If a "War On Terror" is a linguistic impossiblity why do we call it that?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AqmT5cT_vbAsTl1_B874m75IzKIX?qid=20060612113835AAbYype

What would your term for the war in Iraq and against potential militants be? Would you call the war the same thing if it was started by another country? I actually want to hear what you all have to say and try and understand how you think, to finally see why people call it that and what it means to them in logical and real terms.

Answer 1

It's a marketing phrase, designed to create an emotional reaction.

The conflict in Iraq started out as an invasion by US forces to depose a leader they didn't like, and then got turned into a nation-building exercise as a justification for why the US should be involved. If anything, the US is choosing sides in a civil war, between the US-created current attempt at a government and the military forces that otherwise would be in control of the country.

The national effort to track down Al-Qaida is a massive police action in retribution against a private criminal group that did horrible things. It's not really different in kind than going after the mafia or drug lords, just bigger in scale and with more publicity.

The remaining aspects of the 'War on Terror', namely the massive surveillance and security effort that is trampling civil rights, is merely the administration taking advantage of a national fear to advance their political agenda.

Lumping it all together under one banner allows one small gain in one area to bolster the entire scheme, and make it look like the administration is accomplishing something.

In reality, very little is going to come of most of it in the long term, just like the War on Drugs for the past two decades hasn't really changed the drug problem in the country. Yes, some progress has been made, but likely not commensurate with the costs expended.

Answer 2

The War on Terror is short for War on Terrorism. The only reason it is called this is because it can be used and manipulated by the media. Its alot easier to have 'War on Terror' as a headline rather than "the war in Iraq and against potential militants" ...its just catchier and thats it really :-p

Answer 3

Let's ask this question of President Bush, our foremost authority on linguistics in America. No snickering though, or breaking out in loud guffaws. You have to keep a straight face and act dignified when he answers.

Answer 4

It is a Bushism, isn't it? I believe he coined the phrase, "War On Tara."