The Bush administration created the phrase “The war on terror” near the start of the war in Iraq. At that time, politicians, reporters, pundits and linguists all commented on the inappropriateness of the phrase. They argued:

• You cannot have a war on terror, because terror is a state of mind, not a country;

• A better construction would be “War on terrorism,” because terrorism is a strategy. But you cannot win that war. The best you can hope for is to suppress terrorism.

• The phrase is designed to provide retrospective justification for a war that was not justified at its inception. The phrase plays resoundingly but deceptively on the fears of the American public.

The phrase “The war on terror” prevents us from thinking clearly. It should not be tolerated in serious reporting or debate. One should preface the “The war on terror” with “The so-called…” For example: “President Bush asked Congress today for another $5 billion for the so-called war on terror.” Or one should note the inappropriateness of the phrase. Example: “President Bush praised Omaha Republicans today for their support in the war on terror. Once again, he did not explain how a state of mind can be defeated in a war.”

We must not let our government pull the wool over our eyes on this issue any longer. Using the phrase “The war on terror” plays into this deception.

Ben Lounsbury, Auburn