Captain Kinetic: Pathetic, frenetic, emetic
Remember this?
March 26, 2009…
Document drop: Whitewashing the “Global War on Terror” out of existence
Yesterday, the Washington Post reported on the Obama administration’s vehement denial that it is backing away from the phrase “Global War on Terror.” The phrase has long been a source of debate and rancor – not just on the left, but also on our side because it omits the important, specific context of global jihad and dhimmitude that we are supposed to be combatting.
Still, “Global War on Terror” is far superior to what the Obama White House has concocted. Despite the denials, military officials have gotten their instructions. A military source forwarded me an internal e-mail trail that illuminates the whitewashing. So long, “Global War on Terror.” Hello, [blank].
To quote from one of the messages below: “There is no ‘replacement’ term offered.”
***
—–Original Message—–
From: Sholtis, Tadd Lt Col SAF/PAO
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:22 AM
Subject: Status of “GWOT”Sir/Ma’am-The SAF/PAO press desk has received numerous queries from the field this week about whether “Global War on Terrorism” or “GWOT” remains an acceptable term and, if not, what replaced it. At this point, I would not expect an announcement from on high that will provide clarity on this issue in the near future. We will notify you if that changes.
The story in today’s Washington Post…accurately captures the current status of the terminology debate.
About the best we can say right now is that the long decline of “GWOT” as a useful term of reference appears to be speeding up, particularly in interagency and Congressional communication; however, some kind of big announcement on an official switch is unlikely, since it tends to draw the ire of critics who insist we remain at war (recent example, http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=9116). So “GWOT” may just die a slow and quiet death.
Therefore, if units are being pushed to provide guidance to commanders, the PAO recommendation is that there’s no need to update existing documents to eliminate GWOT, but future documents should avoid or at least minimize use of the term. In addition to “overseas contingency operations”-which was an improvised term during this year’s debate on budget supplements-there are enough concise, plain-English descriptions (“current operations,” “operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,” “today’s joint fight,” “irregular warfare,” etc.) that there’s no urgent need for a new acronym. Airmen should be able to explain themselves in writing or speaking in a way that doesn’t require continued reference to either “GWOT” or an official replacement.
V/R
Tadd
Lt Col Tadd Sholtis
Deputy Chief, Current Operations
Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs—-Original Message—–
From: Severns, John Capt USAF AETC HQAETC/PAO
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:45 AM
Cc: AETC PA ALL
Subject: I can’t believe it’s not GWOT!AETC PA Team,
Please see the guidance below from SAF/PA regarding the use of the term “Global War on Terror” in your products.
BLUF: You may leave the term in old or existing documents. New products should seek to use other terms. Possible terms include the popular-but-unwieldy “Overseas Contingency Operations,” as well as old standbys like “Current Operations,” “Today’s Joint Fight,” and “Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Please let us know if you have any questions whatsoever.
v/r,
John Severns
Capt. John Severns
AETC Public Affairs—–Original Message—–
From: Woodward, George R Civ USAF AETC 82 TRW/PA
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:50 AM
Subject: FW: Use of “GWOT” terminologySir–
Thought this might be of interest. We’re getting guidance to move away from use of “Global War on Terror” terminology. I left the whole trail attached, but the bottom line is that we’re supposed to stop using the term, but don’t have to pull it from existing documents. There is no “replacement” term
offered.V/R
George Woodward
Director, Public Affairs—–Original Message—–
From: Rosales, Rebecca A Civ USAF AETC 363 TRS/CCS
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:05 AM
To: All 363 TRS Personnel
Subject: FW: Use of “GWOT” terminologyAll,
//Signed//
REBECCA A. ROSALES
363 TRS/CCS
520 Missile Rd, Bldg 1025
Sheppard AFB TX 76311-2261—–Original Message—–
From: Wilson, Stella T Civ USAF AETC 82 TRW/CCS
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:54 AM
To: All 82 TRW Secretaries; All 82 TRW Executive Officers
Cc: Norsworthy, David W Col USAF AETC 82 TRW/CV; Mannon, Otis G BrigGen USAF
AETC 82 TRW/CC; Sallinger, Kenneth W CMSgt USAF AETC 82 TRW/CCC; Albrecht,
Bryan S SSgt USAF AETC 82 TRW/CCCE
Subject: FW: Use of “GWOT” terminologyALCON — please see the below concerning the use of GWOT.
