So you think the public somehow misses the part where Operation Iraqi Freedom involves a war in Iraq? The operation names are helpful for troop motivation etc. Nobody cares if there is some small frings group that dislikes the procedure. If it benefits the troops, it stays regardless of the endless inane philosophical discussions of the merit of the naming process.

I thought all of those you listed were "peace keeping" missions? You seem to be suggesting that those were not noble pursuits. I would have to disagree!
Operations that involve aggression do seem to have names that fit, like Desert Storm.

Here is what I am thinking (I don't consider myself strong in historical specifics, but this seems to make sense to me):

Back in those days, there were still different names for the missions the military undertook, but the names were used more exclusively amongst the military officers and troops themselves, and not as the name reported to the general public.

The public was more accepting of terminology that included the word "war" because at the time the public was more willing to understand the notion that sometimes it was not their place to judge and that they didn't understand enough of what was going on to be able to disagree with the war.

__________________
I think America is finally ready for another president with polio.

Well in a republic that is about as damaging as you can get. The public needs to be in a place to judge, in order to make proper decisions on who to elect to represent us!

__________________
R.I.P. Molly, I miss you every day!!



Im a Tarte, what! you want some of this?



"Attempting to debate with a person who has abandoned reason is like giving medicine to the dead." -Thomas Paine

They have more to do with sounding like Hollywood so the legally-retarded media can make dramatic little sit-com graphics about them so that average Americans can continue down their paths of guiltless consumerism while our lifestyles are secured by the protection of American interests abroad.

I don't want to speak for all of them, but I bet the troops draw their motivation from each other, from knowing that they are doing an impossible job incredibly well, and that the nation does support them. I highly doubt they get their motivation from some asinine name dreamed up by the media-relations ring at the Pentagon. The troops don't need cheerleaders-- the cheerleaders are for us; the people, helps us swallow what has to be done to live the way we do. No need to feel guilty, just aware. This is the way it is.

I'm with Java. Can we just call it "The War In Iraq"? Otherwise, where does it stop?

Operation Befriend Goatherd (John Ashcroft tried to censor the Oil Derrick because it was too "Sexually Explicit")
Operation Amicable Middle-Eastern Disagreement (Does this C-4 make me look fat?)
Operation Constructive Criticism (Say it with Bullets)
Operation Warm Fuzzy (It is warm where the rockets hit)

__________________
SUPPORT THE TROOPS: RIDE A BIKE

That's usually how it's referred to when I hear people in the media talking or people posting on this form.

That or, 'The Iraq War'. Congress even called it that in their aptly named: 'Iraq War Resolution'.

Personally, I'd like to see better names like:

'Operation Kill as many of those islamo(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) bastards as possible'


Or


Operation Shoot them all in the head'

Fallujah~ Operation Phantom Fury
Baghdad~ Operation Spartan Scorpion
Thawra~ Operation Scorpion Sting
Baghdad (again)~ Operation Iron Bullet
Bayji and Samarra ~ Operation Ivy Serpent
Baghdad (again)~ Operation Ivy Needle
Northern Iraq~ Operation Eagle Curtain
Counterinsurgency~ Operation All American Tiger
Al Qaim~ Operation Rifles Blitz
Euphrates river (East)~ Operation Pit Bull

I could continue if you'd like. This is all a matter of public record. You should know this stuff right? Aren't you the expert on the Iraq War?

You couldnt have made his point any better if you tried. I especially love the fact you picked the best ones! right on!

__________________
EVERY WORD YOU SAY IS A DOOR WAY TO YOU!

I didn't hear anyone decry the Sanitized names given to conflicts, wars, incursions, occupation, ect. I did see someone post a quotation from Carl sagan; You know the literary genius and ponder on how right he was. With this knowledge and another vantage point to consider , many people will see things a little differently then maybe 5-10 seconds ago. Maybe!

__________________
EVERY WORD YOU SAY IS A DOOR WAY TO YOU!