perfidy

Ministry friend and loyal minion Murdoc is discussing a turn of phrase that he and, apparently, Norman Podhoretz find applicable: World War IV. Used to describe the current war on terror, it is a bit of language that has enough history that it can engender discussion for years. And surely will. But another term being used, not just in that discussion but across the media, is "bomb(ing) Iran."

People of every stripe will, and have, demonstrated against bombing Iran. Talking heads have advocated for or against bombing Iran. Breathy media outlets report on the "secret" Pentagon plans to bomb Iran, while pilots somewhere are surely training to bomb Iran.

Unfortunately, what is not widely understood is that the verb in this context is really just a shorthand for a planned and carefully executed operation. Without understanding that context and shorthand, the broader public allows "bomb Iran" to mean "terrorize from the air", ie, dropping ordnance indiscriminately amongst the orphanages, baby milk factories, nuns, and puppies liberally scattered across the Iranian landscape.

What is not well understood beyond the chain of command is that it is the mission that comes first, and the assets to achieve come after. Yes, capability influences the mission, but the thinking doesn't start with "This is what we have, what can we do with it?", but, "This is what we want to do- how can we achieve it?" Air power, in all its forms, is just another set of tools to apply toward getting the job done. And despite the kook fringe's acceptance that the President might conclude that muslims are responsible for water flouridation, scream "Cry Havoc!", and order the Air Force to kill them all, that's just not how strategy and the application of martial power work.

My point is that it's not a terrific idea to use this turn of phrase when you really mean "use of military force against Iran", against specific targets and for specific ends. I think it's ok to spell it out, especially when it becomes time to convince others of why you think it's a good idea.

[wik] Almost forgot- obligatory image of the aforementioned general below the fold: