Are liberals finally recognizing the enemy? Obama looks for alternative branding of the “war on terror”

According to Newsweek:

In recent days, Obama’s national-security officials have had brainstorming sessions to come up with different ways to describe the U.S. government’s efforts to defeat Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, according to administration sources who asked not to be identified talking about private discussions.

What’s being sought is a more precise phrase that can recast the U.S. government’s counterterrorism fight in ideological as well as military terms. Obama publicly signaled the new approach this week. When asked about the “war on terror” phrase by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Obama said, “Well you know, I think it is very important for us to recognize that we have a battle or a war against some terrorist organizations … Words matter in this situation because one of the ways we’re going to win this struggle is through the battle of hearts and minds.”

Although partly symbolic, the search for new terror terminology reflects an internal government debate that predates the new administration. Critics have long decried the use of the phrase “war on terror” on the grounds that terrorism is a tactic, not an identifiable enemy. Years ago, State and Defense Department officials tried to move away from the phrase “war on terror,” proposing instead to call it a “Struggle Against Violent Extremism,” or SAVE.

SAVE?  SAVE?  Are you kidding?

In the abstract, I would find it encouraging that Obama is looking for a term that helps identify the enemy, since I feel the “war on terror” phrase lacking in that respect.  But call me skeptical that accurate identification will actually be accomplished in a new name.  The words “Islamic” and “terror” were not put together once during any of the Democratic primary debates, so I’m not hopeful the identification will be any more accurate in whatever alternative the Obama administration comes up with. 

You think we could sneak the word “Islamic,” or at least “Islamist,” in there somewhere?

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