GWOT or NOT?
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Meiji told me the other day that the Marines were buzzing with a rumor that Obama had banned the use of the phrase ‘Global War on Terror’ in favor of the clumsier ‘Overseas Contingency Operations’. That would be a problem because all the Marines are allowed to wear the ribbon shown above, the GWOT ribbon. Would the ribbon be replaced? Renamed? Neither: Pentagon Press Spokesman Geoff Morrell explained that it was just another case of ‘overexuberance’:
MR. MORRELL: I’ve never received such a directive. I think the White House and OMB for that matter have been very clear about this as well, that they have never issued such a directive.
I think they’ve explained that perhaps somebody within OMB may have been a little overexuberant and done so. But I can just tell you, I’m the one who speaks publicly about these matters. And I have never been told which words to use or not to use. So I don’t think there’s anything to the story.
I wish I could remember all the overexuberance we’ve had. It often occurs during campaigns: I believe overexuberance caused the unfortunate Obama faux presidential seal.
(h/t Ben Smith)
