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Home Front: WoT
The End of the Global War on Terror
2009-03-24
The end of the Global War on Terror -- or at least the use of that phrase -- has been codified at the Pentagon. Reports that the phrase was being retired have been circulating for some time amongst senior administration officials, and this morning speechwriters and other staff were notified via this e-mail to use "Overseas Contingency Operation" instead.

"Recently, in a LtGen [John] Bergman, USMC, statement for the 25 March [congressional] hearing, OMB required that the following change be made before going to the Hill," Dave Riedel, of the Office of Security Review, wrote in an e-mail.

"OMB says: 'This Administration prefers to avoid using the term "Long War" or "Global War on Terror" [GWOT]. Please use "Overseas Contingency Operation.'"

Riedel asked recipients to "Please pass on to your speech writers and try to catch this change before the statements make it to OMB."

By way of history, senior Bush administration officials several years ago wanted to stop using the phrase and switch to something many felt might better reflect the realities of the fight against international terrorism.

One leading option was to change the name to GSAVE, or Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism. This was not as catchy an acronym as GWOT, but officials felt it more accurately described the battle.Then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld even used the GSAVE abbreviation publicly.

But, in a White House meeting, President Bush ruled that it was still a war for him, and Rumsfeld and everyone else went back to GWOT.
Posted by:tipper

#14  You may not be interested in Global Terror, but Global Terror is interested in you.
Posted by: SteveS   2009-03-24 20:45  

#13  Wonder if the 'other side' will recognize the unilateral ceasefire.

High probability of that, Procopius2k.

Posted by: trailing wife   2009-03-24 19:03  

#12  and GRANOLA is made up of fruit, nuts, and flakes.
Posted by: mom   2009-03-24 18:47  

#11  Indeed, we are truly doomed...
Posted by: JohnQC   2009-03-24 18:16  

#10  GRAN (Global Reprimand Against Naughtiness)

GRANOLA (Global Reprimand Against Naughtiness, Obama Loves All)
Posted by: charger   2009-03-24 12:34  

#9  Only two months in and the new administration issues its 'mission accomplished' statement. Just don't learn do they. Wonder if the 'other side' will recognize the unilateral ceasefire.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-03-24 12:25  

#8  This isn't just a battle over politically correct semantics. Executive powers during wartime differ greatly from "man caused disasters".
Posted by: Thealing Borgia122   2009-03-24 12:18  

#7  Sexist B****. In my leftoid book it says "Life Entity Caused Disasters".
Posted by: Large Snerong7311   2009-03-24 11:26  

#6  Hey, You! Stop That! Unless It's Part Of Your Culture!
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-03-24 10:32  

#5  United Response Involving Nothing Effective.
Posted by: Dilphy McBlechog   2009-03-24 10:26  

#4  Terrorism=man-caused" disasters

'Away From the Politics of Fear'

Janet Napolitano, 51, is President Obama's new Homeland Security Secretary. She spoke with SPIEGEL about immigration, the continued threat of terrorism and the changing tone in Washington.

SPIEGEL: Madame Secretary, in your first testimony to the US Congress as Homeland Security Secretary you never mentioned the word "terrorism." Does Islamist terrorism suddenly no longer pose a threat to your country?

Napolitano: Of course it does. I presume there is always a threat from terrorism. In my speech, although I did not use the word "terrorism," I referred to "man-caused" disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.

Posted by: Injun Angulet2150   2009-03-24 10:25  

#3  GRAN (Global Reprimand Against Naughtiness)
Posted by: HammerHead   2009-03-24 09:19  

#2  The Great Pillow Fight Against Somebody Someplace...
Posted by: tu3031   2009-03-24 09:13  

#1  We're truly doomed ...
Posted by: William Marcy Tweed   2009-03-24 09:09  

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