By focussing on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban alone (US currently trying to cut a deal with the Taliban?), US misses hundreds of jihadist groups around the world, and, many present here in the US. To deny the use of Islamist and Jihad in US nat. security policy is defining the Islamic Jihadists as something other that what they know they are and the rest of the world knows they are. Ignoring Jihadists will not delay or stop them. With such a policy, one will not see them coming to take ones’ head.
The more the US public is aware of the scope of the largest jihad in world history, certainly extensively global and expanding, the better. The govt.s policy is a failure in dealing with the reality and scope of the Jihad. It is associating at high levels, “riding the tiger” it is not controlling...and is likely to be enjoyed at dinner time whenever the tiger desires. Pulling out of Iraq and Afganistan will not result in time in any sort of victory for the US...Iran if left intact may inherit all.