Infinite Justice is out, Enduring Freedom is in.

September 26, 2001 2:49 PM

Infinite Justice is out, Enduring Freedom is in. "The change was made after the initial name -- 'Operation Infinite Justice' -- last week ran into objections from some Islamic scholars on grounds that only God, or Allah, could mete out infinite justice in their view."
posted by swerve (24 comments total)

I now propose Operation Semantic Quibbling.
posted by Su at 3:21 PM on September 26, 2001

I second your proposal, but I'd like the name changed to: Operation Who Gives A Damn.
posted by Kikkoman at 3:25 PM on September 26, 2001

Yes! If we can endure this freedom for a few more years, things will be better, I'm sure.

What's that you were saying, Su?
posted by whatnotever at 3:26 PM on September 26, 2001

on grounds that only God, or Allah, could mete out infinite justice

pity they didn't say which.
posted by quonsar at 3:27 PM on September 26, 2001

Um, just why is this a front page link? Besides being a Yahoo! News blurb about something that's been all over the mainstream media outlets for nearly three days already, that is.... now, if this were a link to an insightful weblog commentary on why changing the name was a good idea, or even to an actual news story with some background and analysis, that would be something different. -_-

::: sigh ::: Maybe we should fear for the future of MeFi after all, between that ketchup nonsense and now this. Let's try looking for some quality linkage here, people?
posted by SenshiNeko at 3:29 PM on September 26, 2001

of course. they (u.s gov) wouldn't wan't to be politically incorrect about something as important as a brand 'spankin' new war. now. i mean. if your going to change your propaganda slogans. best do it early. and avoid confusion.
posted by slappy at 3:33 PM on September 26, 2001

Is freedom really something that should be endured? Apparently, the Whitehouse's version of 'freedom' is.
posted by dogmatic at 3:46 PM on September 26, 2001

I was kind of hoping they'd pick "Excessive Funding" for the EF letter combination.

Guess they couldn't find a good name for the GH.
"Uh.. How about Giraffe Harness"
"Nah.. How about George Harrison. Oh, wait.. never mind."
"Gregory Hines? Shit. Now you've got me doing it. Screw it. Anybody got anything for EF?"
posted by nickonomicon at 3:46 PM on September 26, 2001

Is it just me, or does Enduring Freedom sound like a good name for an overnight maxipad?

Yeah, it's just me.
posted by Jart at 3:49 PM on September 26, 2001

Here is an article about those who complained. It is about time that moderate Islam took center stage and started _vigorously_ denouncing this extremist element of Islam. Too much winking and nodding in the past from CAIR and AMC...
posted by scottfree at 3:55 PM on September 26, 2001

I am not sure what bothers me more, the fact that there is some Orwellian department naming these things or that they are so blindingly incompetent that they couldn't detect alternate meanings to their operation code name.

Lets hope they don't have anything to do with the actual military planning.
posted by srboisvert at 5:24 PM on September 26, 2001

Anyone know the history of naming "operations"? I remember the days of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, but I've been unable to find any others. Any military historians out there care to shed some light on the subject?
posted by aladfar at 5:32 PM on September 26, 2001

Anyone know the history of naming "operations"?

Here.
posted by kindall at 5:40 PM on September 26, 2001

Thanks, SenshiNeko, for a warm welcome. What I got back from MetaFilterites was worth it. Man, you people are funny.
posted by swerve at 5:59 PM on September 26, 2001

don't worry swerve, i didn't think this link was bad. i dunno what's gotten into people lately -- i didn't think the ketchup link was bad, and i don't think this link is bad. of course, i don't think for everyone, do i?
posted by moz at 9:01 PM on September 26, 2001

Thanks, moz. I don't know. Everyone's so serious. I don't want to dissect or analyze the name change, I just want to laugh at it. My tax dollars at work.

peace.
posted by swerve at 9:48 PM on September 26, 2001

I'd like to think the people who've been doing the naming have tin ears. Unfortunately, I think they're ignorant of history or...worse. From what I've seen so far, John Ashcroft has a real problem enduring freedom, so look for another name change real soon now.
posted by realjanetkagan at 9:54 PM on September 26, 2001

yeah, like "Embalming Freedom"
posted by blackholebrain at 10:04 PM on September 26, 2001

or,
Operation: Viagra of Freedom

just dust off ol' Bob and get him out there. this time. he's doing it for freedom.
Go bobby!
posted by slappy at 1:07 AM on September 27, 2001

So, when Allah decides that "The White House" is a name that should only describe his house, should we change that too?
posted by eas98 at 7:24 AM on September 27, 2001

please don't feed the trolls.
posted by dogmatic at 7:32 AM on September 27, 2001

The coalition with Saudi, Pakistan, UAE, Egypt is really our biggest weapon in this action. I don't think changing the name is trivial at all.
posted by username at 9:54 AM on September 27, 2001

Here is an article about those who complained. It is about time that moderate Islam took center stage and started _vigorously_ denouncing this extremist element of Islam. Too much winking and nodding in the past from CAIR and AMC...

I'm not a big fan of these groups, but they did *not* push for this. In fact, CAIR was quoted as saying they cared more about how the war on terrorism was going to be fought (and how innocent civilians might be endangered) rather than little things like the name.

It's more likely that the White House is actively looking for any possible snag that would prevent a coalition from including Arab & Muslim countries.

laz-e-boy
posted by laz-e-boy at 11:13 AM on September 27, 2001

"...only God, or Allah, could mete out infinite justice in their view."

Not to mention the fact that Infinite Justice implied a never-ending battle, or that it might not always be judicious.

Enduring Freedom isn't a whole lot better, but at least it isn't quite as fanatical. How about Just Kill'em? Huge Irritation? Painful Quilt?

No? OK.
posted by me3dia at 2:15 PM on September 27, 2001