Oh, every now and then it seems like an obligation to keep our readers on top of the definitions that define our new veterans.

For those who have not followed the DOD name game, our veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are officially GWOT’s. They are veterans of the Global War on Terror. The curious thing about this terminology is that it has no geographic base or locale. Kinda creepy in some respects. It is as if we know that the War On Terror, which will never need to be officially declared as a war, will just go on ad infinitum. George Orwell would have a hey day with this terminology.

What is the next step; the Global Cosmic War?  Will we always be protecting the cosmos on our own? Do our allies call themselves GWOT’s? I do not know.

The other moniker that is new is the redefining of Iraqi Freedom. Seven years after we launched our “liberation,” of Iraq, the U.S. campaign in Iraq has been renamed, “Operation New Dawn.” The new name will start to be used in September. Curious eh? Why September? Is that when school starts in Tekrit?

Defense secretary Robert Gates tells us that the revised code name will, “recognize our evolving relationship with the government of Iraq.” I suspect this is code talk for our permanent presence in the cradle of civilization. They gave us Algebra the first time around. I wonder what we will be gifted this time? Surely not oil.

Doublespeak examples;

Collateral damage–civilian deaths

transfer tube–body bag

wet work–assasination

balanced scientists–biased science

aerial ordinance–bombs

ally–vasal state or colony