Occupation (Not War)

We can end the Iraq OCCUPATION, there is no winning or losing, only ending. So lets start calling it the Iraq Occupation, every Democratic Senator and every Democratic Representative could easily get on board with this request. A simple step to please us, peace makers. An occupation has a police force, a war has soldiers and armies. An occupation has a homegrown ruling government, where a war ignores the occupied people's government. The phrase "Iraq Occupation" would be a framing win for our peace side of the political conversation. So lets ask everyone to call it the Iraq Occupation!

•  Framing is our friend!

  And for bonus points ask every politician to use peace once in every speech!

  by The Grace Kelly on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:24:18 PM PDT

•  framing isn't going to solve an issue

  like the Iraq War. It's not nearly that powerful.

  by AnnArborBlue on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:29:39 PM PDT

  •  In a way yes

    Our Democratic representatives have trouble defunding a war, they would have trouble defunding an occupation! The word war is Bushism. We should not use that word.

    by The Grace Kelly on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:34:27 PM PDT

    •  you can call it a ham sandwich if you want

      the attitude of Americans isn't going to be shaped by whether you call it an occupation or a war any more than their attitude on taxes is shaped by whether or not you call it "membership fees" or their attitude of pro-lifers affected by whether you call them "anti-choice".

      by AnnArborBlue on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:38:25 PM PDT

      •  Actually marketing is based on names

        A ham sandwich would work better for us because

        • no one feels patriotic to ham sandwich
        • a ham sandwich does not need an army
        • a ham sandwich does not need funding

        and once an ham sandwich is eaten, it is gone.

        by The Grace Kelly on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:42:47 PM PDT

      •  agree

        and I (as well as a few others) have been in the "occupation, not war" camp for well over a year now.

        While it is "better" to call it what it is (occupation), at this point it won't get us out of there any quicker.

        We are long past this framing being effective, or at least as effective as it can be/would have been.

        Saying "occupation" isn't going to change the discussion re: defunding/redeployment/withdrawal, etc.

        by clammyc on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:42:56 PM PDT