War on Terminology -- an Occupational Hazard?

[Youphemism]

When it comes to that thing everyone calls the "Iraq War," Democrats have once again lost the battle of terminology. In this engagement, the conflict ended without a shot being fired.

By any definition I understand, the scenario in Iraq is an "occupation," not a "war."

In the past, terms like "pro-life" automatically painted the opposing view as "anti-life." "Homeland Security" suggested that people feel safer when their phones can be tapped and houses can be secretly searched without warrants by a shadow authority. But at least there was some opposition to and/or derision of these terms. (I'm feeling sort of orangish, condition-wise today. Hand me that duct tape.)

How is the situation in Iraq a "war"? The territories have long since been taken, sometime around that magical day when the President swooped down onto an aircraft carrier and announced "Mission accomplished!" Have we all become so cowed by the War on Drugs, the War on Illiteracy, War on Poverty, and the War on Anything Else We Can Think of? Have we managed to dilute the meaning of even the most powerful and distasteful of words to the point we no longer recognize when they're misused?

Why does every democratic leader surrender to this disgusting and blatant form of propaganda?

After World War II, we called it an occupation once we took Japan -- long before any new government had been formed. It's understandable why Republican leaders would want to keep advancing this skirmish line. Beside misrepresenting our position to paint us in a more favorable light, it also helps to blur the line between what the original Iraq War was about and the "Global War on Terror."

But why are Democratic leaders *universally* capitulating to this misrepresentation? It seems to me that simply calling it what it really is might have a significant impact on the inertia against changing what is going on.

Am I wrong? Is this a war or an occupation?

[Youphemism]

1. Probably the wrong place for this post...

Right as I posted it, I realized this should probably go outside the campaign forum... Still, I think both Clinton and Obama would help their campaigns if they started using the right words.