New terminology implies withdrawal is not near

by ROBIN BRAVENDER

The lack of support for the Democrats’ resolution condemning President Bush’s proposed surge of troops in Iraq proved that the United States will not be pulling out of Iraq anytime soon. Days before the resolution passed the House but failed miserably in the Senate, top military officials testified that the country must prepare its military for a “Long War.”

Where jubilant, inspirational terms like “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and “shock and awe” were once widely repeated to instill patriotism and support for military expeditions, politicians have changed their tunes when referencing the United States’ military engagements.

Now, we are asked to brace ourselves for the “Long War,” where U.S. troops will continuously be deployed throughout the world.

In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said, “We must not forget we are in a very long war against an uncertain enemy.”

A statement published by Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, referred to the Iraq war as “Long War” — a proper noun. He defined it as “campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as throughout the world,” and said it is a “multi-faceted, generational struggle that will not be won in one battle, in one country, or by one method.”

In his final testimony before the Committee, outgoing Army Chief of Staff Peter J. Schoomaker warned his countrymen that there is no end in sight for the types of wars the United States is engaged in.

“This is a peek into the future, and we better get ourselves ready for it,” he said.