Words Have Meaning

Eric Umansky reprints a lost post discussing how Marine Lt.  Gen. Wallace Gregson, current commander of Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), gave a talk at the Naval War College on the issue of fighting a "Global War on Terror." Inside the Navy (accessible article) has the story:

"This war has a popular label and a political label, but it's not accurate," said Gregson. "Terrorism is a means of power projection, it's a weapon, it's a tool of war. Think of it as our enemy's stealth bomber. This is no more a war on terrorism than World War II was a war on submarines. It's not just semantics. . . . Words have meaning. And these words our leading us down to the wrong concept."

Gregson added, “What we’re fighting is an insurgency defined as a popular movement that seeks to change the status quo through violence, subversion, propaganda, terrorism or other military action. But it’s different from other national insurgencies that we’ve known in the past. This one is networked thanks to the wonders of technology. It’s primarily ideologically driven, fundamentalist and extremist.”

Why is it that the Marines seem to have the best public speakers when it comes to articulating defense strategies? I'm extremely jealous. I'm not saying the Army is berefit sound strategy thinkers, but it's so rare that you get one that is both on active duty and willing to take a stand on national strategy issues in public. Now within the setting of private discussions or talks with think tanks, yeah, the occassional Army or Air Force brass will talk on the record about national strategy issues, but the Marine leaders seem to stand on their own at hitting the highlights of an issue both succinctly and correctly. Read the post, it's very interesting stuff.

UPDATE: The prior posting had an InsideDefense link - this article is now attributed to Inside the Navy, who ran the story on June 20, 2005.

Comments

[David]

The Marines have had to justify their budget against all comers for most of American history. That makes for good public speakers/public relations.

[dK]

Great post with some good points.
I had to give a briefing to an auditorium full of Marine captains when I too was a captain working as a Pol/Mil analyst for El Salvador back in the 80s. In answering a question, I (foolishly) used the word "serendipity." There were three hundred marines saying "oooh, aaaah, serendipity, ahh." And I was nearly too embarrassed to go on with the briefing with the hard time they gave me. LOL.

You're absolutely right about the marine corps leadership in general - how refreshing.

[Kingdaddy]

Hey, I posted a link on my blog, but it's not on your Trackback list!

Typepad has been acting kinda funny the last couple of days.

[Bobby]

Well, I'd also say it depends on which Army guys you're talking to. I'm not a smart guy, but I'm not stupid, either. And yet I have been around a lot of Army officers whose intellects so dwarf mine that it makes me feel downright stupid.