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...and somewhere, an angel got its wings.

By The Armorer on September 22, 2011 | | Comments (20)
One wonders how much blood was let in small cubes in the darkness of the inner rings of the Pentagon in order to win this lexicological fight...

From email (because this carp is important when you write proposals):

All, the term "Full Spectrum Operations" is out as per the CSA. The construct of offense/defense/stability/civil support remains unchanged but FSO will now be called "Tim"

   - Seriously, FSO will now be called "Decisive Action"
   - The Tenets of Unified Land Operations (integration/lethality/adaptability/depth/synchronization)
will now also include "flexibility."
 
You can't make this up.  Nor am I joking about the blood spilled in the dark corners of the building (and others) in the knife fight to win a terminology war.
 

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20 Comments

By J.M. Heinrichs on September 22, 2011 4:11 PM
 Next, gentleman, we have a new concept to develop. It's in the early stages, so the name lacks suitably cohesive immersiveness, but at the moment we call it "The Principles of War".

Cheers
 
By PrimEvil on September 22, 2011 4:18 PM
There's a name for that kind of spin-speak. It's called "gobbeldygook".
 
By Argent on September 22, 2011 8:45 PM
If they do chop the military then this is where they need to start.  Decisive Action is needed.
 
By Saker on September 22, 2011 10:26 PM

This is why we can't have nice things.

I'll just keep calling it "making friends and killing people."

 
By Grumpy on September 22, 2011 10:56 PM
 J.M.H., Don't we usually start at "The Principles of War"? Thatn is usually *before* we get started.

PrimEvil, Let's just un-spin it, in our part of the country, we call it, "Bravo-Sierra".

Argent, How about the politicians and their kids? That sounds good to me.

Sakar,  Nah, she'll get even.
 
 
By John (Not The Armorer) on September 22, 2011 11:46 PM
If The Armorer's job requires him to be attentive to this sort of admnstrivia BS empire building, I am surprised that he is not in a rubber room somewhere from being in close proximity to people who do that sort of stuff.

In event of budget cuts, start HERE, indeed!
 
By fdcol63 on September 23, 2011 6:48 AM
" ... I am surprised that he is not in a rubber room somewhere from being in close proximity to people who do that sort of stuff."

Could be why he bought The Castle, with all that room for firing ranges.  Shooting things can be "therapeutic", dontchaknow?  LOL
 
By Argent on September 23, 2011 7:27 AM
Has a rubber room, calls it his 'bunker'.

Grumpy:  Most of me thinks pollie kids should get nothing.  I damn hope that is the case over this side of the pacific.  A small part of me pities them.  I mean short of being a pastor's or headmasters kid, is there a worse fate?
 
By Orsonroy on September 23, 2011 9:08 AM
This is new news to you guys why? Because?

Anyone remember the DEPARTMENT OF WAR?

Newspeak has permeated the "blow 'em up" guys since the end of WWII. Mil-Ind complex and promote or perish, etc.
 
By Quartermaster on September 23, 2011 11:48 AM
We should the name back to the War Department. The Navy might not like it, but I could go for seeing a few Admirals with their panties in a wad.
 
By irish19 on September 23, 2011 11:37 PM
I think they should call it Tim. Short for Tim the Enchanter.
Renaming DoD as the Department of War would also be a good idea.
 
By BillT on September 24, 2011 6:52 AM
Rearranging the deck chairs continues apace.

Next on the agenda will be a meeting to determine the musical selection for the band and the feasibility of erecting a viewing stand atop the iceberg...
 
By DL Sly on September 24, 2011 9:08 AM
Excuse me, Steward?  My deck chair is facing the wrong way.  I'm meeting my friend, Tim, here in a few minutes and this view just won't do.  All I can see it white!  Please, do be a dear and put a couple of chairs over on the other side closer to the band.  I heard they're getting ready to do a Beatle's set.
Thank you ever so much.
Oh, by the by, do you know where to sign up for the shuttle over to the viewing stand?
0>;~}
 
By SKK on September 24, 2011 10:24 AM
For some strange reason, this makes me insanely happy.... 
 
By Gewürze aus Afrika online on September 24, 2011 11:26 AM
Realy brilliant text, but I did not understand your thoughts you made in the first sentence. Could you please explain it to me? Best regards Frank
 
By Micheal Sharrieff on September 24, 2011 12:04 PM
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By Quartermaster on September 24, 2011 5:03 PM
Frank, it's idiomatic sarcasm. He's ridiculing the idiots in the Pentagon who are changing word usages from common, normal use, to something very silly.

Lexicological is a 1000 DM word having to do with word definition and usages. Cubes are the small areas in which labor an inividual of not much importance, except in their own mind, that was involved in the fight to change such word definition and usage.

I know the DM is no more, but I hate the Euro. Sue me.

I bet the Armoreer would like to have Marks back too.
 
By Justthisguy on September 24, 2011 11:52 PM
Is that like "Tim", as in Monty Python's Holy Grail, and you normals are just messing with my literal Aspie mind?  Or did they really write "Tim"?  Has it gotten that silly?
 
By Justthisguy on September 25, 2011 12:07 AM
P.s. I don't care for the silliness.

At Divine Services this evening, we were solicited to bring, next week, special goodies to be shipped to our own Marine in Afghanistan, who has just deployed there. It was the usual list of handi-wipes, toiletries, etc.

  I said that I had no money and was subsisting on the charity of the parish, but that I could send the guy some books.  His Mom says he likes SF, as do I, so I am looking around for what I can send.
 
By John of Argghhh! on September 25, 2011 7:38 AM
QM - the Frank to whom you were responding was a spammer.  But I liked your response, so I left it up even if it's confusing now, since fdcol (also a Frank) knew well what I meant.

I think the Germans want the DM back.