The House Armed Services Committee is banishing the phrase "Global War on Terror" and its about darn time.
This from the Military Times:
A memo for the committee staff, circulated March 27, says the 2008 bill and its accompanying explanatory report that will set defense policy should be specific about military operations and "avoid using colloquialisms."
The "global war on terror," a phrase first used by President Bush shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., should not be used, according to the memo. Also banned is the phrase the "long war," which military officials began using last year as a way of acknowledging that military operations against terrorist states and organizations would not be wrapped up in a few years.
Committee staff members are told in the memo to use specific references to specific operations instead of the Bush administration’s catch phrases. The memo, written by Staff Director Erin Conaton, provides examples of acceptable phrases, such as "the war in Iraq," the "war in Afghanistan, "operations in the Horn of Africa" or "ongoing military operations throughout the world."
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Republicans can whine about not being consulted but let's be real, Iraq is the NOT the frontline of the "War on Terror", its a country mired in a civil war as a result of sectarian violence. Any terrorist activity in Iraq is a direct result of our engagement.
So let's call it what it is, The Iraq War..or better yet Bush's War, but it is NOT the "War on Terror".
For far too long the Middle and Left have let Republicans rule our language and we've been a bunch of wussies just going along.
A few examples:
The War on Terror
Surge
Patriot Act
Death Tax
Faith-Based
These terms are meant to change a perception or soften a message but they certainly are NOT the truth and we let them use this stuff all the time. Heck, I see these terms used here in Diary after Diary. Its like we are drinking their kool-aid and we should put the damn glasses down!!
There is no "War on Terror", no more than there is a "War on Robbery" or I have a "War on Housework". The word "War" implies that there is a potential end, a "victory", and that won't happen. Our actions against terrorists are going to be perpetual, a fact of life. There will always be extremists that we will be after..period. It is a constant, 9-11 just made us more aware of the threat and how important it is to our nation.
There is no "surge", its an "escalation" or "increase in troops". "Surge is the Republicans way of acting like this is somehow a natural occurrence that just happened..hell no!!!
"Faith-based" is "Religious"..and heck..you get my drift.
The fact is that we let the Republicans define the communication through sheer laziness and apathy. The next time you hear someone say "Surge" correct them or use the term "escalation" in response. Someone says "Death Tax" throw "Estate Tax" back at them..but don't let them get away with softening their message. Screw their euphemisms. Call your Senators and Representatives out when they use those terms. Make the Republicans tell the truth and don't let them get away with making us speak less plainly!!