One of the memo’s suggestions: labeling Al Qaeda as a “death cult.” The memo’s authors explained their thinking: “‘Cult’ is both normative and accurate in that it suggests a pseudo-religious ideology that is outside the mainstream … Referring to [Osama] bin Laden’s movement as ‘fringe’ or ‘outside the mainstream’ may also be helpful.” The document’s contents were subsequently ridiculed by right-wing bloggers, who accused Homeland Security of excessive political correctness.