I don't think the mis-nomer is so much about the US population, but rather perhaps a nod to diplomacy and coalition building. How many of Musharef's subjects would understand the difference between Islamo-fascist and Islam? I doubt they even have a word that translates well.
And as for trusting the US population, don't forget about 48% of them voted for Kerry, many if not most of them for no other reason than his name isn't Bush. Are those people trustworthy with the stakes so high?
I will say this, betting so much on SH's WMD was a huge mistake in my view. Whoever came up with that one ought to be doing 8-count bodybuilders until '08.
And if you come out public with your strategy, it won't work. If he had said "We're going into so AQ won't go there when we beat them in 'Stan!" They would have either run there first or done something completely different. You don't tell someone you're risking your queen when you are doing it, or even after.