U.S. Will "Redouble" It's Efforts Against ISIS...What does that mean?

After the attacks in Paris, President Obama and Representative Brooks spoke out to America promising citizens and the world that the country would "redouble" its efforts.

I sat back and thought, "What the heck does that mean?"

That means we double what we are doing and then double it again?

If what we did didn't work, would doubling and redoubling really improve the situation?

Would I double a recipe that failed to please the crowd?

This blog is just taking a peak into the language that's circulating around this conflict.

What does it mean to "Redouble"?

Appropriately, "redouble" comes from the Middle French Redoubler. It means to double again.

In cards, redouble also refers to doubling a bid someone else has placed down.

"Redouble" Is Cold War Language

 If we are upping the opponents bid, then we are in Cold War discourse. You do this, I do that...it's an arms race, not a solution.  We know that a tit-for-tat kind of strategy does not work as well in the Post Cold War era.  Rational Choice Theory and Game Theory do not hold up as well when networks are the opponent rather than states.

I'm not sure we want to "redouble." Perhaps "rethink" or "retrack" or "redo" or "revise" but more of the same doubled again seems like insanity.

Note: Dr. Sara Cobb, PhD Candidate Alison Castel and I have an upcoming Conflict Resolution Anthology that demonstrates the power of Cold War discourse and its failure as an approach in this era of violence. Stay tuned....