"IS, ISIS, ISIL - Who Uses Which? Why?" Topic

I noticed that WH spokespersons refer to the group as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), while media seems to favor ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or simply IS (Islamic State).

Has anyone else here noticed such patterns in preference?

Any particular reasons why some would favor one form over another?

Just curious.

Dan
PS. As for the group itself, it started calling itself ISIS, then changed it to ISIL and, now that it has named a Caliph, it calls itself simply IS.

The BBC seem to have followed suit and are using IS.

..In Arabic, the group is known as Al-Dawla Al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham, or the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. The term "al-Sham" refers to a region stretching from southern Turkey through Syria to Egypt (also including Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan)…

link

Yeah. Putting aside what the group chooses to call itself this month or week …

1) What form of the group's most known acronym (ISIS, ISIL or IS) seems most popular in use among which foreign network, country or agency?

2) And why do you think that foreign entity would favor using that particular form of the acronym?

Dan

I wouldn't use IS, since I don't want to give them the credit.

ISIS seems to be the most favored (and up to date) though apparently the US gov't prefers ISIL, since ISIS mentions Syria in the name, and that calls into question inaction by certain individuals on that subject – per CNN, which covered this in the news last night.

CNN talked about the WH use of ISIL?

Dan

Didn't the British call the area of Palestinian territories, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, the Levant after WWI?

Yes, CC.

They prefer that, since it doesn't mention Syria in the name…….

Not sure, JammerMan, but that is supposedly the definition of the Levant, which also includes Turkey as well, apparently.

Would that inaction be the failure to arm the Syrian rebels ? if so maybe that was a good thing as ISIL/ISIS/whatever would know have had lots more weapons.

Probably.

I suspect you are correct, given reports that they raided a bunch of weapons caches of the Syrian rebels, in the last year, or so.

In the Middle East there is also the term 'DAESH,' which is an acronym formed from "Al-Dawla Al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham." It is considered derogatory and is broadly equivalent to referring to the NSDAP as 'NAZIs.' It's yet to catch on in the West, however.

I usually use ISIS or The Caliphate.

The way I have it explained from Tv/radio is ISIS would be the most correct term having taken at least part of Syria an Iraq. ISIL as Jammermen points out is giving them a much larger area than they have but believe me they wish they have.

The media use ISIS a lot … it's "catchy" !!

Islamic State Iraq Syria= ISIS

Who cares what we call them as they will be replaced by another fanatical group once we disperse these guys and it gets old?

Just looks like more Outremer to me.:)

Regardless of acronym, isn't it pronounced "target with extreme prejudice"?

Frankly, I'd cheer for Assad's thugs if they wiped out a thousand ISIS members (that were honest-to-god ISIS members)…

IS = Islamic State – what they call themselves lately.

ISIS = Islamic State in Iraq and Syria – this is an incorrect approximation of what they were calling themselves.

ISIL = Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – a more correct translation of what they were calling themselves. As Bill pointed out, the original is a reference to "al Shem", which approximates the Levant.

From what I understand, they now really want to be called IS, that is the "Islamic State", but out of respect for muslims in the rest of the world, the media seems to be outright refusing to use the term. So they use(d) ISIS, which sounds catchy and are moving toward ISIL.

I don't use ISIS, as that is already taken by that wonderful intelligence agency that features Sterling Archer as their top agent. Of course, it helps when your mother owns the company…

Now they're calling themselves HORUS: Hadith Offers Reinterpretation Uv Scripture. Nyuck nyuck nyuck.

In the British media they were initially called ISIL, then from last year they were called ISIS and then this year, following their announcement of a Caliphate, they've always been referred to as IS.

So ISIL, then ISIS, then IS.

I've always assumed that this has followed changes in the Arabic name.

There's no difference in the Arabic between ISIL and ISIS. The different English acronyms arose from the problem of translating 'al-Sham.' The 'Syria' referred to by Al-Sham is an area bigger than the modern country, so ISIS is a bit confusing as most people think of Syria in terms of the modern country rather than the historic region. ISIL is therefore slightly better, though most people don't have a clue what the Levant is either.
I assume there's some political motivation in not using 'Islamic State' in the West, as this would tacitly imply some recognition. Personally, I'd still lobby for DAESH, if for no other reason than IS themselves hate it.

Regardless of acronym, isn't it pronounced "target with extreme prejudice"?

Now … Now … That is not PC or open minded to a people who are … "different" … That kind of talk will get you in the Dawg Haus or maybe DELETED … Of course as I said, most of what you need to game this is made by GHQ …

FWIW, Al Jazeera English site used ISIL instead of ISIS.

DDT

I started calling them "Izzies" (for ISIS, you see), but my wife dissuaded me by pointing out that that is the nickname of a little neighborhood girl. Shucks….