammed is, well, used very often for many people and being the last part of his name it is more of a family designation rather than a personal name. Besides, if we start writing joke after joke about "Mohammed was ANS's baby's father", well, that is just offensive.

KSM is easier way to write, and is unique.

My gripe on acronyms: IED=bomb. Plain and simple.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. I'm going to point out what KO pointed out yesterday...this info was declassified in Februay, is it

coincidence that they made it public on the heels of the recent scandals?
Some more terror terror terror?

One more thing. Did they torture this man into his confessions?

[Virginia Dare]

26. Yes and yes...n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. "KO"? Hey, doesn't that make you a propagan ...

oh, forget it. ;-)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

36. Laughing here! I think he is the only one in MSM that ever tied in Terra warnings

to the Shrub's poll ratings.

[IronScorpio5]

2. I couldnt care less what you calll him, hes still....

a low life murdering bastard.

[atreides1]

6. SO is the US Military

If your on the wrong end of a rifle barrel!!!!!!

[spoony]

37. How can you

display that service insignia and condemn the collective US military as "low-life murdering bastard"?

[hobbit709]

8. And you have proof?

That is besides a "confession"

[Richard Steele]

20. Because you say so, right?

Pfft. :eyes:

[rpannier]

3. Everything nowadays seems to be coded

You are right. I think it's designed to make it sound cooler. It's why so many athletes, performers, etc feel the need to give them some sort of special moniker.

As to the 'KSM' moniker. For some of the reporters I think it occurred organically, because they couldn't pronounce Khalid and they couldn't spell Sheik or Mohammad because they're a bunch of lazy f**ks!

[The Wizard]

16. Kind of like IED

An Improvised Explosive Device is a fucking bomb or booby trap. Sanitizing brutality and death is propaganda.

[POAS]

4. Oh please pick a fight about something that matters

[Demit]

5. Why do you think it's code and not shorthand? I'm curious.

[majorjohn]

7. What would he say?

"Yes, I made that nickname up for myself, you can call me that"

[Mr. Ected]

9. Sorry, My Piss-Off Is Over Calling Him the "9/11 Mastermind"

After this administration has invoked OBL and Saddam/Iraq as the guilty parties.

Sounds like damage control to me.

Te, he. Too little, too late.

[SpiralHawk]

12. "Meet the new Uber Terra-rist. Same as the old Uber Terra-rist." - Commander AWOL

"No matter what you call him, he is not going to disburb my nap, or my reading."

- Commander AWOL

[havocmom]

14. Yes! THAT is the real 'code'. It's a jingo-jingle to sell a product!

Concerns about the state of the Union?

Economy got you down?

Outsourcing worries making you loose sleep?

Stop fretting, America! The 9/11 Mastermind has confessed! Everything is A-OK! Go shopping. Hey, max out your credit cards; The 9/11 Mastermind is tucked away and can't hurt you! Ding-Dong the Bogey Man is Gone!*

*Limited time offer. Offer of illusionary security ends next time cheney/rove need a really big distraction. No warranty of ACTUAL security and safety is given or implied. Void where deemed irrational by critical thinking.

[RagingInMiami]

10. Isn't KSM some rapper?

Sorry, that's KRS-One

[H2O Man]

11. Could you explain

what it is that you find offensive about this? I ask respectfully, and think it is possible that I am not alone in not understanding your point on this. Thank you.

[Mr. Ected]

13. It's Like Readying a Product for Market

Cutesy little nicknames or abbreviations, created for mass consumption by the American public.

Think "Chemical Ali", "Baghdad Bob", etc.

Remember: these were the same people who marketed and sold Iraq's Most Wanted Playing Cards.

[H2O Man]

23. Okay, thanks.

Much like calling that place that sells chicken by-products "KFC."

[sabra]

15. I use it save space (DU limitations in headlines, etc..) :-)

:hi:

[H2O Man]

17. Just so long

as you don't write, "New & Improved!"

[aikoaiko]

18. if he is a "super bad guy" would it be ok then?

:shrug:

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. I'm not worried about Mohammed per se

I'm more concerned that journalists are participating in what is to me a manipulative language game.

[TahitiNut]

24. "Help Stamp Out TLAs!"

:rofl:

[Atman]

28. Sheikh Al Hedgehog

Or just "Al Ron."

It's easier.

.

[NoPasaran]

38. Biggus Dickus

[Bluebear]

30. I suppose KhalMo is out, too?

:hide:

[Atman]

32. How about just K-Mo?

I like it! When he's done confessing to the extinction of the dinosaurs, he can record a new album with Jay-Z and Dangermouse.

.

[alcibiades_mystery]

33. No, KhalMo would work

You'd still be an idiot, but at least you'd be a funny idiot. :-)

[DemReadingDU]

35. Is this a WH diversion from all the scandals?

So many scandals going on now, that I think the White House conveniently brought out the confession of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for a diversion.

[Eric J in MN]

39. I typed "KSM" a minute ago to save time. NT

NT

[petronius]

41. So did I - I can't figure out if we're idiots or dupes, however

Maybe A_M will let us know... :rofl:

[alcibiades_mystery]

44. Dupes

official a_m diagnosis.

:thumbsup:

[petronius]

48. Thanks! (It's a relief, really - i was so afraid it was the other thing...) (nt)

:)

[alcibiades_mystery]

49. I can compromise at dunces if you're uncomfortable?

;-)

[majorjohn]

47. KSM thinks idiots n/t

[Bucky]

42. Also the acronym "KFC" bothers me.

"uber-propagandist Jim Miklaszewski"?

That's setting the bar a little low, isn't it?

[salin]

45. what comes to mind for me is "Forrest"

as in - gee he seems to have been everywhere at all times...

[Catherine Vincent]

46. It's only his initials.

Geeze.

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. Right

They call all criminals by their initials on the nightly news.

There was OJS, who killed his wife and Ron Goldman.
Then there was the elusive TJK, the so-called "Unabomber."
Who could forget JLM and EGM, the two brothers who shotgunned their parents to death.
Never mind TRB, who killed all those women and was eventually put to death in Florida.

:rofl:

[karlrschneider]

53. I promise to stop using JFK and FDR PDQ!

Can I still write "POS POTUS SOL, FUBAR" ?

:D :rofl:

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. If any of those seemed specifically designed by the pentagon

I would say that you should.

Since they aren't, I'd say it would be a different sort of thing altogether.

[JackRiddler]

52. Let's start with the 9/11 Commission

They call him KSM all the way.

http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch7.htm

[alcibiades_mystery]

55. Exactly

It is a branding operation from start to finish.

BTW, I already mentioned this fact in post #29. :-)