GSAVE!

Hoarmurath · Post by **Hoarmurath** » July 27, 2005, 10:28 am

It looks like the War on Terror is changing its name to the Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism. In a lot of rhetoric lately (so far by Secretary Rumsfeld and JCS Chairman Gen. Myers that I know of), the term "war on terror" is being phased out and this new term is being used.

For example, take this article from April of last year regarding comments made by JCS Chairman General Myers:

Some staff writer I've never heard of wrote:The general drew attention to his reference to a struggle against extremism versus the more commonly used phraseology of a global war against terrorism. Myers said this was deliberate, because the term "war" implies that only the military is capable of winning or losing it. But winning a struggle against extremism requires a concerted effort by all elements of the U.S. government, as well as input from non-governmental organizations and others, he said.

Secretary Rumsfeld started using the new term last year as well, as in this speech to the National Press Club in September 2004:

Secretary Rumsfeld wrote:There are those who might be tempted to think that if we would only pull back, if our country would only withdraw from this global struggle against extremists...

Rumsfeld also mentioned the term in a more recent speech in June of this year:

Secretary Rumsfeld wrote:just as Europe was a central battlefield ... in the war against communist aggression, so too the Middle East and Central Asia are centers of gravity in today's struggle against violent extremism.

So, is this a shift of terminology by the American administration? Does it actually mean anything? Will the media have to rewrite all of their pretty "WAR ON TERROR" banners? Or is this just a minor shift in speeches that has no bearing on anything? Inquiring minds want to know!

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » July 27, 2005, 11:13 am

they are just going to get closer and closer to their most preferred phrase "packy huntin"

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 27, 2005, 11:24 am

DoD sometimes uses their own "branding" for things. They do have somewhat autonomous operational units, and little thinktanks and so forth. They are certainly on the same page with Cheney's crew, but they may definitely be trying to "rebrand" the "war".

but they also may just be trying to have alternate ways of saying "War on Terror" so they dont say "War on Terror" every 30 seconds and habituate people to the phrase.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » July 27, 2005, 11:41 am

so they dont say "War on Terror" every 30 seconds and habituate people to the phrase.

They're about 2 years too late for that.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 27, 2005, 12:51 pm

government audits move slowly

masteen · Post by **masteen** » July 27, 2005, 1:08 pm

The irony of right wing extremists promoting an agenda against other types of extremists... too much...

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 27, 2005, 2:04 pm

at first i thought this thread was some sort of Google-online system restore tool

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » July 27, 2005, 2:07 pm

That's what I though too Voro.

I think they're stopped calling it a war so that Geneva won't apply anymore.

I need to get into the business of implements of torture . I predict that GITMO is gonna be placing orders soon.

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » July 27, 2005, 2:35 pm

Oh good. If there's one thing that empty euphemisms for war in the middle east need, it's more sylables!

nobody · Post by **nobody** » July 27, 2005, 3:10 pm

Animalor wrote:That's what I though too Voro.

I think they're stopped calling it a war so that Geneva won't apply anymore.

I need to get into the business of implements of torture . I predict that GITMO is gonna be placing orders soon.

it never did apply in the first place

Nick · Post by **Nick** » July 27, 2005, 3:25 pm

"""""""LOL!"""""""

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » July 27, 2005, 3:37 pm

Is this a joke?

I mean come on, do they really think that most Americans are so stupid that they wo....... nevermind, I guess I answered my own question and it's not a joke.

Right Wing Fascists promoting the Global Struggle against Violent Extremeism... that's like the Illinois Nazis against the Third Reich...

Marb

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » July 27, 2005, 4:10 pm

It's a far more appropriate title than "War on Terror." Pretending that we're trying to end 'terrorism' was patently absurd.

"Violent Extremism" isn't perfect, but it's much more accurate than "Terror." Realistically, it should be "Islamism," but we need to use a religion-neutral term for PR reasons.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » July 27, 2005, 4:27 pm

I hate Illinois nazis

nobody · Post by **nobody** » July 27, 2005, 5:07 pm

i think the point is it's not just a military operation but rather there are things that need to be done in other areas. we need to do other things besides drop bombs to fix it.