Congress Ends the "War on Terrorism"

The House Armed Services Committee is putting an end to the term "global war on terrorism." A memo says communications should be more specific about military operations. Military Times reports:

Committee staff members are told in the memo to use specific references to specific operations instead of the Bush administration’s catch phrases. The memo, written by Staff Director Erin Conaton, provides examples of acceptable phrases, such as “the war in Iraq,” the “war in Afghanistan, “operations in the Horn of Africa” or "ongoing military operations throughout the world.”

The term "long war" is also banned from Committee communications.

President Bush coined the term "global war on terror" in the aftermath of 9/11.

Folks in the intelligence community say the catchall phrases don't really apply in situations like Iraq, where the vast majority of violence is from sectarian fighting -- and not the work of terrorist groups. (Military Times)