The war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria now has its own website, but still no name, though Pentagon officials said Friday that may come soon.
“There are names being considered for this operation against [the Islamic State]. As is common practice those names are being considered at the combatant command level. We’ll see where it goes from there. But there’s an approval process, obviously, that has to take place,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said. “I haven’t seen any draft names that are being considered, and as far as I know … there haven’t been any names proffered to the Pentagon to consider, to weigh in on, to choose from. But I can tell you that there is an effort underway to consider a potential name for this operation.”
The website, “Targeted Operations Against ISIL Terrorists,” includes news articles, photos, press releases and an interactive map giving the latest information on airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
But there’s no name yet, which has generated jokes, naming contests and even speculation that the Obama administration is downplaying the effort for political reasons. The Wall Street Journal on Friday quoted an unnamed defense official as saying: “If you name it, you own it. And they don’t want to own it.”
Since World War II, almost every U.S. military operation, large and small, has had a code name. And that name usually sticks when veterans talk about the conflicts in which they participated, such as Operation Enduring Freedom, which most civilians know as the war in Afghanistan but actually encompasses the broader war on terrorism that started after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Even the military’s war on the Ebola virus has a name: Operation United Assistance.
Kirby bristled at the speculation that political concern about the U.S. effort against the Islamic State was holding up the process, saying that was insulting to those who have been fighting.
“I think it’s a slap in the face to their efforts. Of course we’re taking this seriously,” he said.
