Britain drops the phrase, 'war on terror'

[deminks]

Britain stops talk of 'war on terror'
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1968715,00.html

Cabinet ministers have been told by the Foreign Office to drop the phrase 'war on terror' and other terms seen as liable to anger British Muslims and increase tensions more broadly in the Islamic world.

The shift marks a turning point in British political thinking about the strategy against extremism and underlines the growing gulf between the British and American approaches to the continuing problem of radical Islamic militancy. It comes amid increasingly evident disagreements between President George Bush and Tony Blair over policy in the Middle East.

Experts have welcomed the move away from one of the phrases that has most defined the debate on Islamic extremism, but called it 'belated'.

'It's about time,' said Garry Hindle, terrorism expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London. 'Military terminology is completely counter-productive, merely contributing to isolating communities. This is a very positive move.'

(end snip)

So did someone send the memo to Smirky? What the hell is it we are doing over there, then? 'Upholding shared values', like the article says? How do we win that? Smirky wants to win something.

[aquart]

1. Now if only George would STFU about it.

[uppityperson]

2. good, about time since it is a divisive stupidass phrase.

[muntrv]

3. Isn't "war on terrorism" like "war on drugs" or "war on theft" or

"war on homicide?" This has to be the first war waged against a verb.

[valerief]

4. It's all the War on Poor People no matter what they call it. nt