Dcmillitary.com
May 28, 2004


Dear Mr. John M. Rives and Mr. Bill Swanson,

Numerous e-mails and letters have been sent to dcmillitary.com regarding
the Persian Gulf name violation by dcmilitary.com writers and reporters.
Unfortunately, dcmillitary.com has completely ignored that fact as it
appeared again in the following link
http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/tester/9_21/local_news/29238-1.html.

The historic and correct name of the body of water to the south of Iran
and north of Arabia is internationally referred to as the "Persian Gulf".

The idea of using "Arabian Gulf" instead of "Persian Gulf" was promoted
by nationalist resist Arab dictators and then followed by the Bathist
regime of Saddam Hussein. Please, be advised that using that bogus name merely
assists the Bathist type ideas of Saddam Hussein remain.

In addition, not only you are in violation of international norms and
standards, but you are also in violation of the U.S. government's
acceptable geographical nomenclature.

http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2422.htm
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2404.htm

However, we believe that the name violation by dc.military.com is
unintentional hence we are asking you to abandon the incorrect name.

Furthermore, the following is my communication with the NGA regarding
this name abuse.

Sincerely,

Amir Naghshineh-Pour
Public Relations Director
Persian Gulf Task Force: Dedicated to preserve the history and ecology
of the Persian Gulf http://www.persiangulfonline.org
San Diego, CA, USA

Sir,

Yes, "Persian Gulf" is the correct name for that body of water according
to both NGA and the State Department. There was a short span of time when
CENTCOM asked for a parenthetical ("Arabian Gulf") underneath "Persian
Gulf". This applied only to products made directly for CENTCOM during a
certain period of time. That time has passed and PERSIAN GULF with
nothing
in parentheses is the only correct name for that body of water.

If you have further questions, Doug Ross, Chief of NGA's Geographic
Names &
Boundaries - East, will be happy to help you.

Thank you,

Joan Mears
Office of Corporate Relations, Public Affairs
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

-----Original Message-----
From: Amir Naghshineh-Pour [mailto:abibis@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:35 PM
To: queries@nga.mil
Cc: abibis@msn.com
Subject: Nomenclature for Body of Water

Dear correspondent @ the National Geospacial-Intelligence Agency,

Due to the recent incorrect reference to the name of the body of water bound to the south by Iran and to the north by Arabia as "Arabian Gulf" by dcmilitary.com www.dcmilitary.com and the U.S. Navy we at the Persian Gulf Task inquired about the organization that is in charge of the Nomenclature of geographical regions of the world for the U.S. Military and Navy.

Ms. Corey Schultz, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the National Naval Medical Center, took the case and after some investigation she referred us to you. Please see the following e-mails. Please be kind enough and let us know your policy of calling that body of water. Please be advised that it is U.S. government's official stance to use the correct and historic name "Persian Gulf" for that body of water as it is indicated on the U.S. Department of State's website.

http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2422.htm
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2404.htm

I would like to thank you in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Amir Naghshineh-Pour
Public Relations Director
Persian Gulf Task Force: Dedicated to preserve the history and ecology
of
the Persian Gulf http://www.persiangulfonline.org
San Diego, CA, USA