Obama Rebrands 'War on Terror' as 'Overseas Contingency Operation'

They may leave us vulnerable and defenseless, but have no fear, the Obama wordsmiths are ever ready to provide just the right terminology. What will they call a "contingency" involving the White House or Nancy Pelosi's Congress?

From The Daily Mail

It was the most reviled policy of George W. Bush's presidency so the decision to rebrand the much derided 'war on terror' may seem particularly astute.

The wisdom of renaming it 'Overseas Contingency Operation' however, remains to be seen.

Washington speechwriters and other key officials were notified of the change today by email, according to The Washington Post.

The leaked memo sent from the Defense Department's office of security notes: 'This administration prefers to avoid using the term "Long War" or"Global War on Terror".

'Please use 'Overseas Contingency Operation.'

Email recipients were asked to pass the information on to staff - and to amend uses of the phrase War On Terror, which was adopted after the September 11 attacks in 2001, in official documents.

However, there appeared to be some confusion about where the policy originated.

Kenneth Baer, spokesman from the Office of Management and Budget, said: 'There was no memo, no guidance.

'This is the opinion of a career civil servant.'

The Obama administration has been using the phrase Global Contingency Operation for around a month, in an apparent move to distance itself from the legacy of the Bush years.

The former President resisted pressure from his own advisers to rebrand the policy, despite claims the name did not reflect the realities of the fight against terrorism.

Options had included changing it to GSAVE, or Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism.

However, any such move was quashed after President Bush said it was still a war for him.