From last night’s interview with Anderson Cooper:
COOPER: I’ve noticed you don’t use the term “war on terror,” I think I read an article that you’ve only used it once since the Inauguration. Is that conscious? Is there something about that term you find objectionable or not useful? B. OBAMA: 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. But that those organizations aren’t representative of a broader Arab community, Muslim community. I think we have to — you know, 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.
I’ve heard that at least one federal agency has been directed, just in the last 24 hours, to stop using the phrase ‘war on terror’ in all official communications. This would seem to jibe with last night’s interview and would be a symbolic concession to the large swath of Democrats who have objected to the phrase practically since its inception. So the war on terror may be over, and in its place “a battle or a war against some terrorist organizations.” As Obama goes on to say, words matter, so it should be noted that we are not at war with all terrorists organizations, but rather some terrorist organizations. Exit question: which terrorist organizations are we at peace with?
