"Long War" label to be dropped. Yup, that should take care of it.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52812&archive=true

Stars and Stripes,
Mideast edition, Friday, April 20, 2007



Adm. William Fallon has jettisoned the phrase “The Long War,” coined by former U.S. Central Command chief John Abizaid to convey the time needed to defeat the religious extremism fueling al-Qaida, according to a report in Thursday’s Tampa Tribune.

Fallon, who replaced Abizaid on March 16, considered the term inconsistent with the goal of reducing the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, the command told the Tribune.

The paper quoted Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt McLaughlin, a command spokesman, as saying that referring to the broader battle as a lengthy ideological conflict distracted from the more immediate benchmarks and suggested there was no plan to leave the region.

“The change in vernacular is a product of our ongoing effort to use language that describes the conflict for our Western audience while understanding the cultural implications of how that language is construed in the Middle East,” McLaughlin wrote the Tribune in an e-mail.

[bigtree]

1. what about the other rhetoric

they've used several talking points to let us know they're not coming up off of their terror war.

[vickitulsa]

2. You said it! "That should take care of it."

So far I'm kinda liking Fallon, though -- he called it like it is when he said we are "losing ground every day."

They can drop "The Long War" but the rest of us won't! LONG it is and there's no glossing that over or denying it.

I refer to it as "Endless War" when I talk to folks about this Bu$h regime and what they love to do.

[youthere]

3. Well that just changes everything then...

what a fool I was to oppose this war. :eyes:

[Solly Mack]

4. LMAO

[Monkeyman]

5. Never Ending War More Like It

[tabasco]

6. War for oil is all it ever was.

This war never had anything to do with the welfare of the Iraqi or American people. It is brazen profiteering and detracts from the mission against our true enemies. The Bush oil mafia will keep us in Iraq as long as we allow them.

[Bobbieo]

7. I agree - it always has been about oil!!!

[Philosoraptor]

8. It's all about packaging a product.

They have dozens of names for it, the global war on terror, the fight for freedom and democracy, the calling of our generation, the war on islamofascism, bla bla bla.

Just waiting for the next nuance.

[Rex]

9. That is true, 5 years does not a long war make!

I just wish they would tell the fucking truth for once - we don't ever plan on leaving the ME. Not as long as a single penny exists to be made! Fucking suits should never run the military! Bad bad bad idea.

Look where we are now, idiots.

[Philosoraptor]

10. The Lost War

[BrklynLiberal]

11. THAT is the new name they should use!!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Shades of "1984". Change the name and everyone will forget what it was all really about.

:silly: :crazy: :wtf:

The Ministry of Truth, which exercises complete control over all mass media in Oceania, employs Winston at the Records Department, where he doctors historical records in order to comply with the Party's version of the past. Since the present needs of the Party require constant revision of past events in order to reflect the shifting nature of the party's orthodox view of history, the task is a never-ending one.

from Wikipedia description of "1984"

[grannylib]

13. Like the bushies' new term for hunger: 'experiencing food insecurity'

So what the hell ARE they going to call it? The Long Lie? The Infinity War?

[lebkuchen]

14. Meanwhile, Stripes editors promoted "long war" in this Heritage Foundation editorial

from yesterday's paper.

Realists acknowledge the 'long war'

Without a good long-war strategy, states often take steps that are self-defeating and self-weakening (such as establishing state-directed economies or declaring martial law) in a desperate battle to prevail.

Good long-war strategy must provide for security, economic growth, the protection of individual liberties and winning the ideological struggle — and doing all equally well to ensure that the nation doesn’t just win, but emerges from the conflict a free, safe and prosperous victor.

Acknowledging that America is waging a long war is essential. It must be recognized to make sure this nation takes the right steps to win. It’s just as important as when we called the Cold War “cold,” which helped Americans understand that we couldn’t defeat the Soviet empire through direct military confrontation.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=45266

[Philosoraptor]

15. Like fine scotch, give it at least 12 years or so.

[progressoid]

16. Whew...now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Philosoraptor]

17. .............