The [W]est needs a more comprehensive strategy to counter al-Qaeda propaganda and the US should stop using the term “war on terror”, according to a top intelligence official.

Charles Allen, the senior intelligence official at the Department of Homeland Security, says the phrase is counter-productive because it creates “animus” in Islamic countries.

“[It] has nothing to do with political correctness,” Mr Allen said in an interview. “It is interpreted in the Muslim world as a war on Islam and we don’t need this.”

Hmmm. Think of all the other things that create "animus" in Islamic countries: church bells, Bibles, Jews, Israel, even visas from Israel, freedom of conscience; women's arms, wine....Before you know it, Homeland Security will be telling us we don't need them, either.

There's all too much more to this report, but thankfully, Robert Spencer has already performed the public service of making mincement of this Washington prattle here.