v/r
Stella Wilson
Now we can add “Kinetic Military Action” to the ObamaSpeak glossary:
In a briefing on board Air Force One Wednesday, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes took a crack at an answer. “I think what we are doing is enforcing a resolution that has a very clear set of goals, which is protecting the Libyan people, averting a humanitarian crisis, and setting up a no-fly zone,” Rhodes said. “Obviously that involves kinetic military action, particularly on the front end.”
Rhodes’ words echoed a description by national security adviser Tom Donilon in a briefing with reporters two weeks ago as the administration contemplated action in Libya. “Military steps — and they can be kinetic and non-kinetic, obviously the full range — are not the only method by which we and the international community are pressuring Gadhafi,” Donilon said.
Rhodes and Donilon are by no means alone. “Kinetic” is heard in a lot of descriptions of what’s going on in Libya. “As we are successful in suppressing the [Libyan] air defenses, the level of kinetic activity should decline,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a meeting with reporters in Moscow Tuesday. In a briefing with reporters the same day from on board the USS Mount Whitney, Admiral Samuel Locklear, commander of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, said, “The coalition brings together a wide array of capabilities that allow us to minimize the collateral damage when we have to take kinetic operations.” On Monday, General Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command, said of the coalition forces, “We possess certainly a very significant kinetic capability.” And unnamed sources use it too. “In terms of the heavy kinetic portion of this military action, the president envisions it as lasting days, not weeks,” an unnamed senior official told CNN Saturday.
The Obama Way: Winning the future…one unwieldy, purpose-evading euphemism at a time.
***
Snort. Doug Powers: “If this doesn’t work they’re going to break out the Kinetic Military Action with Kung-Fu Grip!”
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Oh yes, it is very important here to air out the myriad rules on terminology while we are dropping bombs and shooting tomahawks at Libya. Cannot be hurting any terrorist feelings or insulting any fanatic dictators by calling them the wrong “thing”. Hey, why don’t we just tape a sympathy card onto each missile? That should do the trick.
They can keep the GWOT acronym, just change it to
Generous
Wealth
Outward
Transfer
or
Good
Wishes
Optimization
To Islam
I guess that would require an extra letter GWOTI?
Operation: Oops, I Did It Again
Operation Score Indie Votes By Beating Up Depraved Despots
I am wating for Obama to tell us we can have “guns and butter.”
If you understand this comment you are dating yourself.
Military action is to kinetic as unionized federal employee is to entropic.
***
Operation Stab in the Back.
Operation Bug Out.
Operation Sucker Punch.
Operation Opaque.
Operation Al Caca.
Operation Caliphate II.
Operation Wag the Dog II.
Operation Dumbo Ears.
Operation Shining Cowpie.
***
John Bibb
***
Ramblingman and Rogue Cheddar:
Dream Theater lost their world class drummer (Mike Portnoy) in a fairly recent disagreement over tour/recording scheduling. Last I heard he is now with Avenged Sevenfold (kind of a bizarre match if you ask me). I’m sure they have the clout to get another great drummer, but it’s never cool to lose a founding member.
FIFY
Operation Low Bow
Operation Not Bush
Operation American Appology
Operation We Wanna Be Your Friend – No, Really
Operation Remove Excessive Government Authority – No, Wait
Operation You’ll Like Us if We Just Communicate Better
Operation We Feel Your Pain
Looks like Obama had another kinetic bowel action.
I’ve been following that, Mike Portnoy was let go from Avenged Sevenfold and will not continue to tour with them in 2011, and tried to get back in with Dream Theater, but was rejected. Dream Theater has been in recording since January with the new drummer but has not officially announced him but have stated they have a new drummer and can’t wait to announce when they can. Smart money is on Mike Mangini, who will more than adequately fill Portnoy’s shoes, even though I love Portnoy. Portnoy’s ego definitely screwed himself up.
