Psst. Are We Supposed To Forget The "War On Terror?"

[JABBS]

Not only is the administration not using the term "war on terror" anymore -- apparently, they don't want to discuss it much either.

In today's weekly radio address, here was the extent of President Bush's comment on terrorism:

"We're also spreading freedom, because free countries are peaceful. And we're staying on the offensive against the terrorists, fighting them abroad so we do not have to face them here at home."

I would have expected more, given that we are barely a week removed from a terrorist attack in Egypt, and a second failed effort to attack London's mass tranist system.

***

Earlier this week, the Bush Administration began using the phrasing "global struggle against violent extremism" -- forming the Orwellian (or possibly Christian fundamentalist) acronym Global SAVE -- instead of "war on terror."

The solution is "more diplomatic, more economic, more political than it is military," Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the National Press Club.

I think there's a more practical reason, though. The U.S. can lose a war, which has a beginning, middle and end. It's harder to pinpoint losing a global struggle against violent extremism -- which seemingly can last generations.

Vietnam, you might remember, was not legally a "war" but a conflict.

***

But whatever the administration wants to call our fight against terrorism, it amazes me that Bush didn't speak about it more in this morning's address, given the news of the last several hours from London and Rome.

Certainly, it is a positive that Scotland Yard tracked down and seized the three remaining suspects from the failed July 21 effort to launch a second round of London mass transit terror attacks. Elsewhere in London, Scotland Yard rounded up several other suspects related to the recent terrorist attacks in the city.

Or, Bush could have spoken about Sheik Mohammed Ali Hassan al-Moayad, sentenced Friday to 75 years after a New York jury found him guilty of conspiring to support and attempting to support Al Qaeda and the Palestinian extremist group Hamas. He also was convicted of actually supporting Hamas but acquitted of supporting Al Qaeda.

***

The news of the past few days is just a small piece in the larger fight against terrorism. And maybe the White House is afraid that by discussing a few successes -- especially another country's successes -- that it will lead to discussion of all of our country's failures, most notably its failure to capture Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

I don't know if that's the reason. But, given that we are not far removed from the terror attacks in London and the Egyptian seaside -- both possibly tied to Al Qaeda, or splinter groups -- I think Americans should expect more than two empty sentences from their president.

***

This article first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

[Totally Committed]

1. I think it's now

the "Struggle Against Exremism", not the "War on Terror".

[JABBS]

6. I know

Read the article.

[Mitt Chovick]

12. It's easier to lose a "struggle" than a war.

Pitiful.

Next thing it will be downgraded to a "conflict" than perhaps "troubles"

[gratuitous]

2. George doesn't need to be a war president anymore

So, we no longer call it a war. Well, actually, it never really WAS a war. In fact, the Republicans have never called this struggle a war, that's a Democrat gloss. Every time you call it a war, the terrorists gain a little in the struggle. Why do you hate America so much that you want it to be in a war?

[Capn Sunshine]

3. If it's a struggle, there's no War Crimes

capiche?
There will however, be struggle profiteering and the struggle for oil.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. They know Americans have a limited capacity for sustained warfare

This is a way of reframing what is being done in a Cold War struggle kind of way. And yes, the purpose is to make us forget that there is a war.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. Shhhh... it's a secret. Repeat it over and over and they'll never notice.

[JABBS]

7. What a photo

Is that from London?

[Kerrytravelers]

8. My photo of Cindy Sheehan?

It's from the Downing Street Memo hearings when the repukes forced the Democrats into the basement but still couldn't silence us!

[JABBS]

9. what an expression

[neweurope]

10. "Free countries are peaceful." *giggles* Aren't you the Land of the Free?

--------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[radfringe]

11. if it's a struggle

then what are military troops doing in Afghanistan?
what are military troops doing in Iraq?

Since 9-11 and bush* declaring a War on Terra --- I've been telling people you can't fight terra using a "war" model. You don't go after a hornet's nest with a sledge hammer.

"terra" is the tool, just like a gun is a tool -- it's the person/people holding the tool you have to worry about and deal with....

do I think bush* is on the right track with this Global Struggle against Violent extremism?

perhaps, but I question his motives in the sudden flip-flop from his Yee-haawwism -- I suspect his polling numbers being in the toilet, and perhaps a growing undercurrent of discontent amongst repugs have more to do with it than a sudden realization that this is a struggle as opposed to a war. And that has me even more worried

[hootinholler]

13. Nah, it's because...

There ain't no such thing as struggle crimes.

-Hoot