Importance of Terminology

When Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other administration officials started using a new phrase to describe measures against terrorism, analysts over-emphasized the importance of the new terminology. They began to say that the phrase "the global struggle against violent extremism" indicated a shift in administration policy as compared to the previous "war on terror."

President Bush has put that all to rest by using "war on terror" five times and "war" 13 more times in a 47-minute speech on Wednesday. Other administration officials have returned to the semi-official phrase, as well. Here is the New York Times article on the short life of the new phrase.

The press and public attach huge significance to any wording changes. Although the Bush administration had not announced any policy changes, everyone expected that new words mean new policies. And now that President Bush has kept to the same rhetoric, the press and analysts understand that there will be NO changes in addressing or acting against terrorism.