What’s in a Name: DoD version
In an otherwise irrelevant post today James Fallows has a nice parenthetical comment and proposal:
Yes, children, there was a “Department of War” all through American history, until the creation of the “Department of Defense” in 1947. More was involved in creation of the DOD than the change in name; but in retrospect “Department of War” seems a breathtakingly and admirably honest term. I think we should change the Pentagon’s name back to “Department of War,” and re-assign “Department of Defense” to the organization that now bears the loathsome name “Department of Homeland Security.” But I digress.
I think that’s a good idea. The DoD’s been involved in more offensive action than defensive for quite a while now. Truth in advertising would be good. And frankly the “Homeland” in DHS gives me the creeps. It’s too much like the wrong side in WWII.