That’s a mess. I’ve been a DT fan since ’93 or so, but I kinda stopped following them the last 3 albums.
I think you’re right about the ego.
Every time I even start to think about the empty suit in the White House, I feel the need for an anti-emetic.
In fact, he often appears to have taken a walloping dose of the stuff himself.
They flew under my radar until 2003 when my oldest turned me on to them by accident. We’ve seen them in Boston every year since. I have all their stuff including a number of DVD’s. They have everything I want for musicianship in a band. They are one of the few bands I’ve ever really devoted much time to other than the Beatles, Steely Dan and a few others. Being a musician myself it takes a lot to catch my interest.
What do you play? I used to play guitar.
Jimmy Page and Alex Lifeson made me want to learn.
John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert made me want to give it up as I knew I’d never be that good.
Buckethead makes me want to invent a time machine, go back in time, and smack my younger self for even trying to play.
I heard several comments yesterday from cable/media/paid/in-the-know? pundits that maybe BHO’s middle east approach is a good one. They cited no pictures of people burning AM flags and BHO in effigy.
Today, drudge headlines show something different in Libya.
Is there truth in a can of worms?
You will hear that stupid phrase “kinetic military action” used in every fortune 500 company boardroom by all the zombie corporate culture drones. They will turn it into one of those annoying corporate PC phrases about tackling business etc……..
Add it to the list “out of pocket”, “moving forward”, “Switzerland”, “center of gravity(a favorite of the moron CEO of Walgreen’s)” etc…..
Thank you Ben Rhodes for giving us another term for our American word salad……you are a purveyor of intellectual thought indeed.
I play bass, so I have a love hate relationship with guys like John Myung and Victor Wooten. They really piss me off they’re so good.
I ran into Alex Lifeson at a Vintage guitar show up here in the Northeast about 6 or 7 years ago. He was really nice and chatty with my buddy and me. Also got to chat with Johnny A from Boston. He’s got some good rockabilly guitar chops. It’s not fair that some seem to have great talent without even trying hard, or it appears so.
I almost jokingly asked if you had ever run into anyone from Boston when in Boston.
I’ve been tempted to try bass here lately. Just been too busy with work, marriage, and school.
Rogue, my son turned me on to a band called Tool, ever listen to them? Really talented.
Oh yeah, I like some their stuff, they craft some decent songs. There are a lot of Tool clones out there now though kind of watering it down.
While I prefer prog or prog/metal/numetal, I can appreciate the darker stuff from Tool, Opeth, Beyond The Buried And Me.
Check out “A Perfect Circle”. Maynard (Tool vocalist) was in that group as a side project.
Check out Portnoy’s Yellow Matter Custard Beatle’s tribute band on youtube when you have a few minutes/hours to kill.
Have you got any of Portnoy’s Liquid Tension Experiment or Transatlantic stuff? All good.
I picked up Portnoy’s Prime Cuts cd not too long ago.
I have LTE 1 & 2. It’s great stuff. I’ve heard of Transatlantic before, but I need to check it out.
I think I like Portnoy as much for his music love and the groups he has put together to pay tribute to all his influences as for his great talent.
He’s done more side project stuff than anyone I’ve ever seen.
For Transatlantic albums you need
Bridge Across Forever
SMPT:e
The Whirlwind
Apparently Neal Morse is in Transatlantic as well. Must check them out, now.
Thanks!
Well, if the theme has to be music titles, how about operation:
“The Man with the Gun” or “Cannon Fodder” by Press Play on Tape?
Or “Airship Pirate” by Abney Park?
Listening to the lyrics.. “Operation Airship Pirate” may be the most accurate:
(bold emphasis is mine)
If this ain’t enough reason to have stayed out of Libya then nothing is.
EXACTLY!
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HI BIGFOOT–#201. Back to Physics 101 class for you. Energy=0.5*(M*(V*V)). You have the equation for Momentum=M*V. Different critters.
***
John Bibb
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